The Ministry of Social Affairs in Tunisia has launched the first edition of its national competition, titled "Digital Social Innovation 2026: Technological Innovation in the Service of More Effective and Inclusive Social Protection in Tunisia." The competition, supported by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, brings together 22 teams of students and researchers in the social field. A total of 70 participants will be tasked with designing smart software and applications using artificial intelligence techniques.
The competition aims to address challenges set by the Ministry, which fall into two main areas. The first area focuses on simplifying social services, while the second area focuses on simplifying the study of files for social workers. The 20 teams selected to participate in the competition will be chosen based on the decision of the judging committee. These teams will then compete in the finals, with one team winning a prize of 15,000 dinars for each of the four challenges.
The competition is part of the "Social Protection and Legal Assistance" project, which aims to strengthen social protection in Tunisia by facilitating access to social justice through integrated approaches to accessing rights. The project is designed to promote social inclusion and reduce inequality. According to the Director General of the Information and Communication Technologies Unit at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Hatem Salhaoui, the competition aims to transfer knowledge and experience in the field of digital innovation.
The competition consists of three main stages, culminating in the selection of a winning team for each of the four challenges. The first stage involves the selection of 20 teams, followed by the second stage, which involves filtering the participants to select three teams for each challenge. The final stage will see the selection of a winning team for each challenge, as well as a fifth team that will be awarded a prize by the judging committee.
The challenges set by the Ministry include simplifying access to social services for citizens and defining how to submit requests for social protection services. Other challenges include providing smart tools to develop the work of social workers and facilitating access to social services for people with hearing disabilities. The competition aims to find innovative solutions to these challenges.
The competition was announced on September 25, 2026, and the deadline for applications was extended to October 14, 2026. The final stage of the competition will take place on December 11-12, 2026. The Ministry of Social Affairs hopes that the competition will encourage innovation and creativity in the field of social protection.
The competition is seen as an opportunity for Tunisian students and researchers to develop innovative solutions to social challenges. The winning teams will receive financial prizes and recognition for their work. The competition is also expected to promote collaboration between the public and private sectors in the field of social protection.
Key points
- 70 participants to design smart applications using AI
- Competition aims to address social challenges in Tunisia
- Winning teams to receive financial prizes of 15,000 dinars each
