Earlier this month, the TRANS-SAHARA consortium convened in Tunis, Tunisia, for its first in-person meeting since the project’s launch. Hosted by INRGREF, the three-day gathering (7–9 April 2025) brought together over 35 participants from across Africa and Europe, reflecting the truly international and interdisciplinary nature of the project.

The meeting opened with warm remarks from Prof. Zouheir Nasr (INRGREF), Prof. Akiça Bahri (former Tunisian Minister of Agriculture), and Bernhard Simon (Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Consumer Protection), who collectively highlighted the importance of local commitment, international cooperation, and innovation in addressing the environmental challenges facing the Sahel region.

Throughout the event, partners aligned on the project’s main goals, including the implementation of Living Labs in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tunisia, and the development of tailored WEFE Nexus models to guide sustainable agroforestry practices. Central to discussions were themes of stakeholder engagement, policy impact, and capacity building beyond the local level—ensuring that community-driven solutions are backed by robust data and institutional support.

Interactive sessions explored value creation from agroforestry products, innovative site selection methodologies, and ethical considerations for data collection and community involvement. A collaborative workshop helped define socio-economic indicators to measure impact, and partners exchanged views on how best to support national and regional efforts like the Great Green Wall initiative.

The meeting closed with a strong sense of shared purpose, as participants reaffirmed their commitment to co-creating solutions that promote climate resilience, ecological restoration, and sustainable livelihoods across the Greater Northern African region.