Tunisia’s cities are celebrated for their architecture, but they also pose barriers to women’s social, economic, and cultural integration. In response to these challenges, Cities Alliance, with support from USAID, launched the Femmedina project in 2020 to create safer, more inclusive urban spaces tailored to women’s needs.
Initially focused on Tunis City, the initiative has since expanded to the cities of Sousse, Mahdia, Msaken, and Kairouan, with additional support from Switzerland and Canada.
The project’s goal is to engage women in the design and governance of urban spaces through participatory, gender-sensitive urban planning. According to Narjes Riahi, lead architect for the Municipality of Tunis, the Femmedina project helps transform cities into environments where women feel safe and integrated. This participatory approach has begun to reshape public areas like Place Bab Souika, once considered unsafe, into welcoming spaces for women and families.
Beyond physical changes, Femmedina addresses economic inclusion by improving markets, a critical space for women. In Sousse City, for example, efforts to revitalize the municipal market are helping local craftswomen formalize their businesses. “Financial independence allows me to contribute to my family and make decisions”, said B.F., a 43-year-old trader from Msaken.
The project also emphasizes skills development. In Tunis’ Sidi el Bechir district, a vocational training centre offers courses in tailoring, digital marketing, and other trades, providing women with economic opportunities. These efforts transform urban spaces and challenge gender norms, as exemplified by local craftswoman D. in Mahdia, who remarked: “Skifa was once seen as a masculine space, but we’ll change that”.
Through Femmedina, Tunisia is building a model of urban planning that prioritizes gender inclusivity and aims to be replicated across the region to create cities that work for everyone, especially women and girls.