This six-year IFAD-initiated project is expected to respond to the needs of the targeted population by improving the management of natural resources in the project area in a participatory and sustainable manner. Improved management will lead to increased productivity and incomes, and thus better living standards and conditions. The project area, which covers the four south-eastern communes in the Zaghouan Governorate, has a population of approximately 83,000 inhabitants (1994 figures), 70% of which live outside the rural towns. Taking into consideration the recent experiences in community development and the participative approach adopted by the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, all project activities will be implemented with the participation of the population in their own development, on the basis of sharing in the decision-making process and in the maintenance of project investments. Group formation is a prerequisite for project interventions. Within this framework, the project will provide training and support for associations of users of irrigated perimeters, drinking water points and rangelands, based on relevant existing laws. In order to provide support to other project activities such as those targeting rural women, and to facilitate coordination between various associations, the project will promote social structures based on socio-territorial units. The target group will include: