Tunisian Workshop Marks a Milestone for Cross-Regional Learning and Collaboration on Water, Land and Ecosystem Integration!

The inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS) launched its first cross-regional capacity development workshop on “Integrated Approaches and Evidence-Based Good Practices in Sustainable Land Management and Sustainable Forest Management for Advancing Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) Integration.” The event, held from May 12–16, 2025 at the Golden Tulip Taj Soltane Hotel in Hammamet, Tunisia, brought together over 60 experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across Africa, the Near East, and Latin America.

Organized under iRTP-WS Nexus workplan on Work Package 3: Nexus for Sustainability and linking to FAO Regional Priority 3 RP3 on greening agriculture, water and climate change, the five-day workshop focused on fostering cross-learning, capacity-building, and interregional dialogue to promote integrated solutions for climate-resilient landscapes and water scarcity challenges.

Day 1 of the workshop set the stage with a panel discussion highlighting key regional initiatives, including the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Landscapes, the KHIBRA knowledge platform, and the objectives of the iRTP-WS. Additionally, representatives from 10 countries presented their national experiences, lessons learned, and challenges in implementing sustainable land and water management projects.

Field Visits: Nature-Based Solutions in Action

On Day 2, participants traveled to Kairouan Governorate, where they visited a Farmer Field School in Chebika, showcasing adaptive wheat farming under arid conditions, and the historic Medina of Kairouan, offering cultural insight into the intersection of tradition and sustainable development. These field visits gave participants a firsthand look at nature-based solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives contributing to land restoration, water conservation, and climate resilience.

Advancing WEFE Nexus Decision Support Tools

The last day of the workshop is turned to spotlight nexus analytics and governance where  FAO new WEFE Nexus Decision Support Tool (WA/WEFE Engine) will be presented.

This pioneering workshop demonstrates  the value of interregional exchange, bridging diverse landscapes and institutional settings to co-create pathways toward sustainable water, land, and ecosystem management.

Stay tuned for the next iRTP-WS regional engagement and publications of the key outcomes and policy recommendations on WEFE for Resilience!