Celebrating a decade of collaboration, Expertise France, part of the French Development Agency (AFD) Group, has announced a new €5 million agreement with Tunisia’s Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) to further bolster the nation’s entrepreneurial landscape. The announcement was made during an event titled “10 Years of Cooperation: A Shared Future,” marking a significant new chapter in the partnership.
New €5 Million ‘Watani’ Program to Support 500 Entrepreneurs
The new initiative, named the “Watani” project, is designed to support 500 Tunisian entrepreneurs, with a significant focus on youth and women. The €5 million in funding underscores a joint commitment to leveraging entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development in the country.
Jérémy Pellet, Director General of Expertise France, highlighted that the program will expand the reach of the “The Dot” incubator on a regional level and facilitate the creation of an innovative platform to mobilize savings from the Tunisian diaspora. This effort aims to strengthen existing support mechanisms for entrepreneurship, foster projects with tangible local impact, and build economic bridges with Tunisians living abroad.
A Decade of Impact on Tunisia’s Startup Ecosystem
This new project builds on a foundation of successful collaboration that has significantly shaped Tunisia’s innovation scene. Over the past ten years, joint initiatives led by AFD and Expertise France, such as EnLien, FAST, MEET Africa 2, Innov’i, and Greenov’i, have supported nearly 3,000 entrepreneurs and strengthened over 30 support structures.
This sustained activity and partnership with the Tunisian government, particularly the Ministry of Communication Technologies and the CDC, played a crucial role in the development and passing of the landmark 2018 Startup Act. This legislation has positioned Tunisia as one of the most dynamic and innovative markets in the region.
Mobilizing the Diaspora and Focusing on Future Tech
The “Watani” project, implemented by the CDC, places a strategic emphasis on engaging Tunisians residing abroad as a key resource for investment, innovation, and skills transfer. A core component of this strategy includes the development of “The Dot Landing” program, which will provide dedicated support to diaspora entrepreneurs looking to invest in or launch economic ventures in Tunisia.
Looking ahead, the French-Tunisian partnership will prioritize several key sectors. Anne Guéguen, the French Ambassador to Tunisia, identified artificial intelligence, capacity development, and security as primary areas of future focus. This includes collaborative projects in renewable energy, such as large-scale solar power stations in southern Tunisia, and the establishment of data centers to support AI-driven public policy and economic growth.
About Expertise France
Expertise France is the French public agency for international technical cooperation and is part of the AFD Group. The agency designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Operating in key development areas such as governance, security, climate, health, and education, Expertise France works alongside its partners to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the past decade, it has implemented over 1,500 projects across more than 100 countries.
Source: Mosaique FM
