Since November 2023, the National Heritage Institute, in partnership with the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb countries and with the support of the municipality of Sousse and the National Crafts Office, has launched the implementation of a project financed by the Japanese Development Fund, which aims to integrate conservation strategies, tourism and local livelihoods into the management of the World Heritage site ‘City of Sousse’ by supporting the craft sector, an essential pillar for the revitalisation of the old city and the strengthening of the foundations for sustainable development.
This project aims to support a selection of local craft trades and to promote them in a creative and attractive way in order to ensure their sustainability and contribute to creating economic and cultural momentum within the historic centre, in particular by attracting visitors to discover it and enhancing its heritage value.
The first phase of the project, which consisted of organising a series of theoretical and practical training workshops, is now complete. Work is currently underway, in coordination between the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb countries and the various institutions involved, to promote the results of this phase through the organisation of a series of exhibitions aimed at raising awareness of the project and the artisans participating in it through a series of events, the first of which will take place at the Dar El Bay cultural centre in Sousse (from 24 November to 24 December 2025), with the aim of culturally revitalising the site and highlighting the importance of preserving existing economic and social activities to ensure the sustainability of its heritage value.
Share this content:
Leave a Reply