A contribution of EUR 6.5 million (about 13 million dinars) will be paid on three years to support development efforts in disadvantaged regions in Tunisia.
A relevant agreement was signed, Friday Tunis, between the Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Tunisia Adrianus Koetsenruijter and Jürgen Schwettmann, Director of Partnerships and Development Cooperation, coming under the International Labor Office (ILO), in the presence of Tunisian Minister of Regional Development and Planning Jameleddine Gharbi.
The amount is dedicated to the implementation of the first component of the support program for disadvantaged areas (PAZD) that will mobilize a total budget of EUR 20 million (About 40 million dinars).
The EU-funded program aims to support democratic transition in Tunisia through the reduction social inequalities and regional disparities in disadvantaged areas.
The ILO, in charge of implementing the first component of this program will work to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Development at central and regional levels.
It will develop, from April 2012, concrete actions like job creation and accompanying reintegration.
Public infrastructure projects generating jobs for non-qualified young people will be implemented. The program provides also for activities favoring long- term integration of unemployment youth (non-graduates in particular) in the labor market in five governorates: Gafsa, Kasserine, El Kef, Sidi Bouzid and Siliana.
It also seeks to facilitate the access of young and disadvantaged people to microfinance services.
