Tunisia: Engaging Tunisian Youth to Achieve the MDGs

The turmoil which has shaken Tunisia over the past year is directly related to the lack of jobs for young Tunisians, especially in marginalized areas of the North West, West and South. A third of young people are jobless, and promoting full and productive employment is an urgent challenge for the new government. This Joint Programme is supporting efforts to develop regional capacities in migration-prone areas through the sustainable creation of decent jobs and the promotion of local competencies.

The programme operates in the pilot regions of El-Kef, Gafsa and Tunis through interventions adapted to the varying needs of two target groups -- unemployed university graduates and unemployed unskilled youth. Its goals are being achieved by:

i) Enhancing national and regional capacities to develop, implement, coordinate and monitor regional employment and migration policies and programs; and

ii) Promoting innovative entrepreneurship and job creation schemes, including a circular migration mechanism for the targeted youth of the pilot regions.

The UN is implementing the programme through a network of governmental and non- governmental partners, with capacity building cross-cutting all interventions.