On 30 and 31 January 2013, CAD presented the results of the GIZ project of partnerships for the creation of services and employment in the Tunisian industrial zones (IZ). The event was attended by key stakeholders, as well as other actors of the Tunisian international community as UNIDO, the Swiss cooperation and the GIZ Jobs Fund, among others.

In the current Tunisian context, of democratic transition and reorganization of the national economy, IZ are vital, especially considering their potential for economic growth and regional development. Today, most areas suffer from a lack of basic services, including restaurants, transport, security or technical services (plumbing, HVAC, messaging). That prevents them from achieving a full development potential and also hinders the possibility of new industrial projects and investments. At the same time, the communities near the areas have often very high rates of unemployment, and the dialogue between the IZ and the communities is very limited.

In this context, in December 2012, CAD was appointed by GIZ to design and implement a new methodology of partnerships for IZs in two specific areas. The aim was to promote the creation of new services that would also foster the creation of employment among the communities living near these areas. This project, led by CAD with the support of the Tunisian consultancy TPAD, was developed during the year 2013 through a series of partnerships with Tunisian actors –of the public, private, international and civil society­ sectors– in order to achieve rapid services and jobs creation.

The outcomes of the project

Throughout this year the project has created and consolidated 8 services and 19 jobs in two industrial zones, with the potential to create 14 new jobs in 2014, a total of 33 jobs within a year and a half. The methodology has been evaluated as very positive by the actors involved, including the Ministry of Industry, who aims to integrate the methodology and replicate it nationwide, in the future.

Once again, this project has shown the potential of partnerships in the promotion of development, even in a difficult context such as Tunisia, after the revolution.