As world leaders gathered for COP30 this month, Tunisia unveiled a new museum that demonstrates how heritage can be used to build a climate resilient future.
The Centre for the Promotion of Heritage in Tataouine celebrates ancient climate adaptation techniques developed by the local Imazighen community to survive extreme heat and drought. These traditional building and water management methods have been showcased as part of an effort to preserve indigenous knowledge against the looming threat of climate change.
This new Centre illustrates the story of how local communities have lived in ancient stone cave settlements for centuries. However, climate projections warn that this way of life is at risk of disappearing within the 150-200 years if there is no intervention.
Supported by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, this programme was led by Durham University in partnership with University of College Dublin and Institut National du Patrimoine de Tunisie. Together, they worked to help the local community transform a traditional house into a cultural and economic hub. While it includes an exhibition space, it also has a women-led craft shop, a café for residents, and a co-working space with internet access for young people. It aims to boost economic growth and create sustainable, long-term opportunities for rural makers – especially women in the tourism sector – at a time when many young men are leaving the region for work in Europe.
Spearheaded by the Archaeology Department at Durham University, this initiative models how traditional knowledge can inform sustainable, forward-looking solutions. These include that ensure that this unique built heritage is protected on the ground, local archaeologists and conservators have been trained in preservation techniques. With regards to protecting this unique intangible cultural heritage, rural makers have contributed to documentaries which capture the variety of traditional crafts within the region that utilises natural materials from plants, animals, rocks and clay.
However, the project went further in building resilience through its focus on supporting local craftswomen. By delivering workshops and training sessions, as Project Collaborator and Facilitator Mabrouk Lazaar explains, ‘Beyond academic research, this project supports artisans in creating innovative products while preserving traditions, providing them opportunities to market their work and strengthen their social and economic position.’ Their wares can now be purchased from the museum’s shop.
The inauguration ceremony held on 11 November 2025 was led by the UK Ambassador to Tunisia, Roderick Drummond, and British Council Director Jill Coates, in close collaboration with Tunisia’s National Institute of Heritage. For Professor Anna Leone, Project Lead at Durham University:
‘This project has had a profound and multidimensional impact on these communities. It not only brought both national institutional and international attention to their unique heritage, but also equipped local heritage professionals with the skills and technologies necessary to protect it. It inspired a renewed sense of pride, encouraging communities to reconnect with their traditions, heritage, and values. Above all, it revitalised the entire community, reaffirming the distinctive character of their culture and strengthening their commitment to preserving it.’
