6 - 8 December 2017 – Tozeur: In North Africa, oases are a melting pot of life for local people who draw their resources there. Aware of their economic and social value, as well as their contribution to the food security of the oasis communities and the conservation of genetic resources, FAO places primary importance on oasis ecosystems.

The national workshop of capacity building and consultation on the approaches and the surveillance indicators for the oasis systems in Tunisia, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries (MARHP), is one of the activities of the regional project "Adaptive Management and Monitoring of Oasis Eco-Systems in the Maghreb". It follows and builds on the achievements of the regional workshop organized on 25-29 September 2017 in Rabat (Morocco) called the "Exchange workshop on strengthening and harmonizing Geographical Information Systems (GIS) on the oases of the Maghreb".

The managers and experts targeted by this capacity building workshop will be able to ensure the exchange and consultation between the stakeholders of the oasis systems in Tunisia. These oasis-oriented managers will be better equipped with regard to monitoring approaches and indicators and will work to propose a grid of monitoring indicators for oasis systems. In addition to building the capacity of all partners involved in monitoring indicators of oasis systems and good management practices of these ecosystems, a national platform will be established and operationalized within the CRRAO center in Deguèche. The CRRAO (The Regional Center for Research in Oasis Agriculture) is the National Project Focal Point,  responsible for developing an Oasis GIS that will serve as an information management system and a tool for decision-making and partnership strengthening for sustainable oasis management.

At the closing ceremony, Mr. Michael Hage, FAO Coordinator for North Africa, reminded participants and guests that monitoring oasis ecosystems, their management and especially their natural resources: water, soil, biodiversity, perfectly fit within the priorities of the sub-region and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. These SDGs correspond to the indicators selected and those of FAO, so that SDG 1 is dedicated to eradicating poverty in all its forms and everywhere in the world; SDG2 aims to end hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; SDG6 seeks to ensure access for all to water, sanitation and sustainable resource management; while SDG12 aims to establish sustainable consumption and production patterns; and SDG13 covers urgently taking action to address climate change and its impacts, preserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, making sure they are exploited sustainably. Finally, SDG17 aims to strengthen the means of global partnership for sustainable development and to revitalize it.

The innovative aspect of this project is the adoption of an integrated approach to harmonize and standardize the parameters and methods for monitoring and managing the natural resources of the Maghreb's oasis ecosystems and the creation of a regional geo-referenced database. This project is the first to try to develop practical decision-making tools for oasis users. In concrete terms, it is responsible for building the capacity of local stakeholders, identifying, sharing and using relevant knowledge in the management and monitoring of oases to better adapt to the context and needs of oasis populations.

In this context, it should be noted that other relevant initiatives for the development of oases are being implemented in the sub-region, either by government institutions or by civil society organizations. Mr. Michael Hage stated, "Our organization, by supporting these various actions aimed at the preservation and the sustainable development of the oasis systems, joined the “Sustainable Oasis Initiative” presented by Morocco, on November 14th, 2016, in Marrakech, during the holding of the COP22. Convinced by its global and integrated nature, FAO has supported this initiative from its inception to its promotion and adoption at the Climate Change Summit. Thus, FAO supports the creation of an international alliance, around the “Sustainable Oasis Initiative”, under the auspices of the United Nations to promote advocacy and eventually put in place the tools and resources needed to ensure the preservation and sustainability of oasis systems.