OSS and AFD Strengthen Their Cooperation to Promote Agroecological Knowledge for Climate Adaptation in the Mediterranean

The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a financing agreement in Tunis on Tuesday, 13 October, to promote agroecological knowledge and local practices that support climate change adaptation in rural areas along the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

The signing ceremony took place at the OSS headquarters in the presence of Mr Nabil Ben Khatra, OSS Executive Secretary; H.E. Ms Anne Guéguen, Ambassador of France to Tunisia; and Mr Christophe Cottet, AFD Director in Tunisia.

With a budget of €150,000, the project is co-financed by the OSS, AFD and the European Union under the AdaptAction–ACAMED programme. It builds on longstanding cooperation between the OSS and French institutions in the areas of sustainable natural resource management, climate adaptation and support for public policies.

Over generations, communities in Mediterranean rural areas have developed practices adapted to water scarcity, drought and land degradation. These forms of knowledge are essential to sustaining agricultural activities and preserving natural resources, yet they often remain insufficiently documented and underrepresented in climate adaptation policies.

The project aims to document, analyse and promote this knowledge, particularly in the areas of water and soil management, seeds, agrobiodiversity and oasis systems. Particular attention will be given to the knowledge held and passed down by rural women.

By bringing together local knowledge, scientific expertise and Mediterranean experiences, the initiative will help identify the most relevant practices, assess their potential for adaptation in other areas and formulate recommendations to inform public decision-making.

The project will deliver a structured analysis of agroecological knowledge, a comparative study of Mediterranean experiences and a regional roundtable bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and representatives of local communities.

Through this new project, the OSS continues to fulfil its mission in support of its member countries: putting knowledge and regional cooperation at the service of better-informed decisions and climate adaptation that delivers tangible benefits for local populations.