The UN Women's office in Tunisia, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization, has launched a 15-day advocacy campaign to support the economic empowerment of rural women. The campaign, which runs from October 12 to 27, 2026, aims to amplify the voices of rural women and support their economic empowerment. The campaign's launch was announced at a meeting with representatives from various media outlets at the UN headquarters in Tunis.
According to the UN, women make up 35% of the rural population in Tunisia and 75% of the agricultural workforce. However, women in the agricultural sector earn less than 50% of the average wages of their male counterparts. Furthermore, only 12% of rural women have social coverage. The campaign aims to highlight the challenges faced by rural women and support their demands for better working conditions and social protection.
The campaign will feature a media component, with journalists from various outlets participating in field trips to rural areas to interview women working in the agricultural sector. The field trips will take place in the governorates of Jundubah and Al-Qairawan, where journalists will conduct live interviews with women and listen to the concerns of civil society activists. The goal is to produce a series of articles, videos, and podcasts that showcase the challenges faced by rural women.
The field trips will begin on October 7, 2026, in Jundubah, followed by a trip to Al-Qairawan on October 9. The journalists will produce a range of content, including articles, short videos, live testimonials, podcasts, and social media posts. The aim is to shed light on the working conditions faced by rural women and to support their demands for better protection and social coverage.
The campaign's organizers say that rural women in Tunisia face significant challenges, including limited access to social protection, low wages, and limited economic opportunities. The campaign aims to raise awareness about these issues and to support policy changes that promote the economic empowerment of rural women.
The launch of the campaign comes as Tunisia prepares to implement new policies aimed at promoting rural development and reducing poverty. The campaign's organizers say that they hope to use the media coverage to amplify the voices of rural women and to push for policy changes that support their economic empowerment.
The campaign will conclude on October 27, 2026, with a final report on the outcomes of the media trips and the key recommendations for policy changes. The organizers say that they hope that the campaign will contribute to a greater understanding of the challenges faced by rural women in Tunisia and to concrete actions to support their economic empowerment.
Key points
- Women make up 75% of Tunisia's agricultural workforce, but earn less than 50% of the average wages of their male counterparts.
- Only 12% of rural women in Tunisia have social coverage.
- The campaign aims to amplify the voices of rural women and support policy changes that promote their economic empowerment.
