Tunisia’s medinas are a rich architectural heritage, and a mirror of the country’s collective memory. Yet, women in these historic urban areas face significant barriers to social, economic, and cultural emancipation, as well as their integration into urban spaces. Despite efforts by the state and local authorities, these challenges persist.
In response, Cities Alliance launched the Femmedina project in 2020 with USAID funding, initially focusing on Tunis. Building on its success, a second phase expanded to Sousse, Mahdia, Msaken, and Kairouan, supported by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency and recently joined by Canada.
The goal? To adapt public spaces to women’s needs and ensure their greater involvement in shaping their cities through a participatory, gender-sensitive urban planning process.
Inclusive urban planning and urban governance need to go hand-in-hand to ensure urban interventions resilience and achieve aspired systemic inclusive urban use change.
Narjes Riahi, lead architect for the Municipality of Tunis
By empowering women to participate in and co-design the city, the Femmedina programme seeks to transform urban areas into vibrant, inclusive, and functional spaces - places where women feel safe, engaged, and integrated into the urban fabric.
Before Femmedina, Place Bab Souika was unsafe and uninviting. Now, women sit on the benches while children play. It’s a place where we can relax and talk freely.
Hajer Riahi, local resident
Beyond physical transformation, the programme also unlocks opportunities for gender-inclusive economic development. Markets and souks are particularly important for women as both a commercial and social space. However, poor management and governance can turn them into neglected and unwelcome areas of the city.
In Sousse, the Gabadji Grandi neighbourhood is characterised by high unemployment and informal work. The municipal market has been deserted and Rafika is one of its last traders.
I’ve been making pasta since the 70s, learning from Jewish women in the community. The market has been abandoned for years, and it’s a disaster.
Rafika, a local craftswoman
Renovating markets and improving their safety and accessibility helps women to formalize their businesses, achieve economic emancipation, and strengthen their social empowerment.
Financial independence allows me to contribute to my family and make decisions.
B.F., 43-year-old trader from Masken
Skill strengthening is also an important step in the economic empowerment of women. In Tunis' Sidi el Bechir, a district known for its economic challenges, a training centre was established and now offers vocational training in tailoring, digital marketing, and more.
We're very proud of the Sidi el Bechir training centre. It gave women the chance to showcase their products at the national handicraft exhibition for the first time.
Sonia Saad, Municipality of Tunis
The impact of Femmedina extends far beyond these individual projects. By prioritizing women’s participation in urban planning and decision-making, the initiative is challenging traditional gender norms and redefining Tunisian cities.
Skifa was once seen as a masculine space, but we’ll change that.
D., local craftswoman from Mahdia
The hope is that the model can be replicated across the region, promoting urban landscapes where everyone, in particular women and girls, are participating in the design and implementation of safer, more accessible and inclusive spaces.
