UN-Habitat ISCI-MENA Chair holds steering committee in Tunisia

The UN-Habitat ISCI-MENA Chair, a collaborative academic initiative focused on social innovation and sustainable cities, held its annual steering committee meeting in Tunis on October 22, 2026. This marks the first time the committee has met in Tunisia, which serves as a primary hub for the Chair's projects.

Co-founded by UN-Habitat and Gustave Eiffel University, the Chair aims to support the localization of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The initiative addresses critical environmental challenges facing Mediterranean southern shore cities, including droughts, floods, and soil and coastal erosion.

The meeting brought together approximately fifty researchers, practitioners, and international partners to review the 2025-2026 achievements and establish a roadmap for 2027. Projects under the Chair are co-managed by researchers from Gustave Eiffel University and UN-Habitat project managers, with joint funding from both institutions.