The project established a dedicated research infrastructure in Tunisia to support the research and sustained collaborations with the University of Sousse and a wider network of academic and professional stakeholders. From the outset, workshops, conferences, and a hybrid seminar series brought together scholars from the University of Amsterdam, multiple Tunisian universities, regional NGOs, and other international partners. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue across institutional and geographic boundaries, the team created a collaborative environment in which methods and ideas could be shared.
Two formal launch events marked the project’s public debut. The first took place in Amsterdam, where core themes were introduced to an international audience and conversations about decolonial research practices began. Soon after, a companion conference was held in Tunisia, convening university leadership, research institute representatives, civil-society actors working on migration, fisheries, agriculture, pollution, and women’s issues, as well as local artists. These gatherings generated substantial media coverage and social-media attention, building momentum for future collaborative work.
Following these launch activities, a Short Intensive Course (SIK) was held in southern Tunisia. Over several days, project team members and local scholars participated in thematic workshops focused on research methodologies, ethics, and collaborative ethnographic fieldwork. Six international scholars led the workshops, while an external ethics advisor delivered a dedicated session on ethics, data management, and responsible data collection. By interweaving field visits with workshop discussions, the SIK ensured that real-world observations shaped collective analysis and that theoretical debates informed practical fieldwork.
At the University of Sousse, an Info Day showcased the project’s aims and ongoing activities to faculty members, neighboring research institutes, and students. Attendees presented their research interests, which helped map emerging networks and lay the groundwork for future collaborations. During this event, the team also launched the Vital Elements Seminar Series—designed to rotate among host institutions in Sousse, Gabès, Sfax, Gafsa, and Amsterdam—and adopted a hybrid format that allowed global experts to participate virtually while promoting local community engagement.
Additionally, all team members established contacts in their respective research fields and conducted two rounds of (collaborative) fieldwork. Initial results have been presented at academic conferences and prepared for the project’s first peer-reviewed publications,
