The Project Kick-off Session
[November 2024]
[November 2024]
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At the kickoff session, Insaf Ben Othmane Hamrouni presented the Tataouine water management research project, highlighting its co-productive, ethically grounded approach that centres local knowledge, community involvement, and sustainable development through a multidisciplinary team.
Core Objectives:
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The Deconstructing Scarcity research project aims to investigate the complexities of water management in Tataouine, with a focus on resilience, equity, and climate adaptation. The initiative seeks to move beyond dominant scarcity narratives by exploring the interrelations between formal and vernacular water systems, socio-ecological dynamics, and local coping strategies. Through a systems-thinking lens, the project seeks to co-produce knowledge that informs inclusive, sustainable water governance and urban development practices, rooted in local realities.
Timeline & team
During the kickoff session in November 2024, the project’s timeline and key milestones were presented, outlining a phased approach: initial scoping and stakeholder engagement, fieldwork and data collection, co-production workshops, and dissemination of outcomes. The research is led with a multidisciplinary team composed primarily of local actors. The involvement of community leaders, practitioners, young professionals, and researchers from the region is a deliberate choice, recognising the value of situated knowledge and the importance of fostering ownership and long-term impact.
Initiating the Co-Production Approach
The kickoff meeting served as a foundational moment for embedding co-production into the research process. It introduced participants to a methodology that prioritises collaboration, mutual learning, and shared decision-making. Rather than positioning local communities as subjects of research, the project adopts an inclusive framework where they serve as active contributors and co-researchers. This shift was made explicit from the outset, establishing a collective understanding of roles, expectations, and opportunities for engagement throughout the research phases.
Ethical Commitment and Shared Values
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A core element of the kickoff session was a discussion of the project’s ethical commitments, particularly the importance of fostering trust, transparency, and accountability among all involved actors. Ethical approval procedures were introduced not as a bureaucratic formality, but as part of a broader moral framework guiding the research. The team reaffirmed their commitment to cultural sensitivity, non-extractive practices, and long-term reciprocity. Central values—such as respect, humility, shared responsibility, and care—were openly acknowledged as essential to building meaningful relationships and ensuring that the research process contributes positively to the local context.
Initial Site Visit
The research team conducted an initial site visit to the city of Tataouine and its surrounding rural areas, including Chennini and Ghomrasen. The purpose of this visit was twofold: first, to gain firsthand insight into the geographical and socio-economic context of water access in the region, and second, to establish initial contact with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that could serve as future partners in our research. Engaging with local stakeholders allowed us to gain valuable preliminary insights into the challenges faced by communities regarding water scarcity, as well as to identify key actors involved in water management and sustainability efforts.
Aerial Perspective of Chennini:
Aerial view from the top of Chennini old village, showing how the Joussor and Tawabi system shapes the landscape. The green vegetation aligns with the locations of the Joussor and Tawabi.
Dry Stone Weir (Menfes):
A dry stone weir (Menfes) on the plains leading to Chennini, part of the Joussor & Tawabi system. It helps discharge excess runoff water and directs it to a neighboring Jesr.
Traditional Infrastructure & Topography:
Aerial view of the old village of Chennini, featuring its cave dwellings (Koussour) and winding pathways. A stepped channel runs through the village, directing rainwater from the hills down to the Joussour system
Traditional Water Management in Tlelet:
An olive field in Tlelet, featuring a Masrab (channel) in the center of the image. The channel guides runoff water into a Jabeya (sediment trap) before it reaches a Majel (traditional underground water tank).
Urban Upgrading in Tataouine:
A main public space in Tataouine overlooking Cité Tahrir. Recently upgraded through a partnership between the Municipality and City Alliance. The green space is present but sparse.
Footpath to Old Chennini:
The path leading up to the old village of Chennini, still accessible only by foot or donkey. Contemporary infrastructure, including an overground water connection, overhead power cables, and a telecom tower, is visible along the path.
Second Site Visit (14-16th of Nov. 2024)
Our second site visit, which took place over three days from November 14th to 16th, aimed to strengthen our engagement with key stakeholders in Tataouine & Medenine. During this visit, we formally presented the research project and its timeline, established collaborations by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners, and conducted initial qualitative interviews. These interviews, both semi-structured and open-ended, provided valuable insights into local perspectives on water scarcity, governance frameworks, and existing management approaches.
Throughout the visit, we successfully engaged with several key institutions and actors, including IRA Medenine, IRA Tataouine, CRDA Tataouine, the Municipality of Tataouine, civil society organizations, and the headquarters of SONEDE. Additionally, we carried out field visits and excursions in Chennini, Maztouria, and Tlelet to explore areas where traditional water management techniques were still in use. These excursions allowed us to interact directly with local farmers and pastoralists, who shared their knowledge of water conservation, the cultural and societal values embedded in water governance, and the deep connection between water, land, and identity.
The visit proved to be highly productive, both logistically and in terms of outreach. From a research perspective, the qualitative data we collected laid a solid foundation for further analysis, enhancing our understanding of existing literature on the subject. Furthermore, these findings contributed to shaping the next phases of our research, informing the methodologies and tools for the upcoming co-production workshop.
Soliman’s Story:
Interview with Soliman, a local shepherd in Chennini, Tataouine. He explains how, during droughts, the Joussour provide one of the few remaining sources of fodder for his flock and offer shade under the palm trees.
Oral Histories of Resilience:
Yacine Bouchriha explaining the construction of one of the oldest Joussour systems in Chennini. He describes how it was gradually raised with dry stone layers as sediment accumulated behind it, reaching its current height.
Field Collaboration:
Site Coordinator Sarra El Malki with CRDA officials observing a local worker from the Société de l'Environnement, de la Plantation et du Jardinage de Tataouine constructing a dry stone weir for the Joussor system using traditional techniques.
From Vital Resource to Relic:
Yacine Bouchriha and Sarra Melki examining a water spring in Chennini. Once used for drinking water, it is no longer relied upon due to concerns about water quality and salinity.
Commissariat régional de développement agricoleEffectuer
Interview with Mr. Mongi Cheniter, Head of CRDA Tataouine.
Modern Adaptations:
CRDA officials inspecting the water level in a Feskeya (a modern Majel) made of reinforced concrete and stone.
Water Management and Ancestral Practices
Mr. Kheir El Dein Helali
Commissariat Régional au Développement Agricole - CRDA Tataouine
Location : Chennini Tataouine
Commissariat Régional au Développement Agricole - CRDA Tataouine
Location : Chennini Tataouine
In this video, Mr. Kheir El Dein Helali from CRDA Tataouine provides an overview of Chennini's landscape. He highlights the ancestral tawabi, the surrounding trees, and the government's water management efforts in the wadi, such as gabion barrages. These measures help recharge the shallow groundwater table. He also points out the contrast in vegetation, emphasizing the greener area with olive trees and cultivated crops used for livestock feed.
Adapting to Climate Change: Traditional Water Techniques
Mr. Lotfi – Local Farmer, Tataouine
Location : Tlelet Tataouine
Location : Tlelet Tataouine
In this video, Mr. Lotfi, a local farmer from Tataouine, explains the use of a traditional water conservation technique called the wabia. Similar to the jesr but on a smaller scale, the wabia consists of a berm made of soil and dry stones to capture rainwater, particularly effective on elevated land. By implementing this method, even minimal rainfall can be utilized, helping trees thrive despite water scarcity. He highlights the impact of climate change on Tunisia and emphasizes the importance of adapting through techniques like wabias and jessour to sustain agriculture in the region.
Preserving Rainfed Agriculture
Mr. Yacine Bouchriha
Local Council member of Chennini, Tataouine
Location : Chennini Tataouine
Local Council member of Chennini, Tataouine
Location : Chennini Tataouine
"In this video, Mr. Yacine Bouchriha, a Local Council member of Chennini, explains the significance of a nearly 100-year-old stone weir (menfess) within the jesr. Over time, layers of stone have been added to maintain its water storage capacity for surrounding trees. He highlights the stepped design, which enhances structural stability and reduces water erosion. The weir plays a vital role in replenishing the shallow groundwater table, as seen in a nearby well that had been dry for years but recently regained water after rainfall. These structures are crucial for sustaining rainfed agriculture in Chennini.
Blending Tradition and Innovation
Mr. Mongi Cheniter
Head of Commissariat Régional au Développement Agricole - CRDA Tataouine
Location : CRDA HQ, Tataouine
Head of Commissariat Régional au Développement Agricole - CRDA Tataouine
Location : CRDA HQ, Tataouine
In this video, Mr. Mongy Cheniter, head of CRDA Tataouine, discusses the evolution of water management in the region. While traditional techniques like jessour and stone mounds continue to be effective, they have been complemented by modern wadi upgrade projects, including gabion barrages. He explains how these structures slow water flow, support agriculture, and require ongoing maintenance. The authorities play a key role in preserving these systems, from decentralized upkeep to broader runoff water management.
The Majel: Mr. Lotfi on Traditional Rainwater Harvesting and Family Traditions in Tlelet
Mr. Lotfi
Local Farmer, Tataouine
Location : Tlelet Tataouine
Local Farmer, Tataouine
Location : Tlelet Tataouine
In this video, Mr. Mongy Cheniter, head of CRDA Tataouine, discusses the evolution of water management in the region. While traditional techniques like jessour and stone mounds continue to be effective, they have been complemented by modern wadi upgrade projects, including gabion barrages. He explains how these structures slow water flow, support agriculture, and require ongoing maintenance. The authorities play a key role in preserving these systems, from decentralized upkeep to broader runoff water management.
The coproductive['on] Workshop
A week-long workshop in Tataouine operationalised co-production to explore the dynamics between vernacular and formal water systems. Click to read how six collaborative axes shaped a unique methodological and ethical approach to participatory research.