27 June 2025
TUNISIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERTS SHARE WATER MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE
More than 140 delegates gathered at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria for a high-level seminar titled “The Role of Science Diplomacy in Knowledge and Expertise Sharing: The Tunisia–South Africa Experience on Water Management” on 19 June 2025. The event brought together experts, diplomats, and officials to explore how science diplomacy can support shared responses to water challenges in Africa.
The seminar was organised by the Embassy of Tunisia in Pretoria, in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Academy of Science of South Africa, and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa initiative.
The audience included representatives from the South African Departments of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Health, the African Development Bank for Southern Africa, diplomatic missions, research institutions, the private sector, media, and members of the Tunisian community.
In her opening address, HE Ms Karima Bardaoui, Ambassador of Tunisia to South Africa, highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in water management—a critical area facing shared challenges across the continent.
Key speakers included Ms Gugelethu Zwane, Deputy Director-General: Institutional Planning and Support at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Dr Moses Tembo, Principal for Water and Sanitation at the African Development Bank. Both emphasised the importance of regional collaboration to address water scarcity and to advance sustainable development in Africa.
A central part of the seminar was a panel discussion on scientific cooperation between Tunisia and South Africa. It featured:
- Prof. Mohamed Fethi Ben Hammouda, Head of Department at the Tunisian National Institute of Agronomy and Coordinator of the joint Tunisian-South African project MAISGM
- Prof. Essam Nouiri, also from the National Institute of Agronomy
- Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of South Africa’s Water Research Commission
- Researchers from the CSIR and professors from the Universities of the Western Cape, Fort Hare, and Stellenbosch
Adding international prestige, Prof. Abdon Atangana, a Cameroonian mathematician based at the University of the Free State and current President of the African Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, took part in the discussions. Prof. Atangana has been internationally recognised as one of the top mathematicians in the world.
The seminar also included contributions from civil society and youth innovation sectors, with presentations by Dr Ferrial Adam, Executive Director of the Water Community Action Network, and Nathan Mariemuthu, Director of the Empire Partner Foundation.
Another highlight was the introduction of Riadh Fatnasi, a Tunisian hydraulic engineer working on a water distribution project in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
This seminar served not only as a platform to showcase the strong scientific partnership between Tunisia and South Africa, but also as a call to expand economic and research collaboration across the African continent to address urgent water challenges through shared expertise and innovation.
