Tunisia has received a mediocre score of 40.8% in its National Development Performance Index (INPD), indicating that the country is struggling to achieve its development goals. The index evaluates the country's performance in essential services and human rights, with significant disparities in various sectors. The score suggests that Tunisia needs to improve its efforts to achieve better results. The INPD assesses the country's performance at the delegation level, providing a detailed picture of its strengths and weaknesses.
The country's performance varies significantly across sectors, with some areas such as food and finance (56.4%) and transportation/telecommunications (50.3%) scoring higher than others. However, these scores do not necessarily translate to satisfactory performance. Sectors such as housing and tourism scored as low as 26.5%, while education and culture scored 33.3%. These areas are critical to human development and require urgent attention. The disparities in sectoral performance highlight the need for targeted policies to address these challenges.
Regional disparities persist, with the Grand Tunis (49.4%) and Nabeul (45.2%) regions ranking highest, while Sidi Bouzid (33.8%), Kairouan, and Kasserine (34.6%) lag behind. These disparities have been persistent since 2011, despite efforts to address them through public policies. The INPD highlights the need for more effective policies to reduce regional inequalities and promote sustainable development.
Water scarcity is a significant challenge in Tunisia, with the country having only 400 m³ of water per inhabitant per year, down from 850 m³ in 1996. This is well below the FAO's threshold of 1,000 m³. Additionally, nearly half of the irrigation water is lost due to outdated networks, and the connection rate to the ONAS water treatment system was only 64.9% in 2022. These challenges require urgent attention to ensure sustainable water management.
Recurrent shortages of essential goods such as bread, milk, coffee, and red meat persist, despite high compensation costs. The effectiveness of the compensation system is evaluated at only 13%, and the system's ability to withstand supply crises is limited to around 15%. The right to food is not explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, which exacerbates the challenge. The government needs to develop effective strategies to address these shortages and ensure food security.
The legislative sector scored 35%, reflecting the need for improvement in the country's governance. The sector's performance is influenced by the organization of parliamentary debates, which often favors the formation of majorities rather than consensus-building. This can lead to disproportionate influence by well-resourced actors on key issues such as minimum wage, taxation, and land ownership. The INPD highlights the need for reforms to promote more inclusive and effective governance.
The INPD provides a valuable tool for policymakers to target their efforts and measure their impact at the territorial level. The index confirms that public performance is not homogeneous and is subject to change. The data will be used to inform policies and improve the country's development outcomes. The government can use the INPD to identify areas that require urgent attention and develop effective strategies to address these challenges.
Key points
- Tunisia scores 40.8% in the National Development Performance Index, with significant disparities in services and regions.
- The country's water scarcity and recurrent shortages of essential goods are significant challenges that require urgent attention.
- The INPD provides a valuable tool for policymakers to target their efforts and measure their impact at the territorial level.
