Green Guardians in Tunisia: Between Marginalization and Recognition

As part of the Savoir Éco program implemented by Expertise France, the Applied Social Sciences Forum (ASSF) has conducted an action-oriented research study shedding light on the realities of the barbacha in Tunisia — women engaged in waste collection and recycling.

Although they represent an indispensable link in the urban waste management cycle, these women continue to face social marginalization, weak social protection, precarious working conditions, and a persistent lack of recognition, often accompanied by stigma and disdain.

Objectives of the Study

This initiative seeks to address two interrelated challenges:

An epistemological challenge: to generate deeper sociological knowledge of this population — their social profiles, expectations, hopes, and lived struggles.
A practical challenge: to elaborate concrete proposals and strategies, in collaboration with researchers and civil society actors, aimed at improving their living conditions and strengthening their integration into the formal economy.

Research Methodology

The study employed a mixed-methods approach:

A large-scale survey with 1,200 respondents, including waste workers and citizens who interact with them.
Deliberative encounters held in El Mnihla (Ariana) and Bab El Khadra (Tunis), which brought together 40 women from diverse social and generational backgrounds.

These encounters created a safe participatory space where participants were able to articulate their perspectives on their working conditions, the structural inequalities they endure, and their prospects for integration into the formal economy. The process ensured that recommendations faithfully reflected their aspirations and everyday realities.

Findings and Perspectives

The study does not merely collect data; it is also an instrument of empowerment for invisible workers, providing them with a voice in shaping public policies that directly concern them. The findings are expected to lead to actionable recommendations that enhance their economic inclusion and reinforce their social recognition, thereby acknowledging their pivotal role in sustaining urban life.

Conclusion

Through this initiative, the Applied Social Sciences Forum seeks to restore dignity and recognition to the barbacha, portraying them as green guardians who safeguard our cities from pollution and maintain ecological balance. Acknowledging and empowering them is not merely a social demand but a prerequisite for building just, solidaristic, and sustainable cities where the voices of the marginalized become active agents in shaping the future.