On 26 September 2023, Mahdia, Tunisia hosted an event in the framework of the Med4Waste project, more than 50 participants -15 of those MedCities members- took part in the project’s seminar entitled: “Towards sustainable models of local governance for integrated and circular policies for urban waste management”. 

The event drew participation from nearly all of MedCities' Tunisian members, as well as five guest municipalities from Libya, and several other Tunisian municipalities from the region. The primary objectives were to disseminate the key lessons and outcomes of the Med4Waste project in Tunisia and foster discussions on innovative governance models for integrated and circular urban waste management policies. 

During the seminar, a spotlight was placed on the mentoring program conducted by MedCities in Mahdia and M’Saken. The program proved instrumental in enabling these two Tunisian municipalities to not only develop but also enhance their Municipal Waste Management Plans ("PCGD" in French). It further encompassed the implementation of pilot initiatives aligned with plan development, participation in international study visits to cities involved in other ENI CBC MED projects that successfully improved their waste management systems, and the launch of a social entrepreneurship program aimed at supporting two local SMEs and start-ups in addressing specific waste management challenges. 

The seminar was structured around two key sessions.  The first focused on integrated municipal waste management planning and included presentations on the PCGD of Mahdia, M’Saken, and Bizerte. It also included discussions on monitoring, challenges, and best practices in waste management planning. 

The second session highlighted success stories in Tunisia related to circular economy and sustainable waste management. It featured projects like the CLIMA project's organic waste management in Mahdia, the MED-Ina project's zero waste policy in La Marsa, and the INNOMED-UP project's efforts in promoting waste recovery through innovation and education in Tunis. This session explored topics like the roles of the private sector and civil society in circular economy models and strategies to enhance organic waste recovery in Tunisia. 

To close up the seminar, participants visited the organic waste composting unit inaugurated recently in Mahdia thanks to the CLIMA project.