Context
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of the world’s most arid areas, with limited rainfall and vast desert landscapes. Despite these challenges, oasis ecosystems have historically supported both people and biodiversity in the region. These oases, typically found in desert areas where underground water sources surface, are home to rich agricultural practices that sustain millions of people.
These challenges have significant economic and social consequences, particularly for agriculture and tourism, which are key sectors in oasis regions. To address these issues, PROGREEN supports initiatives in Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt to improve ecosystem management, increase resilience to climate change, and promote sustainable development through nature-based solutions.
Approach
PROGREEN’s approach in the Maghreb focuses on integrating ecosystem management, climate resilience, and community participation to restore and protect oasis landscapes. The program emphasizes knowledge sharing, capacity building, and innovative financing mechanisms. Key activities include:
Integrated Oasis Ecosystem Management
In Morocco, PROGREEN is co-financing the Morocco Sustainable Oasis Ecosystems Management Project, which focuses on improving the climate resilience of oasis ecosystems in Aoufouss and Akka. The project aims to develop a national standard for integrated oasis management, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these landscapes.
Regional Knowledge-Sharing Platform
To encourage cross-border collaboration, PROGREEN supports the development of the Waha-net Knowledge Sharing Platform, a web-based tool designed to facilitate the exchange of data and best practices related to the sustainable management of oasis ecosystems. The platform brings together stakeholders from Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, enabling them to share knowledge on conservation efforts, research, and policy initiatives.
Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement
A cornerstone of PROGREEN’s strategy is capacity building. This involves engaging with national and local institutions, practitioners, and civil society organizations through workshops, consultations, and awareness-raising activities. These efforts help ensure that local stakeholders are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to implement sustainable oasis management practices.
Innovative Financing and Green Jobs
PROGREEN supports innovative financing mechanisms such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and nature-based solutions (NBS). In Morocco, the $350 million Morocco Climate Operation aims to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable rural areas, with a focus on oasis rehabilitation and green job creation. This approach supports both environmental sustainability and local economic development.
Results
PROGREEN’s initiatives have led to significant outcomes across Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, contributing to the sustainability and climate resilience of oasis ecosystems. These results were achieved through collaborative efforts over the past several years, with key milestones reached in 2023 and 2024. The following are the key achievements by country:
Morocco
In May 2024, the Morocco Sustainable Oasis Ecosystems Management Project was approved by the World Bank, marking a significant step in improving the climate resilience of oasis ecosystems in the Aoufouss and Akka oases. This project will begin implementation in fiscal year 2025, focusing on integrated oasis management and improving climate resilience for vulnerable communities in these regions. Specific activities of the project include.. See PAD
The development of the Waha-net Knowledge Sharing Platform has been a cornerstone of regional collaboration. By 2024, the platform has been fully developed and will be handed over to the National Agency for Development of Oasis and Argan Areas (ANDZOA) in Morocco for long-term management. This web-based tool facilitates data sharing among stakeholders across Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, offering a central hub for research, policy recommendations, and best practices related to oasis ecosystems.
PROGREEN’s support contributed to the launch of the International Authority for Oasis Development in March 2024, a regional initiative aimed at coordinating the preservation of oasis ecosystems in Morocco and across North Africa. This initiative was driven by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Khalifa International Award and the FAO, marking a milestone in regional cooperation for oasis sustainability.
Over 2023 and 2024, PROGREEN organized a series of workshops to build the capacity of stakeholders, including national agencies, local governments, and NGOs, on integrated oasis management. These workshops were critical in securing buy-in from Moroccan stakeholders and ensuring effective implementation of future projects.
Tunisia
In 2023, PROGREEN supported a carbon sequestration and green job potential assessment for the oases in southern Tunisia. The findings were validated by Tunisian stakeholders during a workshop held in July 2023, which included the Minister of Environment. This work laid the groundwork for the Strengthening Adaptive Capacity and Livelihood Security in the Vulnerable Oases of Tozeur project, which was submitted for financing to the Adaptation Fund in 2024. This project, with a funding request of $10 million, aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change in the oases of Tozeur.
Tunisia, like Morocco, benefits from the Waha-net Knowledge Sharing Platform, which has been an essential tool in compiling and disseminating information on the country’s historical oases. By 2024, the platform’s reports on labelling historical oases and product certification have been completed, with findings shared in regional workshops for final feedback.
Stakeholder consultations and capacity-building events were held throughout 2023 and 2024, including a two-day workshop in Tunis in July 2023. These workshops, which brought together key stakeholders, have resulted in the endorsement of a policy brief on sustainable and low-carbon development in Tunisia’s oases. This document has informed ongoing efforts to design sustainable management frameworks for Tunisia’s oasis landscapes.
Egypt
While direct activities in Egypt were limited, PROGREEN’s efforts to foster regional collaboration in the Maghreb have impacted Egypt’s oasis ecosystem management. A key outcome has been the engagement of Egyptian stakeholders in the Waha-net Knowledge Sharing Platform, which enables them to access critical information on oasis management and share data with their counterparts in Morocco and Tunisia. As of 2024, Egypt remains a critical part of the regional knowledge-sharing network, benefiting from the collective insights gathered by the program.
Although fieldwork in Egypt was limited to desktop reviews, PROGREEN’s reports on historical oasis landscapes and product certification have been used to inform ongoing discussions with Egyptian authorities. These reports will continue to guide the development of future oasis-related projects in the country, supported by the findings and frameworks established through PROGREEN’s activities in Morocco and Tunisia.