Tunisia

AWC has six members in Tunisia and works also with non-member organizations.

AWC monitors the policies and activities of the following International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Tunisia:

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Tunisia joined the IMF in 1958. The Tunisian government got its first loan from the IMF in 1964 Since then, Tunisia received 9 loans from the IMF.

Since 2000, the IMF has been assessing the Tunisian economy annually. This assessment is known as Article IV Consultation in reference to the article number 4 in the IMF’s Articles of Agreement that established the IMF’ surveillance role.

World Bank Group (WBG)

Tunisia joined the WBG in 1958.  Throughout the years the bank invested in 220 projects in the Tunisian public sector. As of October  2020, the Bank has 15 active WB projects, with a total price tag of  seven projects in the pipeline (under preparation).

The International Finance Corporation, -the arm of the World Bank Group that invests in private sector- has

The World Bank Group prepares a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for each country it is active in. The CPF outlines the Bank‘s strategy in this specific country over a three to five year period. As of January 2021, the current CPF for Tunisia covers the period of 2016 through 2020.

The European Investment Bank (EIB)

EIB started its operations in Tunisia in 1979. Since then, EIB invested 6.67 billion Euros in 65 projects in Tunisia.

AfDB

Tunisia has been a member of the Afdb since 1964. The EBRD develops a Country Strategy for each country it works in that outlines its strategy framework in the country for a certain period. The last Country Strategy for Tunisia was adopted in 2017 and it covers until 2021.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Tunisia’s relationship with the EBRD has been recent.  The first project financed by the EBRD in the country was in late 2012.  Since then, and until December 2020, the EBRD invested 963 million Euros in 49 projects in both the public and private sectors

The EBRD develops a Country Strategy for each country it works in that outlines its strategy framework in the country for a certain period. The last Country Strategy for Tunisia was adopted in December 2018 and it covers until 2023.

Main issues that AWC focus on in Tunisia

The Tunisian economy is having a hard time recovering after suffering shocks during the 2011 transition, fueled by the collapse of the Libyan market, a fall in the production of phosphates and oil and the tourism industry “shock”. This has further exacerbated the social challenges, mainly poverty, unemployment and regional disparities.

IFIs have stepped up to fill the gaps and help a young regime navigate the economic challenges of a transition, through more loans, even amidst calls to suspend Tunisia’s EU debt repayments. IFIs’ focus on macro-economic indicators made them hail pre-2011 poverty-reduction; but this reduction did not translate well in real life, evidenced by poverty being a driving factor for the Tunisian Spring. Yet, IFIs continue pursuing the same strategy.

AWC, and its Tunisian members and partners continue to closely monitor IFIs work in Tunisia.

AWC Activities in Tunisia

AWC partnered with “Association Tunisienne de Droit du Development” to monitor and analyze the impacts of the World Bank’s Tunisia COVID-19 Response project.   This program aims to facilitate access to help Tunisia face the Covid-19 challenges. The program has been active since 2020.