Neighborhoods Participatory Greening in Arab Cities

As part of its Urban Policy Research Program, the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) launched an Urban Living Lab, with its first project on Participatory Greening of Neighborhoods in Arab Cities. The initiative aims to support greening efforts in neighborhoods by piloting and developing knowledge on greening solutions and participatory and contractual models. This publication presents and discusses a framework and methodology for participatory neighborhood greening, as applied in a pilot project conducted in Tunis, Tunisia. The approach offers a potential contribution to addressing urban greening challenges at the neighborhood scale, both in Tunisia and across cities in the Arab region. The intervention area chosen in Tunis is Al-Kherba, an urban open space located at the interface between the traditional medina and the European quarter, in the city center. The report is structured in three main parts, each corresponding to a distinct analytical scale. Section 1 addresses the broader concepts of public and green space in Tunisia, with a focus on Greater Tunis. The analysis highlights how historical and political factors have shaped the creation and use of these spaces. It notes that while municipalities are the primary agents responsible for green space development and maintenance, they often face significant challenges due to limited financial and human resources. The section also shows that, despite possessing a strong urban identity and notable assets such as parks and landmarks, Tunis suffers from an unequal distribution of green spaces. Section 2 focuses on the municipality of Tunis and the neighborhoods surrounding Al-Kherba. It analyzes public and green spaces in the area and identifies key stakeholders. The assessment of Al-Kherba reveals its potential as a rare open space within a highly dense urban fabric. Although some development efforts have been made, the site still requires a more comprehensive urban planning intervention. Any future strategy must recognize Al-Kherba’s layered identity, support spatial equity in green space distribution, consider the diversity of uses and users, and promote inclusive citizen participation amid constraints in public maintenance capacity. Section 3 offers a detailed spatial analysis of Al-Kherba site. The space holds a multifaceted identity, with varied patterns of appropriation depending on the user group. The governance assessment points to the need for coordination among multiple actors across stages; diagnosis, design, maintenance, and programming. Collaboration must be aligned with the final development strategy to ensure that Al-Kherba becomes a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient urban space. The section also outlines preliminary design proposals and defines key next steps for implementation.

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