• Severe water scarcity: in a semi-arid context where rainfall is infrequent and unpredictable.
• Structural erosion: caused by strong runoff, which has weakened part of the retention basin over time.
• High pastoral pressure: with 90% of the surrounding population practicing traditional livestock herding.
• Competing water needs: as the borehole drilled to support the agro-pastoral perimeter is now primarily used for drinking water and community services.
• Limited agricultural diversification: with only a small number of households transitioning from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism.
• Land degradation: requiring restoration and vegetation recovery.
• Climate vulnerability: demanding

The Kourtimalei Living Lab: is designed as a real-life experimentation platform to test and demonstrate integrated solutions for water, ecosystems, and agroforestry.

Water management & infrastructure rehabilitation:
• Rehabilitation of the damaged section of the retention basin by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD).
• Optimisation of water storage capacity (up to 600,000 m³), allowing water availability for about six months after rainfall.
• Focus on strengthening groundwater recharge and improving basin longevity.

Agro-Pastoral Transition & Land Restoration:
• Support to 15 households transitioning from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism.
• Establishment of an agro-pastoral perimeter near the retention basin.
• Promotion of agroforestry techniques adapted to arid environments.
• Restoration of degraded land and reduction of erosion.

Community engagement & green entrepreneurship:
• Engagement of the 300 surrounding households, with emphasis on: inclusive participation, local ownership, and women and youth involvement.
• Promotion of green entrepreneurship linked to land restoration, water management, and agroforestry.

WEFE Nexus Demonstration: the site becomes a pilot WEFE Living Lab integrating:
• Water: storage optimisation, groundwater recharge, runoff harvesting.
• Energy: potential integration of solar energy for monitoring or future activities.
• Food: development of agro-pastoral systems and agroforestry.
• Ecosystems: land restoration and vegetation recovery.

Planned Activities:
• Installation of hydrological and ecological monitoring equipment.
• Implementation of agroforestry experiments.
• Training workshops for local communities.
• Regional and international experience-sharing sessions within the TRANS-SAHARA network.

As the Living Lab is in its early phase of implementation, impacts will be documented
progressively. Expected outcomes include improved water security, reduced erosion,
restored vegetation cover, and strengthened community resilience to climate change.