Local CSOs at the forefront of sustainable tourism—Mubadarat supports exchange and capacity building

In North Africa, many civil society associations are developing sustainable tourism initiatives that rely on the natural and cultural riches of their territory. These projects, often led by young people or women, combine environmental preservation, enhancement of heritage and local development.

To support them, the Mubadarat program recently organized a training dedicated to this theme. From June 23 to 25, 2025, Tunisia hosted a regional workshop entitled ‘Sustainable tourism & ecotourism’., as part of a training cycle aimed at strengthening Mediterranean civil society organizations (CSOs) around Nature-based Solutions (SfN). Organized as part of the IUCN MED Mubadarat program, with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), this workshop brought together 43 representatives from associations coming from five countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Lebanon.

A training for key actors of the ecological transition

The objective of this training was clear: Create a space for exchange, share concrete tools for project design, and strengthen collective capacities and equip the Mediterranean CSOs—true actors of inclusive ecological transition — by providing them with practical skills to design and implement concrete, sustainable and mobilizing projects, rooted in the SfN. This initiative is part of the mission of the Mubadarat program, which aims to:

• Strengthen the technical and strategic capacities of local CSOs;
  Promote the inclusion of young people and women in environmental projects;
  Encourage local development models based on sustainable employment and ecological resilience.

The exchanges made it possible to address challenges frequently encountered by associations: uncertain legal framework, involvement of local communities, sustainability of projects beyond funding, access to the tourism market, etc.

A three-step training

Day 1: Understanding the principles of sustainable tourism

The first day was devoted to the acquisition of fundamental principles and concrete tools around sustainable tourism applied to NGOs. The participants addressed:

• An overview of tourism in the Mediterranean;
  Results and impact-oriented approaches;
  Lessons learned from the tourism sub-grants of the Mubadarat programme;
  Community tourism development and local stakeholder engagement;
  Tourism in protected areas: governance, product development, market access, visitor management and best practices.

Day 2: Field visits to Ichkeul and Ghar El Melh

The second day offered participants an immersive experience in the field, through two emblematic visits:

• Ichkeul National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the discussion focused on ecotourism, protected area management and community tourism.
  The wetland and coastal area of Ghar El Melh, recognized for its cultural richness and efforts to adapt to climate change. The exchanges focused on heritage preservation, management of tourism pressures and local adaptation strategies.

Day 3: Towards concrete projects

The third day allowed participants to translate the training’s achievements into project ideas. In a participatory dynamic, they explored:

• The SfN project design methodology;
• The integration of social inclusion (gender and youth) in planning;
• Practical work to outline sustainable, locally rooted, inclusive and solution-oriented projects for Mediterranean ecosystems.

This training offered a space for learning and co-construction between Mediterranean associative actors, demonstrating once again that tourism, if well thought out, can become a powerful lever for sustainable local development, of ecosystem preservation and community resilience.

The Mubadarat approach aims to highlight the field experience of CSOs, while offering them methodological benchmarks, resources and networking opportunities. The programme is thus part of a regional dynamic that recognizes the central role of civil society in building more sustainable and fairer tourism.

To learn more about the training cycle of the Mubadarat program around Nature-based Solutions, click here.