The European Union-funded initiative aims to promote a green and sustainable approach in the city of Gabes, south-eastern Tunisia, to respond to the imminent challenges of climate change and exploitation of natural resources by improving the operational, financial, social and environmental capacity and performance of water operators. The programme is funded by the European Union (Dg Intpa) within the "EU-Wop Programme" initiative and is part of the measures to respond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to address a wide range of economic and social development issues to be achieved by 2030.
The programme was presented at the Mediterranean Water Forum in Tunis, an event organised by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) at the beginning of February. It is managed by Gwopa (Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance)/UN-Habitat and involves 22 partnerships over a three-year period with the aim of strengthening the capacity of water operators, improving performance and facilitating access to investment. Lead partner of the project was MM Spa, an Italian publicly controlled engineering company, expert in providing tailor-made solutions in the design and redevelopment of urban spaces. Other partners in the initiative include: AVSI, which will act to facilitate implementation by involving stakeholders and investors; partner UTSS (Union Tunisienne de Solidarité Sociale), which will mediate with the local community to ensure attention to the most vulnerable; and the Municipality of Milan, active in promoting city-to-city institutional cooperation and the sharing of local policies and practices on the Sustainable Development Goals.
A Milanese delegation conducted a two-day visit to Gabes to complete the technical studies. A tender will soon be presented for the realization of the project. Enacting also provides technical support to the beneficiary partners in the development of feasibility studies, technical-financial guides and strategic plans which will be used by the municipality of Gabes and the Société Nationale d'Exploitation et de Distribution des Eaux (Sonede) as a basis for the activation of new investments and to develop further synergies and projects with partners.
