During a visit to Tunis, Philippe Orliange, Executive Director for Geographies at the French Development Agency (AFD), signed a series of agreements with Tunisian authorities totaling €54.5 million.
These funds target three priority areas for Tunisia: securing access to drinking water, supporting the economic empowerment of vulnerable populations, and accelerating vocational training for young people.
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, in the presence of Samir Abdelhafidh, Minister of Economy and Planning; Abdelhamid Mnajja, CEO of SONEDE; and France’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Anne Guéguen.
Drinking Water: Structural Investments for 6 Million People
On the water front, the AFD is providing €12 million and an additional €30 million for two major projects: strengthening the Cap Bon–Sahel–Sfax supply system and securing water provision for Greater Tunis (co-financed with the EIB). A €0.5 million grant is also allocated to finalize the master plan for drinking water in Greater Tunis.
With these additions, the AFD’s cumulative commitment for Greater Tunis reaches €68 million. Concretely, this involves building new treatment plants (in Kalaa Kébira and Béjaoua), constructing reservoirs, and laying additional pipelines to increase the capacity and reliability of the network.
Nearly 6 million Tunisians—about half of the population—will ultimately benefit from these investments, which aim to harness surplus water from the North, meet rising urban demand, and ease pressure on inland aquifers.
Economic Inclusion: €5 Million to Double Program Capacity
On economic inclusion, a €5 million budgetary support package will bolster the Economic Empowerment Program for poor and low-income households and people with disabilities, led by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Created in 2022, the program funds entrepreneurial projects through grants and tailored support.
The AFD’s contribution is expected to double the program’s capacity, with priority given to regions hardest hit by poverty and mobility challenges, in order to strengthen long-term inclusion and territorial resilience.
Youth Employment: €7 Million for Two Centers of Excellence
On youth employment, €7 million has been earmarked for vocational training and mobility initiatives (including €5 million from the AFD and €2 million from France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs). The aim is to provide a practical response to youth unemployment, which stands at 37.7% among 15–24-year-olds.
The three-year project, beginning in December 2025, will modernize two pilot centers—the Sectoral Tooling Center in Sousse and the Sectoral Center for General Mechanics in Grombalia—turning them into centers of excellence.
Targets include training 1,800 students, achieving a 100% employment rate within one year of graduation, creating or strengthening 10 training streams, and supporting the professional reintegration of 100 returning Tunisians.
The funding will cover infrastructure, instructor upskilling, and international mobility pathways.
A High-Level Political and Technical Signal
Beyond the figures, Philippe Orliange’s presence in Tunis, as one of the AFD’s most senior operational leaders, carries a strong political and technical message.
It underscores the institution’s confidence in Tunisia’s national priorities, facilitates the decision-making needed to deliver projects, and accelerates coordination with partners (EIB, sectoral ministries, SONEDE).
This visit also highlights Franco-Tunisian alignment: results-oriented financing focused on social and productive sectors, with measurable indicators and an emphasis on implementation.
In a context of water stress, social expectations, and the urgent need for youth integration, the chosen approach—essential infrastructure + inclusion + skills—seeks to generate tangible short-term results and structural medium-term impacts.
From Implementation to Results: Focus on Impact
Closing statements emphasized this point: “These funds only make sense through effective implementation,” stressed Philippe Orliange, while Minister Samir Abdelhafidh highlighted “the scale and diversity of cooperation with France, and particularly with the AFD,” fully aligned with Tunisia’s economic and social priorities.
Between water security, economic empowerment, and employability, this new €54.5 million package is designed to move from projects on paper to real impact, directly benefiting households and communities.