The "Fin for Youth+" forum, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Tunisia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the Deposit and Consignment Fund, and CDC Gestion, aims to bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accessing finance. The forum, held in Tunis, focuses on improving access to finance for SMEs, particularly those led by youth and women, and those operating in internal regions.
According to the National Institute of Statistics, the youth unemployment rate in Tunisia stands at 36.8% as of the second quarter of 2025. The forum seeks to address this issue by discussing ways to improve the preparation and orientation of project owners, and to facilitate access to finance for SMEs. The event also features the presentation of tools and approaches to improve understanding of investor expectations and develop practices for preparing projects.
The forum showcases the "COMFAR" tool, developed by UNIDO, which allows for the analysis of the economic and financial viability of investment projects and supports the evaluation of their sustainability and associated risks. The tool is expected to help project owners better prepare their projects and increase their chances of accessing finance.
The "Fin for Youth+" program, which includes the forum, is a joint initiative of the UN Development Programme and UNIDO, in partnership with the Deposit and Consignment Fund and CDC Gestion. The program aims to facilitate access to finance for SMEs, particularly those led by youth and women, and to support the development of entrepreneurship in Tunisia.
The program is part of a broader economic development initiative, known as the "Economic Corridor," which aims to promote economic opportunities and job creation in the regions of Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, and Kairouan. The program also includes a fund, managed by the Deposit and Consignment Fund, which has allocated 42 million dinars to support the financing of SMEs with high environmental and social impact.
According to Najia Gharbi, General Manager of the Deposit and Consignment Fund and Chair of CDC Gestion, the 42 million dinar allocation is expected to support 70 SMEs, with investments 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 forum's discussions and presentations aim to contribute to the development of a more supportive ecosystem for SMEs in Tunisia, and to promote the growth of entrepreneurship and job creation in the country. The event brings together stakeholders from various sectors, including government, private sector, and international organizations, to share experiences and expertise.
Key points
- The "Fin for Youth+" forum aims to improve access to finance for small and medium enterprises in Tunisia, particularly those led by youth and women.
- The program includes a fund of 42 million dinars to support the financing of SMEs with high environmental and social impact.
- The forum features the presentation of tools and approaches to improve understanding of investor expectations and develop practices for preparing projects.
