Official launch of the project “Responsible agri-food investment for youth employment, food system transformation, and sustainable development.”

"This is an important step in our collective commitment to building a more inclusive and innovative sustainable agriculture sector in Tunisia. This new project will strengthen the technical, entrepreneurial, and financial capacities of young agripreneurs, while contributing to the creation of sustainable and decent jobs. It also aims to respond to the challenges of ecological transition and climate resilience by encouraging production models that respect natural resources, conserve water, and generate local added value." These were the words of Mr. Ezzedine Ben Cheikh, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, at the official launch of the new joint project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) entitled “Responsible Agri-Food Investment for Youth Employment, Food System Transformation and Sustainable Development.”

This project, funded by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Youth and Employment in Tunisia (MPTF), with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aims to create more than 2,000 decent and sustainable jobs for young Tunisians in the agri-food sector. It targets six regions of Tunisia: Bizerte, Siliana, Zaghouan, Nabeul, Sfax, and Medenine. It will be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, and the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA), under the coordination of the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office.

In his speech, Mr. M. Abdourahman Maki, FAO Representative in Tunisia, stated that “by combining FAO's expertise in agricultural development with that of the ILO in decent work and professional skills, we are laying the foundations for a coherent, structured, and powerful framework for action, promoting agricultural investment that fosters economic growth and social justice.” This project is not an isolated initiative. It is part of a long-term approach based on listening to the needs on the ground, aligning with national priorities, innovation for impact, inter-institutional cooperation, and above all, a shared desire to transform Tunisian agriculture in a sustainable way."

Tried and tested methodologies: the FAO's Agri-Accelerator program and the ILO's Social Innovation Fund

Ms. Fatouma SEID, Deputy Director, Partnerships and Collaboration with the United Nations Division, FAO, recalled that it was in Tunisia, in 2021, that the first Agri-Accelerator program was set up to contribute to increasing responsible investment through a partnership with the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA) and the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT). She states: “The project's objective is therefore clear. To enhance the performance of viable, sustainable agricultural enterprises that are firmly rooted in their local communities, while complying with the United Nations Committee on World Food Security's Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems.”

The Agri-Accelerator, an entrepreneurial support programme set up by the FAO to stimulate sustainable and inclusive agricultural entrepreneurship, particularly among rural youth and women, has been successfully piloted in Tunisia. The programme has proven to have a concrete and measurable impact, contributing to greater economic empowerment and the transformation of the local economy.

Between 2021 and 2025, 80 micro, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises run by young women and men in the governorates of Béja and Kébili have received support. 77% of the beneficiaries were women. Over 88% of companies are still operational several years after the end of the programme, and over 60% have carried out scaling projects. 

Thanks to the four Agri-Accelerator hubs established in Béja and Kébili, these enterprises have increased their viability, attracted responsible agricultural investment and helped to ensure local food security. This momentum culminated in the approval of a joint APIA-INRAT national strategy in 2023, which lays the foundations for a structured policy to support responsible agricultural entrepreneurship in Tunisia.

The implementation of this new project is based on four fundamental pillars, outlined by Dr. Yannick Fiedler, team leader responsible for promoting responsible agricultural investment and capacity building (responsible agricultural investment). The creation of new opportunities for decent and sustainable employment and new jobs created, which will result in the creation of 300 entrepreneurs and 50 businesses thanks to the Social Innovation Fund.

Sustainable jobs within existing agricultural enterprises through the promotion of investment. 360 of these existing enterprises will undergo capacity building, including 200 that are part of the “ACCOMPAGNEMENT+” program. There will also be a focus on strengthening the technical, institutional, and managerial capacities of stakeholders providing access to services and markets. Finally, capitalization of best practices and visibility of the project will be ensured through a participatory and inclusive approach.

Tunisia, like the FAO, places decent employment, particularly for young people and women, at the heart of its priorities. This new project reflects a shared vision of inclusive, equitable, and responsible agricultural development based on the principles of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.