Throughout the implementation of the North Africa Biodiversity Programme, emphasis was put on community participation, where natural resource conservation activities were implemented with rural communities. The trust of the population, its adhesion to and comprehension of the Programme, as well as its implication in the conservation actions as part of a participatory approach was essential. A training seminar on participatory approaches took place in Tunisia with participants from the whole region to introduce the participatory approach decision-making process.

Local communities were involved in the decision making and management of the Programme, as well as in its implementation. In Tunisia, for example, a participatory diagnosis was organized with the population to identify the actions to be undertaken for the sustainable development and biodiversity conservation of the area and a Development Committee was constituted from the population to coordinate the future actions to be undertaken.

The Programme aimed at empowering local communities in biodiversity conservation, putting a special emphasis on women. It helped improve the livelihoods of the population by preserving natural resources, increasing revenues and improving living conditions.