Water Challenges in the Maghreb and the Opportunities of the Mattei Plan

“For a fair, efficient, and sustainable management of water in the Mediterranean region.” This was the theme of the Tunisia Regional Meeting, held in Tunis on September 22–23. The One Water Committee participated in the event, presenting both the One Water project and the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum 2026, which will be hosted in Rome. The meeting was opened by CIHEAM Bari, which introduced the One Water initiative.

The Tunis gathering marked one of the most significant milestones in the lead-up to autumn 2026, with a key objective of strengthening cooperation between MENA and Balkan countries in the water sector. Around the table were representatives from Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya — a strategic region, especially in light of Italy’s renewed international leadership in water diplomacy, expressed through the initiatives of the Mattei Plan for Africa. Notably, most of the countries attending the meeting also host pilot projects under the Italian plan.

Water is one of the six priority areas outlined in the Mattei Plan, alongside agriculture. The link between these two sectors is inseparable and is expected to dominate future discussions on sustainable water management in the Mediterranean. In Tunis, particular attention was given to wastewater recycling and reuse — a topic closely tied to the “TANdem Italo-Tunisino” (TANIT) programme, part of the Mattei Plan. TANIT aims to modernize Tunisia’s agricultural sector by recovering and reusing wastewater, promoting more sustainable farming practices across the Mediterranean, with CIHEAM Bari playing a central role in its implementation.

Wastewater is a valuable resource, capable of ensuring a stable water supply for agriculture even during drought — a condition that has unfortunately become the norm in the Maghreb, now facing seven consecutive years of water crisis. Tunisia, the host country, is particularly affected, having recently experienced severe water shortages. Agriculture accounts for nearly 10% of the national GDP and employs about 15% of the workforce.

In response, last May, Tunisia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh, launched the country’s first cloud seeding operation. The initiative aimed to increase condensation nuclei in clouds and enhance their reflectivity above the Sidi Salem Dam — Tunisia’s largest reservoir, which holds 28.5% of the nation’s total water reserves. In recent years, Tunisia has shown growing interest in weather modification techniques to combat drought.

These issues [set the stage for] broader discussions during the meeting on the challenges and opportunities of technological agriculture. One solution highlighted was drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to plant roots, improving efficiency and reducing waste.

The need for sustainable water management in the Mediterranean is not limited to technical experts — it is an interdisciplinary concern. The population of Maghreb countries is projected to reach 131.9 million by 2050, a demographic trend that will significantly impact water demand for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. This scenario urges governments to invest in expanding local water reserves — a concern that also affects countries like Italy, whose population is expected to decline from 59 million in 2022 to 54.4 million by 2050.

Countries such as Tunisia and Morocco have identified potential solutions, including seawater desalination. The short-term goal is to increase desalination capacity — an investment that could benefit all partners within the socio-economic cooperation framework between Italy and Africa promoted by the Mattei Plan.

These challenges and opportunities were thoroughly examined during the Tunisia Regional Meeting, thanks to the insights shared by institutions and professionals from across the region. The event provided a valuable foundation of knowledge and experience [in anticipation of] the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum 2026.