Photo credit ecofinagency
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend EUR 30 million (USD 34 million) to Tunisia toimprove access to drinking water and strengthen the country’s ability to adapt to climate change.
EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris made the announcement on April 28 and 29 during a visit to Tunis.
The funds will support two separate loans. A total of EUR 22 million will go to Tunisia’s national water utility, SONEDE, to complete a key project to secure drinking water supplies for Greater Tunis. The plan includes the construction of a new treatment plant in Bejaoua, the laying of pipelines and the installation of pumping stations and water tanks. The goal is to prepare for a projected 50% increase in demand by 2040, ecofinagency reports.
The second loan, worth €8 million, will be granted directly to the Tunisian government. It will support broader efforts to improve public access to clean water and strengthen sanitation systems, in partnership with SONEDE and the national sanitation utility ONAS.
“Through these two partnerships with the Tunisian government, SONEDE, and ONAS, the EIB is supporting practical, people-centered solutions. Whether it is about securing access to clean drinking water or improving sanitation through nature-based approaches, our goal is to help Tunisia build resilience in the face of climate challenges,” said Tsakiris.
Tunisia has been facing serious water stress due to repeated droughts and high agricultural consumption. Water shortages have cut crop yields and worsened food insecurity at a time when food prices are already rising. In March 2025, food inflation hit 7.8%, up from 7% the previous month, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
To deal with the crisis, authorities are implementing several solutions. These include better water management, more desalination, and public awareness campaigns. As part of the 2025 state budget, an additional 2 million dinars ($669,573) was added to the National Housing Improvement Fund to help households build rainwater storage tanks, the same source said.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. While access to drinking water increased from 82% in 1990 to 97% in 2012, approximately 250,000 people in Tunisia still rely on unsafe sources. The country aims to achieve universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
The EIB remains one of Tunisia’s main development partners, financing major projects in the water, energy, education, transport, health and local development sectors. In 2024, the Bank will have invested more than €415 million in Tunisia to support long-term infrastructure development,
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
