ERUDITE Laboratory: Localising the SDGs in Three Tunisian Cities

The ERUDITE research laboratory travelled to three Tunisian cities to conduct a localisation assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

  • In the south of the country, Sened is a historic troglodyte city with a rich Amazigh heritage, around which a new town was developed under President Bourguiba.
  • Sejnane is characterised by a significant forest ecosystem.
  • Kelibia, located on the coast, has undergone rapid urban development, accompanied by substantial informal urban expansion.

These three cities are among the least developed areas in Tunisia.

Mandated by the Tunisian Government, the UN-Habitat Tunisia office commissioned Amina Béji-Bécheur (co-founder of the Chair) and Thomas Barré (researcher at the ERUDITE laboratory) to carry out a diagnostic study on SDG localisation.

During the mission, the researchers also met with teams from the University of Gafsa (see photo).

This fieldwork marks the beginning of a project to develop an SDG localisation platform, set to launch in autumn 2025. The initiative will be coordinated by Thomas Barré on behalf of Université Gustave Eiffel and Majdi Frihi on behalf of UN-Habitat.

 

From left to right: Amina Béji-Bécheur (Associate Professor, Université Gustave Eiffel), Thomas Barré (Associate Professor, Université Gustave Eiffel), Aida Robbana (Head of Office, UN-Habitat Tunisia), Walid Bel Haj Ali, Majdi Frihi (Project Manager, UN-Habitat Tunisia).