Tunisia's Smart and Sustainable Cities Program Advances with New Municipal Framework in 2026

Tunisia's National Smart and Sustainable Cities Program Enters a New Phase

Tunis, Tunisia - The National Program for Smart and Sustainable Cities (البرنامج الوطني للمدن الذكية والمستدامة), managed by the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies (المعهد التونسي للدراسات الاستراتيجية) in cooperation with the Ministry of Communication Technologies and the Digital Economy, has announced a new municipal governance framework in January 2026 requiring participating municipalities to commit to 14 specific points.

Program Background

The program was officially launched on April 24, 2019, with the goal of transforming Tunisian cities into smart, sustainable urban centers through participatory governance and digital innovation. Since its launch, the program has been actively expanding across the country:

April 2019: Launch of the National Smart Cities Caravan (القافلة الوطنية للمدن الذكية), which visited Gabes on April 29, 2019.
March 2020: The caravan reached Ghmrassen in Tataouine governorate.
2021: Workshops were organized in Kairouan, Gafsa, and Tozeur under the supervision of the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies.
January 2026: A new framework announced, requiring municipalities to commit to 14 governance points to participate in the program.

National Scope

Unlike programs limited to select pilot cities, this initiative is national in scope. Activities have been documented across many governorates including:

Tunis
Sfax
Sousse (Sahline)
Gabes
Tataouine
Kairouan
Gafsa
Tozeur
Mahdia (Sbikha Ben Ghiadha)

Over 200 institutional and associational candidates have applied to participate, and more than 260 national and international stakeholders are involved in the program's regional development efforts.

Program Goals

The program's stated objectives focus on:

Strengthening the capacities of central, decentralized, and civil actors working in planning and development.
Supporting participatory democracy and improving interaction between public authorities and civil society.
Contributing to reducing regional disparities across Tunisian governorates.
Establishing participatory democracy policy through smart and sustainable urban governance.

The 2026 Municipal Framework

In January 2026, the program introduced a new framework requiring municipalities to formally commit to 14 governance points as a condition for participation. This framework aims to standardize municipal engagement and ensure consistent implementation of smart city principles across the country.

It is worth noting that several parallel initiatives exist in the broader Tunisian digital landscape:

Sfax Smart City Living Lab: A separate academic initiative launched in 2016 by the Higher Institute of Biotechnology at Sfax in partnership with the University of Sfax, focused on positioning Sfax among smart cities globally.
5G Licensing: Tunisia's Ministry of Communication Technologies has issued a call for tenders for 5G operating licenses, a separate national telecom process.
EBRD-Tunisie Telecom Partnership: In January 2026, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced a strategic partnership with Tunisie Telecom involving a EUR 190 million investment for telecom infrastructure, which is separate from the smart cities program.

Opportunities for Tunisian Stakeholders

The program offers opportunities for municipalities, civil society organizations, and local companies to participate in:

Municipal digital service development
Participatory governance consulting
Regional development planning
Smart urban solutions implementation

Municipalities interested in joining the program are encouraged to review the 14-point commitment framework and apply through the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies.

Sources: Babnet, Nessma TV, L'Expert Journal, Attayma, Tunisia TV, Alchourouk archive, Turess