UNESCO Leads a New Approach to Heritage Preservation in Tunisia

A new five-year national program called “Supporting the Role of Culture in Sustainable Development in Tunisia” has been launched in Tunis by UNESCO’s Maghreb Regional Office. The initiative is fully funded by the Dr. Sadok Besrour Foundation and follows the inscription of Djerba as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

The program aims to preserve 28 traditional crafts that are at risk of disappearing and to train 84 apprentices in order to ensure the transmission of these skills. It also seeks to protect oasis ecosystems and promote them as integrated spaces that bring together environmental, agricultural, urban and tourism-related dimensions. Another objective is to strengthen Tunisia’s participation in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with support planned for nearly 50 cities. The program further intends to promote the “UNESCO Heritage Route,” which highlights both tangible heritage and living cultural traditions.

Before the pandemic, the global cultural sector generated around 4.3 trillion dollars, representing 6.1 percent of the world economy and up to 10 percent of GDP in some countries. For Tunisia, this program positions cultural heritage as an essential driver of sustainable development, both economically and socially.

In 2026, training programs for master artisans and apprentices will begin. A call for applications will be issued for cities wishing to join the Creative Cities Network. The “UNESCO Heritage Route” will also be showcased during upcoming international committees in New Delhi, dedicated to intangible heritage, and in South Korea, dedicated to world heritage.