The African Development Bank and the Tunisian government have unveiled a report outlining six priority areas to strengthen the country's resilience to drought, as Tunisia advances a structural transformation of its climate regime.
Titled "Drought Planning, Preparedness and Resilience Strategies: The Case of Tunisia," , the report sets out an integrated framework for anticipating, preventing, and managing increasingly frequent and severe drought episodes. Prepared by the African Development Bank through a national institutional consultation process, the study complements Tunisia's National Water Strategy to 2050 and draws on an in-depth analysis of the country's climate, institutional, legal, and financial landscape.
The diagnosis is clear: like several countries across the region, Tunisia is facing a structural water crisis, compounded by climate change and mounting pressure on water resources. Between 1950 and 2018, 59 percent of years were classified as dry. Climate projections point to a possible decline in rainfall of up to 25 percent in the central and southern regions by 2100, while average temperatures could rise by between 2.5°C and 5°C, depending on emissions scenarios.
Human activity is intensifying the strain. Agriculture accounts for around 80 percent of Tunisia's total water consumption, while the volume of water withdrawn for drinking water supply increased from 296.2 million cubic metres in 2002 to 447.2 million cubic metres in 2018. These trends call for a well-coordinated response based on planning, anticipation, and investment in sustainable solutions.
The report proposes six priority levers: strengthening fragmented institutional coordination; developing a national early warning system; modernising the legal and regulatory framework; mobilising innovative financing; strengthening technical capacity at national, regional, and local levels; and promoting a culture of responsible water use.
Yero Baldeh, Director of the African Development Bank's Transition States Coordination Office, said the report signalled a decisive shift in approach. "Tunisia is not facing a temporary water crisis; it is facing a structural transformation of its climate regime. This report does not propose emergency measures; it proposes an architecture for resilience. The African Development Bank stands ready to further support the country in implementing its programmes and to deepen its partnership to promote water security, in line with the orientations of Tunisia's National Water Strategy to 2050," he said.
Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa and the Bank's Country Manager for Tunisia, stressed the report's practical utility.
"Tunisia has real technical expertise, an ambitious strategic framework, and the political will confirmed by this workshop. The challenge now is to strengthen coordination among these resources. This report precisely identifies the breaking points and proposes solutions tailored to the country's institutional realities. It is not just another document; it is a working tool," she said.
The publication forms part of the African Development Bank's broader commitment to supporting Tunisia in designing reforms and investments to strengthen water security, advance climate adaptation, and protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations.
