Thanks to significant work done by IRA and CRDA in organizing the GEA meeting in Djerba, NEXUS-NESS partners had a valuable opportunity to discuss and advance the development and implementation of the NEXUS-NESS solution and other project results, as well as to visit New Matmata and major sites of the Tunisian Nexus Ecosystem Lab (NEL), EcoMuseum of Arid Regions IRA headquarters where the partners met Mr. Sghaier NAJARI, General Director of the IRA Médenine.
The meeting started with opening remarks by Project Coordinator Fernando Nardi, who expressed his gratitude to Tunisian team for their amazing hospitality. This was followed by a welcome speech of IRA Head of Eremology and Combating Desertification Laboratory Mohamed Ouessar and his presentation of IRA and Technopark of the South Medenine.
The insightful study visit to IRA headquarters and major sites of the Tunisian NEL, was followed by two days of fruitful meetings and active discussions of current and future activities and goals of the project.
Work Package and Task Leaders reported on activities’ progress and challenges encountered. NEL Leaders provided updates about progress towards the WEFE Nexus transition in their NELs and results of recent workshops and other activities done with stakeholders. During this 3 days meeting the project partners successfully discussed the key components of the NEXUS-NESS solution and NEL challenges that have been addressed to mainstream the WEFE Nexus approach embracing the transdisciplinary NEXUS-NESS solution.
Some of the key contributions that characterized the Tunisia GEA meeting agenda with specific focus on the four NELs:
- Water resource sustainability for the Tunisia NEL of the New Matmata region and population engaging all stakeholders for social and geographic inclusivity while demonstrating benefits of WEFE Nexus for addressing water scarcity and ecosystem security;
- Alexandria University (AU) efforts in integrating the gender dimension in the WEFE Nexus transition and the integration of women into the decision-making process in the Egypt NEL. AU outlined key activities such as mapping groundwater resources, water infrastructure and soil resources, as well as on-site training sessions for Bedouins.
- The Spanish NEL of the Duero basin by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) that is emphasizing active participation and stakeholder engagement, with relevant ongoing work supporting the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) led by FEEM. WEFE Nexus scenarios for water and food security for the Spanish NEL transferred to stakeholders using the WATNEED science-driven WEFE Nexus model developed by POLIMI.
- The Italian NEL of Val di Cornia showed latest progresses with actions ranging from WEFE Nexus modelling platform development, based on FREEWAT open source science and technology, to training and capacity building. This work has involved a number of initiatives and communications aimed at regional stakeholders.
Photos: Design and Data