The Forum Fin4Youth+ was recently held in Tunisia to address the challenges faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in accessing financing. The event was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), and CDC Gestion. The forum aimed to bring together stakeholders to discuss ways to improve access to financing for SMEs, particularly those led by young people and women.
The forum's theme, "Towards more bankable and high-impact projects," reflects the need to match the needs of businesses with the expectations of financiers. The organizers highlighted that the youth unemployment rate in Tunisia reached 36.8% in the second quarter of 2025, and access to financing remains a significant challenge for many enterprises, especially those in the interior regions. The event provided a platform for dialogue and action to address these issues.
The Fin4Youth+ program is a joint initiative by UNDP and UNIDO, in partnership with CDC and CDC Gestion, aimed at facilitating access to financing for SMEs, particularly those led by young people and women. The program is part of the Economic Corridor initiative, which seeks to strengthen economic and employment opportunities in the regions of Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, and Kairouan. The program also includes the IMPACT Fund, managed by CDC Gestion, with a budget of 42 million dinars dedicated to supporting high-impact projects in the Economic Corridor.
The IMPACT Fund aims to support 70 SMEs with investment tickets ranging from 100,000 to 1 million dinars, focusing on projects with high environmental and social impact, particularly in the regions of Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid. The fund prioritizes projects led by women. Nejia Gharbi, Director-General of CDC and President of the Board of Directors of CDC Gestion, emphasized that Fin4Youth+ plays a crucial role in preparing and structuring projects to access these investment opportunities.
The forum featured the presentation of various tools, including COMFAR, a UNIDO tool for analyzing the economic and financial feasibility of investment projects. Lassaad Ben Hassine, UNIDO Representative in Tunisia, stated that Fin4Youth+ aims to bring together high-potential projects with financing requirements, creating conditions for entrepreneurs in targeted regions to transform their ideas into sustainable investment opportunities.
The forum brought together various stakeholders, including support structures, financial institutions, investment bodies, and public and private actors. The event aimed to strengthen understanding of investor expectations and improve project preparation practices. The organizers hope that the forum will contribute to the growth, employment, and regional development in Tunisia.
The Fin4Youth+ program and the IMPACT Fund are expected to have a positive impact on the Tunisian economy, particularly in the regions targeted by the Economic Corridor initiative. By supporting SMEs, especially those led by young people and women, the program aims to promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and sustainable development.
Key points
- The Forum Fin4Youth+ aims to facilitate access to financing for SMEs in Tunisia, particularly those led by young people and women.
- The IMPACT Fund, managed by CDC Gestion, has a budget of 42 million dinars to support high-impact projects in the Economic Corridor.
- The Fin4Youth+ program seeks to promote viable projects with high impact, contributing to growth, employment, and regional development in Tunisia.
