Tunisia has received a mediocre rating in its development performance, with an overall average of 40.8% across its essential services. The new National Development Performance Index (INPD) evaluates the country's economic, social, and environmental performance in sectors related to fundamental services and human rights. This index assesses the country's progress at the delegation level, providing a detailed picture of its strengths and weaknesses. The INPD will soon feed into the PerfECT application, which is already accessible online.
The INPD reveals significant disparities between sectors, with some areas performing better than others. The food and finance sectors scored 56.4%, while transportation and telecommunications achieved 50.3%, pulling the national average up. However, sectors such as housing and tourism scored a low 26.5%, and education and culture achieved only 33.3%. These results indicate that the country still faces significant challenges in meeting its citizens' basic needs and promoting human development.
Regional disparities persist, with some areas performing significantly better than others. The Grand Tunis region and Nabeul achieved the highest scores, with 49.4% and 45.2%, respectively. In contrast, Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, and Kasserine scored much lower, at 33.8% and 34.6%, respectively. These disparities have persisted since 2011, despite public policies aimed at reducing regional inequalities.
Water scarcity is a pressing issue in Tunisia, with the country facing significant challenges in managing this vital resource. Today, Tunisia has approximately 400 m³ of water per inhabitant per year, down from nearly 850 m³ in 1996. This is well below the FAO's threshold for water scarcity, set at 1,000 m³. The country's water distribution networks are also aging, resulting in significant losses, with nearly half of the irrigation water being lost.
Food shortages are a recurring problem in Tunisia, despite significant government spending on subsidies. The country's ability to respond to supply crises is limited, with a capacity of only 15%. The right to food is not explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, which can exacerbate the issue. The INPD highlights the need for improvements in this area, particularly in terms of food security and access to essential goods.
The legislative sector also faces challenges, scoring only 35%. The organization of parliamentary debates can favor the formation of majorities over consensus-building, allowing better-resourced actors to exert disproportionate influence on key issues. The INPD emphasizes that public performance is not homogeneous and can be improved with targeted policies and better resource allocation.
The INPD provides a valuable tool for policymakers to assess the country's development performance and target interventions more effectively. By analyzing the index's results, authorities can identify areas that require improvement and measure the impact of their policies over time. This can help Tunisia make progress in meeting its development goals and improving the lives of its citizens.
Key points
- Tunisia's overall development performance averages 40.8% across essential services.
- Significant regional disparities persist, with some areas performing much better than others.
- Water scarcity and food shortages are pressing issues that require attention from policymakers.
