Background
Deconstructing Scarcity
Research Background

Tataouine in southern Tunisia are marked by a deep legacy of vernacular water practices, developed over centuries by resilient local communities. Today, these systems coexist with formal water infrastructures that often reflect top-down approaches, disconnected from local needs and ecologies. This coproductive research project Deconstructing Scarcity challenges the dominant understanding of scarcity as mere absence or lack, instead reframing it as a constructed concept tied to governance, knowledge hierarchies, and value systems. By exploring the interactions between formal and vernacular systems, the research seeks to uncover how alternative logics and practices of water management can foster resilience and sustainability. This approach highlights the importance of co-produced knowledge that integrates cultural relevance, ecological thinking, and grounded community engagement.

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X About Tataouine
X Tataouine Water Assessment
Objectives
Deconstructing Scarcity
Research Objectives

This research aims to explore how the interaction between vernacular and formal water systems in Tataouine can inform alternative, culturally grounded strategies for resilience. By deconstructing the notion of scarcity, the project seeks to co-produce knowledge and practices that support sustainable water management and integrated urban development in the face of climate and socio-economic challenges.

Methodology
Deconstructing Scarcity
Research Methodology

The project adopts a co-production research approach, grounded in participatory methods that actively involve local communities, civil society, and institutions. Through interviews, workshops, mapping exercises, and collaborative analysis, it seeks to bridge vernacular knowledge and formal systems to better understand water management dynamics in Tataouine. Emphasis is placed on mutual learning, inclusive dialogue, and context-sensitive tools that enable stakeholders to shape the research process and co-design sustainable, locally relevant solutions.

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> Data Collection Methods
Timeline
Deconstructing Scarcity
Research Timeline

This is a five-month exploratory research project running from November 2024 to March 2025. It is structured around eight key milestones that include stakeholder mapping, data collection, community workshops, and co-production activities. Each phase is designed to build upon the previous one, ensuring a participatory and iterative process that centres local engagement and knowledge throughout the research cycle.

Ethics
Deconstructing Scarcity
Ethical Process

This research adheres to a rigorous ethical framework that prioritises transparency, inclusivity, and respect for all participants. All materials are translated into Arabic and French to ensure accessibility, and stakeholder engagement has been carried out through diverse and inclusive channels. Informed consent, data protection under GDPR, and prior agreements with institutions have been fundamental throughout the process. Stakeholders are continuously involved, with outputs reviewed and approved before public dissemination. The project is firmly guided by principles of autonomy, confidentiality, and collaborative co-production.

Partners
Deconstructing Scarcity
Partners, Institutions & Funders

This project is a collaborative initiative between Œcumene Spaces for Dignity (via Tamkeen for Development in Tunisia) and the Leeds Architecture and Urbanism Research Group at the University of Leeds. It is carried out in close partnership with local stakeholders in Tataouine, including community organisations, civil society actors, and institutional bodies.

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Team
Deconstructing Scarcity
Meet the team

The research is led by a transdisciplinary team combining academic researchers, local facilitators, and field-based practitioners. The team includes experts in participatory urbanism, water systems, integrated planning, and co-production methodologies, working collaboratively across geographic and institutional boundaries. With strong ties to the region and deep engagement in the field, the team ensures both scientific rigour and grounded, culturally informed approaches to resilience-building in Tataouine.

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Background
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Objectives
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Methodology
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Timeline
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Ethics
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Partners
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
Team
Rethinking scarcity through system interactions
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The Centre Régional de Développement Agricole (CRDA) Tataouine- Tunisia

CRDA is a governmental body responsible for promoting agricultural development in the region. It works to improve agricultural productivity, support rural development, and enhance the sustainable management of natural resources to meet the needs of local communities.

CRDA is a governmental body responsible for promoting agricultural development in the region. It works to improve agricultural productivity, support rural development, and enhance the sustainable management of natural resources to meet the needs of local communities.

The Commune de Tataouine serves as the municipal authority for the city of Tataouine, located in the southern part of Tunisia. The municipality is responsible for local governance, urban planning, and the provision of public services to enhance the quality of life for its residents.

SEPJT is dedicated to improving the environmental conditions and greenery of Tataouine. Their work involves various initiatives such as planting trees, maintaining public green spaces, and promoting sustainable gardening practices to combat desertification and enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban areas. Additionally, SEPT is involved in implementing flood protection measures, including the construction and rehabilitation of embankments and dams, to safeguard the city from flood risks and improve resilience against climate challenges.

ADES, established in 2012, focuses on promoting sustainable local development in the Medenine region and the southeastern part of Tunisia. The NGO plays an active role in addressing the challenges of regional development by engaging local communities in participatory governance, implementing numerous projects, organizing workshops and events, and providing valuable resources such as a digital library and educational materials for students and researchers.

 

An NGO based in Tataouine, aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of the region by fostering civic participation among young people. The organization focuses on empowering youth through various initiatives, promoting active involvement in local community development, and encouraging the participation of young people in shaping the region’s future.

 ESAD in Tunisia is a prestigious institution that has been providing high-level training for over 20 years. Accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, ESAD specializes in educating visionary architects, innovative designers, and talented professionals in cinema and audiovisual fields. The institution focuses on inspiring students to push the boundaries of creativity and develop as influential creators in their respective domains, with a strong emphasis on research, hands-on projects, and interdisciplinary learning.

Leeds Social Sciences Institute is a cross-faculty platform which supports interdisciplinary collaboration across the University of Leeds and with external stakeholders. We are dedicated to bringing the varied expertise and methodologies of the social sciences to bear on the complex societal challenges facing the world. 

Œcumene Spaces For Dignity is an international platform dedicated to participatory urban development, social equity, and spatial justice in Africa and the MENA region. It supports communities in reclaiming their rights to the city by fostering inclusive planning, co-design approaches, and collaborative research-action initiatives. The platform promotes innovative strategies that empower communities, enabling local actors to develop sustainable solutions adapted to their unique contexts.