The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tunisia promotes an inclusive, accountable political system, and dynamic private sector-led economic growth, which promotes prosperous and resilient communities across the country and advances Tunisian development. Since 2011, USAID has provided nearly $685 million in assistance to Tunisia.
OUR WORK
USAID supports the Tunisian people’s goal of a democratic government that is responsive to the country’s socio-economic needs. USAID assistance in Tunisia focuses on democracy and governance, economic growth, and COVID-19 response.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
To mitigate the economic and financial crisis in Tunisia, much of USAID’s Economic Growth programming focuses on direct support to small and medium sized enterprises. In the past year alone, more than 19,000 Tunisian businesses have benefited from either our financial or our technical assistance. USAID has also focused on improving the business enabling environment, to create conditions for business to grow and thrive. USAID has focused on far-ranging Public Financial Management reforms which should, once fully implemented, substantially improve government transparency and accountability, currently a major source of public concern.
Economic Growth Results:
- 30,000 businesses supported
- 42,000 jobs facilitated
- 40,000 people trained
- $300 million financing facilitated
- $500 million in Increased Sales for assisted businesses
- $400 million in Increased Export for assisted businesses
- 10 digital e-government solutions and platforms to make government interactions with businesses cheaper, faster, more effective
DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
USAID works with civil society organizations, Tunisian institutions, youth, and other stakeholders to strengthen Tunisia’s democratic institutions and political processes, encourage diverse citizen participation and engagement, and promote positive youth development. USAID’s democracy and governance programs help advance Tunisia’s democratic consolidation through inclusion for traditionally underserved areas of Tunisia, civic and voter education, electoral systems strengthening, political participation, and citizen oversight initiatives. Democracy and Governance Results:
- Reached over 1 million citizens through Civic and Voter Education Campaigns, and ensured that people with disabilities were included in the 2019 elections by developing sign language lexicon, a smartphone application, and a series of animated videos into the Election Commission’s voter outreach efforts
- 47 safe spaces have been refurbished and equipped in communities throughout Tunisia which provide Tunisian youth with opportunities to improve their skills and contribute to their communities
- Reached over 3,940 participants in community-based activities to promote positive youth development and prevent violent extremism including 1,832 active youth participants
- Engaged 45,000 followers on social media to promote positive youth development and civic engagement
COVID-19 RESPONSE
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID has dedicated over $37 million in assistance to support Tunisia in responding to the immediate health crisis, and preparing for the pandemic’s long term economic and social effects. In addition to utilizing existing Economic Growth and Democracy and Governance projects, USAID is also partnering with UN organizations to support efforts by the Government of Tunisia to respond to emerging needs in Tunisia.
COVID-19 Response Results:
- Over 2.8 million vaccines delivered to Tunisia through COVAX, helping Tunisia achieve full vaccination coverage of over 55% of the population
- 86,000 equipment items delivered to 151 municipalities, which enabled 8,000 front line sanitation municipal workers to stop the spread of COVID-19, serving and protecting over half the population in Tunisia
- Provided technical support and facility equipment for safe storage and transport of COVID-19 vaccines and upgrading of national cold chain infrastructure for Tunisia’s immunization program:
- 486 vaccine refrigerators and freezers and 1,000 freezer temperature control devices
- USAID provided three ultra-cold chain (UCC) freezers for mRNA vaccines
