Funding agreement covers coastal protection works in Bizerte, Sousse, Monastir and Djerba, alongside a study of the coastline between Beni Khiar and Yasmine Hammamet.
Tunis – Tunisia – Al Rehla
Tunisia and the Netherlands have signed a grant agreement worth €60.92 million, equivalent to approximately TND 204.87 million, to finance new phases of Tunisia's coastal protection programme.
The initiative aims to combat beach erosion and the effects of climate change while safeguarding economic and tourism activities along the country's coastline.
The agreement was signed on November 10, 2026, by Tunisia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, and Melanie Maas Geesteranus, CEO of the Dutch development finance institution Invest International. The funding is provided by the Dutch government through the DRIVE programme, which supports infrastructure projects contributing to sustainable development.
Coastal Protection Works Across Three Areas
The planned interventions include coastal protection works in Bizerte, along the coastline stretching from southern Sousse to Skanes and Karaia in Monastir, and on the northeastern coast of Djerba Island. The agreement also provides for a coastal protection study covering the area between Beni Khiar and Yasmine Hammamet, with the aim of identifying appropriate future interventions.
These coastal areas are important parts of Tunisia's tourism landscape, featuring beaches, hotels and economic activities that depend on the stability of the coastal environment.
Beach Restoration Using Marine Sand
The programme includes beach nourishment techniques involving the replenishment of eroded shorelines with marine sand. These measures aim to replace sand lost through coastal erosion and strengthen beaches' natural resistance to wave action and changing marine conditions.
The interventions are part of broader efforts to protect infrastructure, residential areas and economic activities, including tourism and fishing. Detailed schedules for the commencement and completion of works at the targeted sites have not yet been announced.
Tunisian-German-Dutch Cooperation
The Dutch grant will support the fourth and fifth phases, as well as an additional phase, of Tunisia's coastal protection programme. The initiative was launched in 2013 under Tunisian-German cooperation, with financing from the German development bank KfW.
Previous phases included the construction of coastal protection structures, beach sand replenishment and dune stabilisation. The Netherlands' participation brings additional funding and coastal engineering expertise to the programme.
Al Rehla Travel Insight | Protecting Beaches Is an Investment in Sustainable Tourism
The agreement is particularly significant for Tunisia's coastal tourism destinations, where beaches are among the main attractions supporting hotels, resorts and recreational activities. Once implemented, the protection works could help reduce erosion-related damage and preserve the natural assets on which beach tourism depends.
However, the signing of the agreement does not mean that the targeted coastlines have already been protected. Its actual impact will depend on the implementation and effectiveness of the works, as well as continued beach maintenance and environmental monitoring.
No verified estimates have been released regarding the funding's potential impact on tourist arrivals or hotel revenues. At this stage, the programme's primary objective remains the protection of natural resources and coastal assets that support Tunisia's tourism industry.
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