The initiative “Preliminary actions for fostering Echoregions (Bioterritoires) in Tunisia” is a pivotal cooperation project between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and CIHEAM Bari, providing essential technical and methodological support to Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture (DGAB) for the establishment of the first Bioterritoires on the African continent. This project directly responds to a request from the Tunisian government to receive assistance in creating these agro-ecological zones, with the overarching goal of contributing to the country’s socioeconomic stability and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through enhanced natural resource management and economic resilience.

The initiative focused on five pilot zones—Haouaria, Hazoua, Majel Bel Abbes, Kesra, and Sejnene—spread across Tunisia’s agro-ecological regions. The project adopted a comprehensive participatory approach, conducting multi-stakeholder analyses across five key components: Economic/Financial, Legal, Technical, Socio-Community, and Environmental. This integrated methodology was crucial for defining the basic conditions for the establishment of Tunisian Bioterritoires, aligning perfectly with both national priorities and international standards, particularly those established by IN.N.E.R. (International Network of Eco Regions). Key progress included significant capacity building for ministerial staff and local development groups, and the initial drafting of legal, technical, and financial tools necessary for the Bioterritoires’ formal operations.

A strong emphasis was placed on gender issues, ensuring the significant presence and involvement of Tunisian women operators (comprising 51% of the established promoter groups). However, the studies revealed critical challenges. The existing regulatory framework requires amendments to simplify bureaucratic processes and enable clear financial support mechanisms. Furthermore, there is a distinct lack of specific, integrated financial tools tailored for Bioterritoires, leading to a need for targeted subsidies and accessible microfinance, particularly to support the strong entrepreneurial dynamism observed among women and young people. Ultimately, the project's relevance lies in having produced comprehensive national guidelines and an action plan that details the necessary steps for the preliminary assessment and path toward becoming a Bioterritoire.

These guidelines, which blend Tunisian history in the organic sector with Italian and CIHEAM Bari expertise, have laid the foundational methodological basis for this innovative approach to integrated territorial development. The successful engagement of over 104 members in the promoter groups, including significant participation in B2B meetings during the closing seminar, highlights the authentic motivation for endogenous networking. The implementation of a proposed second phase is now crucial to translate these planning achievements into the concrete reality of establishing the first African Bioterritoires.