1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Direction Générale de l’Amenagement et de Conservation des Terres Agricoles (DG/ACTA) - Tunisia

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

GIZ Tunisia (GIZ Tunisia) - Tunisia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

03/01/2023

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The PADIT approach comprises a cross-cutting participatory methodology to rural development, rallying various stakeholders around a project, within a location, to identify the main economic areas of the rural community concerned, and draw up a prioritized list of actions to strengthen and support development efforts in their location.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands uses a cross-cutting participatory approach to rural development (Integrated Territorial Planning and Development Project or "PADIT"), rallying various stakeholders around a project, within a location (often a subsection of a municipality or imada), with the aim of identifying the main economic areas of the rural community concerned, and drawing up a prioritized list of actions to strengthen and support development efforts in their location. This approach aims to promote integrated rural development and sustainable management of natural resources.
The overarching aim is to establish and/or fortify the core economic activities that empower communities to maximize the assets and potential of their area. Simultaneously, the strategy endeavours to reinforce the connection between the population and their local environment.
Implementation stages:
1. Participatory diagnosis: This stage focuses on understanding the dynamics of the area, identifying strengths and weaknesses. The Rural Development Support Officer (CADR) plays a crucial role in organizing the population, delineating the intervention territory, identifying local potential, and fostering collaboration among the residents. This phase also encourages the emergence of rural development projects with a focus on soil and water conservation.
2. Participatory planning: This stage is based on collective feedback workshops to validate the diagnosis and collect action proposals from residents and regional experts.
3. Preparation of the PADIT: This stage translates the main concerns of rural communities into a programme of action and a financing plan. It outlines the individual and collective investments necessary to achieve social and economic objectives.
4. Approval of the PADIT: The PADIT is presented to local stakeholders for their approval.
5. Financial commitment: Various partners commit to financing the actions outlined in the PADIT (national budget, regional budget, additional funding from donors, etc.). This commitment is formalized through a Unitary Financial Programming Document (DOCUPF).
6. Implementation: This approach relies on active participation from the local community in the planning process, complemented by technical assistance from local, regional, and central government authorities. The Rural Development and Support Officer (CADR) is a well-trained technician responsible for coordinating activities within the territory and facilitating communication among various stakeholders.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

This new approach meets several objectives:
- Rational management of natural resources;
- Integrated, participatory development of rural areas;
- Involvement and empowerment of the population throughout the planning process.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	A series of meetings and interviews with the local population are held from the outset of the project, as part of the diagnosis of the area of intervention.
planning	interactive	The local population is involved in all phases of planning: proposing actions, prioritizing actions, locating actions, etc.
implementation	interactive	- Supporting the implementation of certain actions: selection of beneficiaries.
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	Ownership of actions and participation in monitoring and evaluating their implementation

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

All stakeholders are involved in the entire planning process.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

40% of participants are women

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• public meetings
• courses

Subjects covered:

- Technical assistance and support for farmers and microproject beneficiaries.
- A two-day training course on participatory diagnosis methods and tools was organized for subject specialist technicians at national (DG-ACTA), regional and local levels (including CES, forestry, OEP, PV and CTV), community representatives, civil society and local authorities (OMDA).
- Training in facilitation and conflict management.
- Training on business plan preparation.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields
• at permanent centres

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local
• regional
• national

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

CRDAs and CTVs

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Capacity-building for CRDA and CTV staff (Rural Development Support Officer)

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Monitoring the implementation of the action plan involves three key mechanisms:
-Central monitoring of the action plan for new strategy implementation, which is overseen centrally
-Monitoring of CES action programs, which is conducted by the organization responsible for piloting the program. These action programs concern the PADITs carried out in prioritized zones, emergency works (such as one-off projects or the rehabilitation of existing structures posing a threat), works that have been rehabilitated before transfer to non-state managers, as well as activities related to animation, extension, training, and technical assistance
-Impact monitoring and evaluation

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

Monitoring and evaluation of the development process

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• ecology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Development of applied research :
- on water and soil conservation, with demonstration plots
- to assess the micro-economic impact of SLM work on farms over the medium and long terms

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

DGACTA, OEP, "Participation of the Local Population in the Management of Natural Resources upstream of the Nebhana Dam" project

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

• infrastructure

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

Comments:

CES worksites (paid per working day)

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Benefits of training and technical assistance

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Participation in planning

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Guarantees the sustainability of the technologies implemented
Technical and methodological capacity building

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Limited finance	Donor involvement and commitment to financing more activities

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Involvement of the public	Choosing a focus group that influences the majority of the population and works for the common good

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Stratégie pour l’Aménagement et la Conservation des Terres Agricoles (ACTA) à l’horizon 2050, Direction Générale d'Aménagement et de Conservation des Terres Agricoles, 2017

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Rapport Plan participatif de gestion des eaux et des sols , Projet « Participation de la population locale à la gestion des ressources naturelles en amont du système hydraulique Nebhana», La Zone Zaghdoud-Oueslatia - Kairouan,2018

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Guide des procédures du PADIT, AFC Agriculture and Finance Consultants GmbH (AFC), 2023

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands