A recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Observatoire de l'inclusion financière (OIF) has highlighted the limited access to formal financial services in rural Tunisia. The study, part of the "Green Economy: Women's Economic Empowerment in Tunisia" (GEWEET) project funded by the Canadian government, found that 7 governorates - Kairouan, Gabès, Médenine, Tataouine, Gafsa, Tozeur, and Kébili - account for only 12% of the country's banking network.
The study revealed that residents in these regions often rely on informal practices, such as home savings or community solidarity circuits, to access financing. These informal methods are based on geographic proximity and deep-seated trust. The UNDP and OIF emphasized the need to evolve formal finance to cater to women and young people, offering simple, transparent tools adapted to modest incomes.
According to the study, increasing access to formal financial services is crucial for territorial justice and sustainable human development in Tunisia. The UNDP and OIF stressed that bringing financial institutions closer to local populations requires simplifying banking language, streamlining procedures, and providing clear, accessible financial education.
To address these challenges, the UNDP and OIF plan to launch a mobile caravan in October 2026, which will tour the 7 target governorates. The caravan aims to provide personalized support to women and young people, bringing together banks, microfinance institutions, insurance companies, and digital financial services under one roof.
Women's banking rates in these regions are particularly low, not exceeding 18%. The study's findings highlight the need for targeted initiatives to promote financial inclusion among women and young people in rural Tunisia.
The UNDP and OIF hope that their initiative will help bridge the gap in access to formal financial services in rural Tunisia. By providing accessible and adapted financial services, they aim to empower women and young people, promoting economic growth and sustainable development in these regions.
The study's results were published recently, and the UNDP and OIF are now working to implement their recommendations. The mobile caravan is expected to play a key role in increasing access to formal financial services in rural Tunisia, promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment among women and young people.
Key points
- Women's banking rates in rural Tunisia are as low as 18%.
- Only 12% of Tunisia's national banking network is represented in 7 rural governorates.
- A mobile caravan will tour the 7 target governorates to provide personalized support to women and young people.
