This event was honored by the presence of Mrs. Leila Chikhaoui Mahdaoui, Minister of Environment and also in attendance were Mr Ridha Gabouj secretary of state for water at the Ministry of Agriculture Water Resources and Fisheries , Mr samir abdelhafid secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Planning in charge of small and medium enterprises and Mr Abdelmajid bettaib the Chief Executive Excutive Officer of the National Sanitation Utility (ONAS) , President of IME and the UPM deputy secretary general with the participation of technical and financial partners as well as water experts.

Three major themes were discussed:

1) The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW)

- What are the main obstacles to the development of reuse?

- What role should ONAS play in the light of climate change?

- What measures can be taken to create a framework conducive to the significant development of reuse?

2) Public-private partnerships (PPP)

- What contribution can PPP make to the sector?

- What forms of partnership should be favoured in the context of the sector?

- What kind of partnership with the private sector is appropriate for small municipalities?

- What measures can be taken to improve the feasibility, attractiveness and viability of projects?

- What are the financial implications of partnerships with the private sector in the sanitation sector?

* For investments
* For operation

3) Sanitation in small towns

- Is ONAS's current model adapted to small communes? Is it viable? What impact will this have on ONAS's financial balance?

- How should ONAS position itself in the sanitation of small communes? What is the current state of local governance of sanitation? What role for municipalities?

- What are the technical alternatives for sanitation in small towns?

The Agreement signature has been attended by Mrs Leila chikhaoui mahdaoui Minister of Environment , Mrs feriel wirghi Minister of Economy and Planning, Mme maline Bloomberg ADB director of the regional office in Tunisia and Mr Abd Majid bettaib ONAS Chief Executive officer .

The loan comprises 81.9 m euro is around 276 MTD ,the completion of the project is during the period 2024-2028.

This project is part of the government's strategies aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals for the year 2030 and fulfilling international pledges through the specific national contribution (NDC) which emerged from the Paris Climate Agreement and as an embodiment of the major directions of the Development Plan 2023-2025.

This project will contribute to enhance the efficiency of WWT Plants and energy control through the renewal of electromechanical equipments as well as the use of solar photovoltaic energy in 19 WWT Plants distributed in 11 states (nabeul,zaghouan, jendouba,beja,Kasserine,,sidibouzid,sfax,gafsa,tozeur,kebeli and mednine) and improving the living conditions of more than 670.000 inhabitants through the reuse of treated wastewater due to the tertiary treatment of wastewater.

It will also contribute to the production of treated wastewater conforming to the Tunisian standards (NT 106-03) and its reuse in the agricultural field, where will benefit more than 3.000 hectares of agricultural land near the concerned WWT Plants. Moreover, it is expected to create 250 direct jobs and 1000 jobs indirectly as well as the reinforcement of ONAS technical and administrative .