Category: voices

Tunisian ‘revolution oasis’ palm grove thrives on self-rule

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Since the inhabitants of Jemna in southern Tunisia wrested control of their 100-year-old palm grove from the state during the 2011 Revolution, residents say their lives have radically improved. The desert town — where the palms produce some of the North African country’s finest dates — ejected businessmen tied to the old regime when the uprising toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Jemna, population around 8,000, has since become a unique grassroots experiment in Tunisian agricultural self-management — a non-profit project run by a local community to reinvest…

Tunisia hosts national multilateral workshop to improve women’s entrepreneurship in circular and green economy

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A multilateral workshop on the formulation and development of recommendations aimed at empowering women and enhancing their opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in the circular and green economy was organized on Thursday in Tunis. The workshop was organized within the framework of the regional project “Women on the Green Path”, which includes, in addition to Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan, and is funded by the Union for the Mediterranean, and implemented by the Arab Women’s Center for Training and Research “Kawthar” in partnership with the Moroccan Network for Solidarity Economy and…

The story of Saudi surgeon who broke record for separating twins

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Renowned Saudi surgeon Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah participated in an intellectual symposium on his successful and inspiring career in an interesting lecture recently held at the University of Medicine in Sousse, Tunisia. The lecture was an inspiring lesson full of energy and advice, and when Al-Rabeeah spoke, everyone fell silent in the presence of culture, science, knowledge, and humility. Dr. Al-Rabeeah, who has spent part of his life performing one of the most complex operations in the world, has performed around 100 twin separations, and no other surgeon has performed so…

IsDB and Uzbekistan Sign Landmark Education Project with GPE Grant Support

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The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), supported by a major grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), has signed a landmark education project financing agreement with the Government of Uzbekistan. The agreement aims to significantly enhance the quality, inclusiveness, and efficiency of the country’s preschool and school education systems. During the ceremony, IsDB President, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser signed the agreement with Dr. Khilola Umarova, Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The signing occurred on the margins of the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Conference in Riyadh and…

Colosseum Archaeological Park in Tunisia to protect the Roman city of El Jem

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El Jem amphitheater (Tunisia). Photo by: Jean-Jacques Gelbart, copyright: © Editions Gelbart  Colosseum Archaeological Park mission launched in El Jem, ancient Thysdrus in Tunisia, to preserve mosaics and survey Roman domus. Together with Tunisian authorities, work is underway to enhance one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in North Africa. The Colosseum Archaeological Park ’s mission to the city of El Jem, ancient Thysdrus, in Tunisia has officially begun. Located in the center of the Tunisian Sahel, El Jem is one of the Roman cities of North Africa, internationally known for its impressive amphitheater, one…

IsDB and Livelihood Fund partners lead discussions on gender-inclusive financing and infrastructure at 69th session of UN Commission on Status of Women

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A high-level panel discussion hosted by the IsDB-managed Lives and Livelihoods Fund on the sidelines of the 69th annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women concluded with a call for strengthening gender-inclusive financing and social infrastructure to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The side event, titled “Harnessing Innovative Financing and Gender Social Infrastructure to Promote Women’s Empowerment,” featured two inspiring and thought-provoking sessions that addressed key issues affecting women in IDB member countries. The event was opened by Mr. Hamid Ajibai…

Information day on “Reducing food waste: stakes, solutions and collective actions”

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An information day on “Reducing food waste: stakes, solutions and collective actions” was held on Friday, February 28, 2025 at the Mechtel Hotel in Tunis. The day was organized by the Institut National de la Consommation (INC), in collaboration with FAO Tunis, to raise awareness of the importance of reducing food waste and to announce the launch of a national strategy to reduce food waste. The topics covered included the presentation of experiences adopted nationwide and in certain countries to reduce food waste, as well as the current data on…

A spiritual journey that only Liberta can offer

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Liberta Travel and Tourism, a pioneer in the field of organizing Hajj and Umrah trips, has managed to win the trust of Tunisians, thanks to its great efforts in organizing, good management and the ability to work under all conditions, in addition to its very reasonable prices for the high-end services it provides. It is not easy for a Hajj and Umrah company to gain the trust of all segments of society and all categories, as it won the bet after it was able to be the number one in…

Africa must look beyond USAID

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The loss of the agency, which spends billions on aid and supports programmes such as Power Africa, could be a huge blow to the continent. At midnight on Friday 7 February thousands of staff at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were due to be placed on “administrative leave”. Those working overseas on aid programmes have been told to prepare to return to the United States, African Business reports in an article by Ben Payton (Ben is Energy and Infrastructure Reporter at African Business). The Trump administration has already…

An open letter to Donald trump

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Mr. President, I come from Tunisia, a country which began the process to ban slavery in 1841 and ratified it in 1846. Not just the first Muslim country but one of the first in Africa and ahead of many European and South American’s states, including your country. I honestly believe that your statement on displacing the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza for you to claim ownership of their ancestral land is absurd. First you give Israel the weapons to destroy Gaza’s infrastructure and give its extremist radical leaders the green light…