Stakeholders' Preferences for Sustainable Groundwater Management in the Mahdia Region (Tunisia): Application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process

ABSTRACT Groundwater (GW) is a critical resource for socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability, particularly in Tunisia's semi‐arid regions. Nevertheless, unsustainable extraction practices and inadequate governance have given rise to substantial challenges, including aquifer depletion, salinization, and ecological degradation. This study examines stakeholder preferences for GW management instruments in the Mahdia region (Tunisia) using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). It evaluates economic, social, and environmental criteria, assessing the preferences of researchers, decision‐makers, and farmers. Results reveal differences in stakeholder priorities: farmers assign the highest weight to economic objectives, while researchers prioritize environmental sustainability, and decision‐makers emphasize a balanced consideration of environmental and social criteria. The results indicate that the water bank (WB) system is the most preferred management tool, followed by quotas across stakeholders. Consistency ratios remain within acceptable AHP thresholds, supporting the reliability of the prioritization results. These findings underscore the importance of participatory governance frameworks that align the diverse priorities of stakeholders with the overarching goal of sustainable GW management. By integrating scientific evidence from researchers, the practical knowledge of farmers, and the priorities of decision‐makers to develop balanced policies that reflect all stakeholder preferences, Tunisia can create more resilient and effective solutions to address the challenges of GW overexploitation.