ICARS is pleased to announce that Tunisia has officially become an ICARS Mission Partner, reinforcing its national commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through sustainable, context-specific solutions. The partnership was formalised on 15 May 2025, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICARS and the Ministry of Health of Tunisia. The agreement also formalises the CARMA project, which aims to mitigate AMR risks in reclaimed water used for agriculture.
Tunisia becomes an ICARS Mission Partner
The MoU was signed by the General Director of Health at the Ministry of Health and witnessed by the Director of Partnership from the Ministry of Health, alongside representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, and the Faculty of Medicine Ibn Al Jazzar. The event demonstrated a strong and coordinated commitment across sectors, conveying Tunisia’s ambition to serve as a source of support and experience-sharing for other countries in the region facing similar AMR challenges.
“Tunisia’s commitment to addressing AMR across sectors aligns closely with ICARS’ mission to support country-led, sustainable solutions. Through the CARMA project and the Mission Partnership, we are pleased to support efforts that not only address national priorities but also contribute valuable insights for the wider region.” – Dr Sujith J Chandy, ICARS’ Executive Director.
As an ICARS Mission Partner, Tunisia joins a growing network of countries working together to develop and implement context-specific solutions to antimicrobial resistance.
“Becoming an ICARS Mission Partner marks an important step forward in our AMR strategy. The CARMA project provides a valuable opportunity to explore innovative, nature-based solutions that reflect our environmental context. With ICARS’ collaboration, we aim to strengthen our national systems and share our experiences to support other countries in the region.” – Abderrazak Bouzouita – General Director of Health, Ministry of Health, Tunisia.
AMR context in Tunisia
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health and environmental concern in Tunisia. High antibiotic use, both in human and animal health, combined with water scarcity and the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, presents challenges for effective AMR mitigation. While Tunisia’s National Action Plan has advanced efforts in areas like surveillance and awareness, addressing the environmental dimensions remains an area for further development. As a Mission Partner, Tunisia will work with ICARS to co-develop evidence-based interventions that support national priorities and long-term AMR solutions.
Collaboration in action: CARMA and ENVIRE
The CARMA project is the first formalised initiative under the new Mission Partnership. CARMA (Constructed wetlands for mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance in reclaiMed water used for the irrigAtion of food crops) aims to reduce the environmental transmission of AMR through nature-based solutions. Specifically, the project focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of constructed wetlands in improving the quality of reclaimed wastewater before it is used for irrigating food crops. In addition to generating scientific evidence, CARMA will help strengthen local capacity, raise awareness among stakeholders, and inform national-scale implementation strategies.
Tunisia is also a national partner in the ENVIRE project, which addresses AMR risks in poultry farming. The project investigates the use of plant-based therapies, such as thyme and lavender, to reduce the need for antibiotics in poultry, and explores a bio-derived polymer to capture antibiotic residues in farm effluents. While part of a broader European research effort, the Tunisian component provides valuable insight into environmentally and economically viable AMR interventions in livestock production.
ICARS warmly welcomes Tunisia’s leadership and looks forward to continuing this strong collaboration to develop innovative approaches that can inform national and regional strategies in the global mitigation of antimicrobial resistance.
