During the project preparation, several contacts were made with some local officials and representatives of civil society organizations to raise the issue of threats to the sensitive wetland of Lella Hadhria and the urgency of salutary intervention and to discuss threats to biodiversity, impacts and actions to be taken. The remarks and proposals made were subsequently considered in the project design. During the implementation of the project, a significant reinforcement of knowledge and comprehension capacity is foreseen within the framework of the Component: (a) public awareness (b) formation of local development committees at each pilot site to participate in the project. preparation of management plans, (c) consultations with NGOs, (d) training of project staff, (e) strengthening of enforcement, and (f) workshops to share data with stakeholders and the scientists. The aim is to strengthen the participatory approach, the knowledge base and the human resources that will protect biodiversity in the long term.

During the project, a communication and knowledge management strategy will be implemented through activities and tools that will be summarized as follows: The design of a website A website will be designed to store and present documents, publications, databases and maps in an attractive and ergonomic manner according to the knowledge management requirements and the project work plan. This platform will not only help ensure online visibility, but will also allow partners and stakeholders to communicate, share and find information on the progress of the project. Video production and interviews with stakeholders The visibility factor will be reinforced by the production of institutional videos illustrating the vision, mission and approach of the project. These videos and interviews with key stakeholders can be used during conferences and forums and can serve as an effective tool for disseminating key messages. The organization of conferences and meetings Events, meetings and conferences represent an important platform for the different forms of communication and participation and Assidje has to forge a solid reputation in this field, ensuring a very high visibility of its work, through the use of different media such as banners, brochures and publications. Production of publications: The exchange of information can also be enhanced by publications and communication media produced in electronic and paper format to interact with the public. Popularization through social networks: Social network accounts will be created, such as Facebook, Twitter, and a YouTube account and regularly updated. These platforms and sites provide two-way communication, enabling them to interact with the public to better understand their information needs. The quest for media involvement: Mobilizing the media is an essential part of the communication work as the use of the media to cover the works, conferences, meetings, etc., included in the project is able to contribute to the mobilization of the political and to influence the nature of the decisions. The exploitation of the media for their involvement will enable Assidje to make its work better known and to share the results of the project

Human communities in the project area draw their resources from fisheries and tourism. If the proposed project will certainly satisfy some, the fishermen in this case, it would not be to satisfy the local economic interests and some of the stakeholders in the area having only tourism as a means of livelihood. This situation may be problematic in some cases because the project may attempt to control tourism to protect fragile biodiversity. The expected result of social development is to contribute to long-term sustainability through community participation and identification of the measures and the institutional and technical solutions and resources needed to both preserve biodiversity and provide sustainable and environmentally friendly tourist farms. This will be done through the enhancement of awareness and knowledge, the development of training for the beneficiaries and through their participation in the planning and development of the management plan.

Like young people, we plan to promote and enhance the involvement of women by integrating them into the steering committee, in order to develop their capacities to participate in the implementation activities of the process inherent to the project.

The project will increase collective awareness of the need for biodiversity protection and its benefits, and create a more responsible attitude of stakeholders as a precondition for managing the natural environment in a sustainable manner. The project includes, for example, institutional strengthening activities, training to apply existing regulations more effectively, and public awareness of the problems associated with the irrational and arbitrary exploitation of the fragile Lella Hadhria area. A public awareness program for target communities, local stakeholder groups and the general public is planned. It will build on the experience of other GEF projects in Tunisia, on training and capacity building to help enforce biodiversity protection measures in marine and coastal regulations and on the preparation of participatory methodologies for local development committees and other stakeholders to ensure the incorporation of participation in biodiversity management.

Tunisia has an institutional framework for the protection of the environment and a well-structured and adequately staffed civil service that deals with all issues related to planning, administration and support to coastal and marine issues. As a result, there are no major institutional or policy reforms that are considered necessary. However, the institutional diagnosis shows that considerable reinforcement is needed to facilitate coordination between the various government stakeholders that the project should facilitate and develop. The project will be an opportunity to introduce procedures to protect and manage the marine and coastal biodiversity specific to the Lella Hadhria area on the basis of local participation and concerted development planning, which will not fail to influence on the vision and the will of the policies vis-à-vis the future management of the zone.