Launch: Promoting Economic Inclusion along Migration Corridors in Tunisia

On 5 October 2023, the National Union of Tunisian Women Kairouan (UNFTK) will host a workshop in Tunis to launch the Inclusive Cities – Quality Public Services and Decent Jobs for All project. The initiative aims to promote the economic inclusion of rural-urban migrants and poor host communities along the migration corridors surrounding the Tunisian cities of Kairouan, Medenine, and Tataouine.

The project is based on the concept that strengthening the local systems and creating favourable conditions for individuals in situations of social and economic vulnerability will provide sustainable change. It is part of the Cities and Migration Resilient Systems of Secondary Cities and Migration Dynamics Programme funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Internal labour migration is a major phenomenon in Tunisia, and municipalities that already lack human and financial resources struggle to integrate young labour migrants from rural areas. They also experience challenges in providing access to quality public services and economic opportunities for migrants and residents in remote parts of the municipal territories.

This project works closely with the Tunisian National Employment Agency (ANETI), training institutes, and their local branches to enable populations who live further away from the urban centres of Kairouan, Medenine, and Tataouine to access work-related services. It will also further improve the quality of the services, with a specific focus on high-potential sectors. 

It is expected to especially benefit women, who are disproportionally affected by long distances and poor public transport to urban service centres (often 30 to 40 km). 

Activities to promote work opportunities will include information campaigns on existing employment and business support programmes, training for entrepreneurs, free education programmes for employees of local companies, and a new training curriculum for jobs in high-demand sectors, including the green and circular economy.

New Citizen Spaces (one-stop shops for administrative municipal services, such as permits) will make municipal services more accessible, transparent, and efficient in areas far from existing administrative centres.