JEUN’ESS: Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy and Creation of Decent Jobs for Tunisian Youth

The JEUN’ESS project aims to create decent jobs for young people in disadvantaged areas and support the transition to the formal economy through the promotion of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). The project proposes an approach based on the promotion and strengthening of collective entrepreneurship through SSE organizations and mechanisms.

Context

Unemployment among young graduates, particularly in interior regions, is the central problem of Tunisia after the revolution. In addition to the unemployment issue, there is a regional imbalance in terms of economic, social and environmental development.

The Tunisian Government and its partners regard the creation of decent jobs, in particular for young men and women in disadvantaged regions, as a central priority and engine of economic growth and development, as well as social peace.

However, economic difficulties and the slowing down of the production apparatus have considerably reduced the capacity of the private sector to create new employment opportunities. In this situation, the promotion of self-employment through individual or collective entrepreneurship has a potential to significantly reduce unemployment among young people, including in the informal economy.

It is in this context that the social and solidarity economy (SSE) has been identified by the Tunisian government and the social partners as a sector with significant potential for reducing social inequalities, promoting inclusion, creating jobs, wealth and a path to the formal economy.

Institutional partners

  • Ministry of Development, Investment and International Cooperation (MDiCI) (Main partner)
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries (MARHP)
  • Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment (MFPE)
  • Ministry of Social Affairs (MAS)
  • Social partners: Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA); Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT); and Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP)

Goals

Development objective:
The promotion of decent work for young people through the SSE.

Specific objectives:
  1. Improvement of knowledge on the SSE value chains and the characteristics of the informal economy at regional level
  2. Capacity building of SSE support organizations
  3. Creation of decent jobs at local level through the SSE in six governorates
  4. Improving the working conditions of workers in the informal economy through the SSE

Ultimate beneficiaries

  • Young people in the project intervention area
  • SSE organizations
  • Support and accompaniment structures for SSE organizations

Expected results

  • Survey on informality carried out in the target governorates
  • Local economic opportunities in the SSE and value chains identified
  • Results of the survey and studies utilized
  • Project monitoring and evaluation system developed
  • Regional SSE support structures identified
  • Capacities of SSE support structures improved
  • Operational SSE clubs within professional training centres established
  • Operational and transparent SSE funding systems established
  • Individual self-entrepreneurs organized into SSE groups
  • Income of self-entrepreneurs sensitized to the SSE improved thanks to better access to markets
For more information, see the ILO Development Cooperation Dashboard.