The CAP Emploi program, a results-based financing initiative aimed at transforming Tunisia’s employment landscape, was officially launched in Tunis during a high-level workshop.
The event brought together public and private stakeholders from the entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as employment and vocational training sectors.
Led by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (ANETI), and the Tunisian Solidarity Bank (BTS BANK), this strategic program seeks to provide an integrated solution to youth unemployment.
It combines training, entrepreneurship support, access to financing, and measures to promote formalization and professional integration, as detailed on the AfDB’s official website.
The African Development Bank is backing CAP Emploi with €90 million in funding, along with a $2.5 million grant from its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative.
This marks the first program in Tunisia financed by the AfDB through a results-based instrument, where disbursements occur only upon achieving predefined targets. This innovative approach aims to enhance performance-driven governance and results-oriented management.
“Together, we can build a future where employment is not a constraint, but an opportunity for all,” Hatem Dahman, Director General of ANETI, stated.
Malinne Blomberg, AfDB’s Country Manager for Tunisia and Deputy Director General for North Africa, emphasized: “CAP Emploi aims to unlock the potential of thousands of entrepreneurs, particularly women. The AFAWA grant will help cover BTS BANK’s operational costs, easing access to financing.”
Tarek Bouhlel, Director General of African Cooperation at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, highlighted: “This program reflects our vision of a Tunisia where every citizen can actively contribute to national economic development. CAP Emploi aligns with the Ministry’s Three-Year Development Plan (2023-2025) and the Sectoral Plan for Employment and Vocational Training, offering a concrete response to structural labor market challenges.”
Three Core Pillars of CAP Emploi
Short-term training programs tailored to labor market needs, ensuring direct employment through partnerships with businesses.
Entrepreneurship support, providing integrated technical assistance and financing—including zero-interest loans via BTS BANK—while incentivizing formalization under self-entrepreneur status.
Institutional support to advance strategic reforms in employment, entrepreneurship, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development.
The program is projected to create 76,600 direct jobs and 42,300 indirect jobs, significantly improving living conditions for a large segment of Tunisia’s population.
The launch workshop, attended by over 60 participants, marked the start of the implementation phase. It also introduced AfDB’s results-based financing mechanism—a first in Tunisia—while strengthening implementing agencies’ capacity for swift and coordinated execution.
