Attachments
Operational Context
Since the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, Tunisia has been struggling with a challenging political and socio-economic context. Tunisia has had 14 governments over the past ten years and is suffering from perceptible social tensions and slow economic recovery due to ongoing structural challenges and an economy that is highly dependent on external revenue sources. While progress has been made in combating malnutrition, Tunisia still grapples with the dual burden of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, along with overweight and obesity. Although hunger levels are low according to the Global Hunger Index, an economic recession, high unemployment, climate change, regional disparities, and cereal imports threaten the ability of vulnerable populations to access a nutritious diet. The prevalence of food insecurity has risen to 28 percent, affecting 3.3 million Tunisians, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2022 Food Security report.
In Tunisia, WFP is providing technical assistance and policy advice through capacity-strengthening activities at both the government and community levels. WFP Tunisia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022-2025 continues to enhance the Government-run school feeding programme, while strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers and the capacity of government institutions to improve the quality, flexibility, inclusivity, and shock responsiveness of national social safety nets. The CSP is aligned with the Government's reform of the education sector and its Sustainable School Meals Strategy, as well as with Tunisia's United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025). WFP will supplement its regular monitoring efforts with gender-sensitive food security and nutrition assessments aimed at supporting evidence-based policy design and implementation.
Population: 12 million
Income Level: Lower middle
2021 Human Development Index: 94 out of 188
Operational Updates
Under Country Strategic Plan (CSP) Strategic Outcome 1, WFP assistance to smallholder farmers
• In April and May, WFP Tunisia, in collaboration with its cooperating partner (CP), NGO Balades Solidaires, organised a series of training sessions for 254 women and men smallholder farmers from three Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs) as part of the project ADAPT. The goal was to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and agricultural knowledge within local communities. The OPAs included Katanet, El-Nadhour, and Lella Kmar Elbaya in the Beja, Zaghouene, and Mannouba governorates. The initiatives consisted of several training programmes: a six-day entrepreneurship training emphasizing business development strategies, a 10- day apiculture course, a seven-day workshop on jam and juice production, a three-day session on artichoke valorization and a four-day training in the distillation of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Under CSP Strategic Outcome 2, WFP nutrition Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) and UN advocacy during the Tunis International Book Fair
• On 19 April, WFP Tunisia engaged in the inauguration of the Tunis International Book Fair (FILT) alongside the President of Tunisia, Kais Said, and the UN agencies in the country. The FILT is a dynamic platform for exchange that brings together the UN Country Team (UNCT) with over 110,000 visitors of all ages and from all regions each year to spotlight the various UN initiatives aimed at supporting the achievement of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda.
• During the event, WFP helped to raise awareness on several topics such as the methods of home gardening and the benefits of healthy nutrition eating habits through a variety of activities.
- WFP organized a vegetable gardening and virtual reality (VR) experience in collaboration with the Biotechnological Research Center of Borj Cedria, Startup Ettaba and NGO Children of the Earth Network (RET - CSO) to teach children how to plant seeds and nurture their little gardens at home.
- In collaboration with WFP cooperating partner Balades Solidaires, WFP hosted ‘The Little Chef for a Healthy Snack’ session. This initiative brought together children, parents, and a Tunisian chef to prepare a healthy snack for school lunches to raise their awareness about healthy eating habits and nutritious food