EU4Youth – Tunisia

Overview

EU4Youth – Tunisia is an initiative funded by the European Union—part of a broader EU4Youth regional strategy—that targets economic, social, and political inclusion of the most disadvantaged Tunisian youth through a locally driven development approach. Launched in 2019 and running through 2027 with a €60 million budget, the program is implemented via six flagship projects—Jeun’ESS, Maghroum’in, Go4Youth, Swafy, Irada4Youth, and Fe3il.a—spanning 24 governorates and involving eight executing partners and nine institutional collaborators. Its three core objectives are improving employability and job creation, expanding access to culture and sport, and embedding youth participation in public policymaking at national and local levels.

By mid‑2024, over 10,000 young Tunisians had benefited directly from EU4Youth support, alongside 293 financed projects, more than 100 civil-society organizations, and digital development of six pilot employment and self‑employment centers, resulting in around 1,000 jobs created or sustained. Specific components like the Maghroum’in project, implemented by the British Council, are tailored to assist vulnerable youth through cultural and sports initiatives, guided participatory local governance, and capacity-building for civil-society actors. Another pillar, Jeun’ESS—executed with ILO—has fostered over 170 social and solidarity economy enterprises since its rollout in May 2025, creating more than 3,600 decent jobs (56% held by women, 8% by persons with disabilities).

In sum, EU4Youth – Tunisia represents a comprehensive, multi‑year EU‑supported program oriented towards nurturing youth entrepreneurship, civic engagement, cultural participation, and employability—particularly for marginalized groups—while fostering systemic integration of youth voices in governance.