Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND) Assessment Report of Prevailing Situations in Rural Areas in Tunisia E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2020/TP.2 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND) Report on the Baseline Study for Tunisia UNITED NATIONS Beirut 19-01065_Regend_Tunisia_IP(Corrected 31July).indd 1 8/17/20 11:25 AM © 2020 United Nations All rights reserved worldwide Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), e-mail: [email protected]. 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Photo credit: Cover: © iStock.com Inside Images: © iStock.com and © Author 19-01065_Regend_Tunisia_IP(Corrected 31July).indd 2 8/30/20 9:53 PM 3 Preface This baseline study report was developed inputs and substantive contribution were by the Energy Section in the Climate Change also provided by Mr. Mohamed Abdessalem, and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Central Director, Regional Development (CCNRS) of the United Nations Economic General Commission (CGDR); Mr. Nafaa and Social Commission for Western Asia Baccari, Director of Renewable Energy (ESCWA) within the framework of the Department and Head of Field Crops “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Department, National Agency for Energy Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas Conservation (ANME), Tunisia; Ms. Helene of the Arab Region” (REGEND), implemented Ben Khemis, Chief of Section, ANME, Tunisia; by ESCWA in partnership with the Swedish Ms. Kaouther Kouki, Chief of Service, Agence International Development Cooperation de Promotion des Investissements Agricoles Agency (Sida). (APIA); Mr. Rafik Missaoui, Sustainable Energy Policies Expert, ALCOR, Tunisia; The REGEND project focuses on three Ms. Hedia Sassi Chaabouni Director Société pilot countries, namely Tunisia, Lebanon, Nationale D’exploitation et de Distribution and Jordan and includes baseline studies des Eaux (SONEDE), Tunisia; Mr. Jil Amine, as preliminary assessment of prevailing Sustainable Development Officer, CCNRS, situations in rural areas of each of the pilot ESCWA; and Mr. Mohammed Zied Gannar, countries to collect existing and relevant Economic Officer, CCNRS, ESCWA. qualitative and quantitative information regarding, energy and rural development needs which will serve as a basis for the identification of the main key issues to be addressed, potentials and opportunities for Data sources safe and sustainable use of renewable energy, and possible strategies and interventions This report relies on data collected from a (information and awareness campaigns, combination of data sources, data collected training, research, projects, policies). The in the field, and data provided by key assessment study served to select the local national stakeholders and the members communities where the project activities will of REGEND’s Local Facilitating Team: be undertaken, especially pilot projects. Commissariat Général de Développement Régionale (CGDR), Agence Nationale pour la The present report covers the case study Maitrise de l’Energie (ANME), and Agence for Tunisia, and was prepared by Mr. Khaled de Promotion des Investissements Agricoles Bedoui, Sustainable Development Expert, (APIA), Municipality of Chorbane, as well with substantive contribution and under key stakeholders interviewed as well the the supervision of Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief outcomes of the focus group discussion on Energy Section, CCNRS, ESCWA. Valuable the development of the study. | Preface 19-01065_Regend_Tunisia_IP(Corrected 31July).indd 3 8/17/20 11:25 AM 19-01065_Regend_Tunisia_IP(Corrected 31July).indd 4 8/17/20 11:25 AM 5 Executive Summary The United Nations Economic and Social (GDP) growth of 2.6 per cent, well below the Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) economic potential. is implementing the Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Modest improvement in the economic Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab region activity in 2018 could not ease job market (REGEND) in partnership with the Swedish deficiencies at the structural level as much International Development Cooperation as the operational one, with the situation Agency (Sida). The project aims to improve characterized by high rates of unemployment livelihoods and economic benefits in rural (15.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2019, and communities, particularly among marginalized much higher among rural populations, women, groups, and promote social inclusion and youth and skilled workers). gender equality. It seeks to satisfy energy needs and showcase the effectiveness of the The development model has also led to wide bottom-up approach in achieving results by regional disparities, between coastal and addressing energy poverty, water scarcity interior regions, and urban and rural ones. and vulnerability to climate change and Concurrently, disparities in gender and other natural resources challenges. Pro-poor education persist, particularly affecting inland investments will be promoted using appropriate regions, rural populations, women and higher small-scale renewable energy technologies education graduates. to facilitate productive activities and develop entrepreneurial opportunities. In 2018, the national regional development indicator decreased, and most governorates A baseline study was developed within the saw a decline in their Regional Development REGEND framework, and an assessment Indicator (RDI). Regional imbalance is conducted to guide REGEND’s future activities considered one of the most important issues in Tunisia. This assessment covered the facing the country. Indeed, Tunisia is effectively following: socioeconomic and political split into two: coastal regions, with basic dynamics, and environmental considerations socio-health infrastructure far exceeding the linked to productive activities by sector; access national average, and the interior western and to energy services and availability of supply rural regions, where, with few exceptions, sources; and the associated technologies economic activity is reduced to agriculture and needed to support resilience in rural small-scale commerce, and the unemployment communities. The main findings are as follows. rate exceeds 40 per cent. Inequalities between people from different regions, genders and Tunisia has taken important steps to advance educational backgrounds are persistent, its democratic transition but remains fragile to profound and, to some extent, structural. economic, security and social shocks. Growth has been stagnating, with little reduction in Poverty is primarily a rural phenomenon in the unemployment rate, and elevated fiscal Tunisia. The North-West and Centre-West are and current account deficits. For 2018, data the poorest parts of the country with the highest shows an annual gross domestic product level of rurality. This applies both for income | Executive Summary 19-01065_Regend_Tunisia_IP(Corrected 31July).indd 5 8/17/20 11:25 AM 6 poverty and human development indicators The second part of the study focuses on such as stunting, health outcomes and maternal the selection of the pilot rural community, mortality. Access to energy and drinking water, based on defined criteria validated with key sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is stakeholders. Two rural communities were inequitably distributed between urban and rural initially shortlisted, Chorbane in Mahdia, and areas and among governorates. Maamoura in Nabeul. At the national level, the access rates to drinking During the assessment, numerous interviews water (97 per cent in 2017), electricity (99.8 per were conducted with the leaders of targeted cent) and sanitation (93.6 per cent) indicate a stakeholders, including the Mutual Agricultural positive environment, but challenges remain Services Company (SMSA), women’s in poverty and WASH service coverage. The agricultural development groups (GDAs), greatest deficiencies in access to water and non-governmental organizations (NGOs),