Cases, Culture & Identity, social cohesion, social rights
The community initiative in the El Menzel neighbourhood of Gabès, Tunisia
Gabès, located in southeastern Tunisia, is a coastal city home to the only maritime oasis in the Mediterranean. The oasis embodies the city’s identity and there has been a historical dialogue between the oasis and the El Menzel Neighborhood. This is a very old historic neighborhood in the style of a medina, characterized by very narrow, winding alleys and inward-facing houses. It suffers from the deterioration of its buildings and infrastructure: Deterioration of facades, Paving in disrepair, Faulty street lighting, Unmaintained public spaces (squares and small plazas)
Tags: Culture, urban planning, public services, infrastructures, development, social inclusion, gender inclusion, urban gender planning
Challenges addressed
The condition of the neighbourhood has created a sense of insecurity among residents, especially among working women who are forced to walk through these alleys late at night. Therefore, the challenges to be addressed were nighttime insecurity for women and children, as well as enabling women’s right to public spaces (squares, small plazas, gardens, etc.)
Main objectives
- Increase women and children access to public spaces
- Enable women’s right to the city at night
- Make the neighbourhood a safe and livable place for all
Facts
| Project type | Renovation of public space, improving lighting, culture and heritage |
| Partnership |
Civil Society – Government of the region of Gabès |
| Start date | 2018 |
Project description
In 2018, the neighbourhood’s residents decided to work together to change the situation and create a space that is sustainable and livable for all members of society—whether residents (men, women, children, people with disabilities, etc.) or even the artisans and merchants of the neighbourhood’s nearby souk. Civil society organizations joined this spontaneous movement led by residents and participated in the neighbourhood’s renovation and revitalization.
With the support of the government of the region of Gabès, a project of restoration, redevelopment, renovation, revitalization, and enhancement of this historic neighbourhood was developed. The project included: Maintenance of public spaces, Planting of trees and shrubs, Facade beautification (painting walls and window frames in the neighbourhood’s symbolic colours, wall calligraphy, decoration with flower pots, etc.); Maintenance of stone paving; Cleaning of alleys and small squares; Repair of malfunctioning streetlights
Impact and results
- A clean and livable neighbourhood
- Beautiful, uniform facades (paint, decoration, greenery, etc.)
- A public space designed to welcome women and their children
- Streetlights in operation to ensure women’s safety
- Paving in good condition
- Neighbourhood events, including numerous festivals, religious celebrations, artistic evenings, and even night markets during the holy month of Ramadan,…
- Now, the women of the neighbourhood have access to public spaces and can use them safely.
Publications & main documents related to the case
MORE CONTENTS
Follow up by other projects
Souk El Menzel Eco-Neighbourhood Project and the Oasis-Style Façade, as part of the decentralized cooperation initiative between the municipality of Gabès and that of Saint-Brieuc in France (was under study).
