A new study by the Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) has shed light on a significant paradox within Tunisia’s burgeoning digital sector. While women now constitute the majority of the workforce in this field, they remain severely underrepresented as company founders, with access to finance being identified as the primary barrier to their entrepreneurial ambitions.The findings were presented during a conference titled “Women in the Digital Sector: What Opportunities?”, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges for female professionals in the country’s tech ecosystem.
A Paradox of Participation
The IACE study reveals that women make up 52% of all employees in Tunisia’s digital sector, underscoring their crucial role in driving the industry’s growth. Furthermore, an impressive 70% of these women hold higher education degrees, indicating a highly skilled and qualified talent pool.
Despite this strong presence in the workforce, a stark disparity emerges at the leadership level. The research found that only 14% of digital companies in Tunisia are founded or co-founded by women, pointing to systemic obstacles that prevent female talent from transitioning into entrepreneurship.
The Funding Hurdle
The primary obstacle hindering female founders, according to the study, is access to capital. A staggering 75% of women surveyed cited difficulties in securing financing as the main challenge to launching or scaling their ventures.
This data was further contextualized by Nejia Gharbi, Director General of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC). Speaking at the conference, Gharbi noted that for the “Anava” fund of funds, a key investment vehicle in the ecosystem, only 26% of funding requests came from projects led by women. This highlights a critical gap in the pipeline, where fewer women-led projects are reaching the investment stage.
About The Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE)
The Arab Institute of Business Leaders is an independent Tunisian think tank dedicated to economic research and the promotion of private enterprise. Through studies, reports, and events, IACE aims to foster dialogue and contribute to the development of public policies that support a competitive and dynamic business environment in Tunisia and the wider region.
Source: Tuniscope
