Project type 

Waste Management Dashboard (Jendouba) and Strategic Vision for a Circular Economy (Kasserine)

Partnership

Municipalities of Jendouba and Kasserine (Tunisia) | Cities of Wolfsburg (for Jendouba) and Munich (for Kasserine) (Germany) | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – KWT II Regional Project |

Directorate General for External Relations and Decentralized International Cooperation, Ministry of Interior (Tunisia) | Engagement Global gGmbH / Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW)

Funding

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |

Total cost of the project: 13,060.00 TND (~3,870.00 €)

Start Date

Jendouba Dashboard: launched in 202 1

Kasserine Strategic Vision: launched in 2021 | KWT II: March 2020 – February 2024

Location

Municipalities of Jendouba (northwest) and Kasserine (central-west), inland Tunisia

Scaling Up

Follow-up regional project “Urban Adaptation to Climate Change in the Maghreb” (March 2024 – February 2027)

In Jendouba, the approach was structured around three phases: collection of administrative data, application of the quantitative waste characterization method, mapping of the spatial organization of waste collection and assessment of the baseline situation; analysis of the data, including the determination of performance indicators and identification of strengths and weaknesses; and finally, consolidation through the creation of a digital interface for monitoring the indicators (dashboard) and the development of strategic recommendations for the recovery of organic waste.

In Kasserine, the approach consisted of four stages: identification of the characteristics of the municipal sanitation department (staff, collection methods, illegal dumping sites and waste disposal); analysis of the physical composition of urban waste based on a characterization study conducted in 2021; development of strategic guidelines (waste sorting and selective collection system, composting unit, home composting, drop-off points, selective collection of coffee grounds, and a digital waste management plan); and development of a communication and awareness-raising strategy.

Around thirty virtual and in-person interactions took place between stakeholders from the Tunisian and German cities. Jendouba drew on the experience of Wolfsburg and Kasserine on that of Munich, particularly in waste management and the circular economy approach. Close, on-the-ground support provided by civil society organizations was a key factor in the success of both projects.

Results Achieved

• Four performance indicators determined in Jendouba: HSW collection rate (60%), coverage rate (75%), daily waste generation (1.5 kg/inhabitant/day), and average collection cost (TND 78/ton)
• Household waste composition analyzed in Jendouba: organic matter (63.2%), plastics (9.4%), textiles (8.7%), paper and cardboard (8.6%), metals (1.6%), and glass (1.1%)
• Strategic recommendations and guidelines developed for the recovery of organic waste in Jendouba (reorganization of collection routes, waste sorting at source, composting, and awareness campaigns)
• Strategic guidelines and a detailed action plan developed for a circular economy approach in Kasserine
• Two decision-support tools established: a dashboard (Jendouba) and a strategic vision (Kasserine) – the first initiatives of their kind in both cities
• Several virtual and in-person interactions organized between Tunisian stakeholders and their German partners

Lessons Learned

• Build on existing experience: Jendouba drew on the experience of Wolfsburg and Kasserine on that of Munich, through virtual and in-person exchanges on waste management and the circular economy
• Adopt a participatory approach: the success of both projects depended on the involvement of local stakeholders and the commitment of civil society organizations
• Adopt a change-management approach, supported by civil society organisations, to support local stakeholders in their waste recovery efforts;
• Strengthen municipal engagement from the outset: close, on-the-ground support is essential to mobilize stakeholders and ensure the implementation of the recommendations