The Tunisia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competitiveness Project built on the positive elements for sustainable economic growth already in place in Tunisia, while addressing shortcomings in private enterprises, training institutions, and the policy framework that support enterprise and job creation. aimed to promote entrepreneurship and assist SMEs in select sectors using three-pronged approaches:
Addressing one of the major reasons for the January 2011 Tunisian revolution, which then sparked developments throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the project took on the challenge of high unemployment by supporting the creation of 2,409 new jobs in 83 enterprises, surpassing the original objective of 2,000 jobs. Entrepreneurship Development helped firms create 1,138 jobs. Workforce Development included training for new employees that aided 653 men and women to become productive members of the workforce, and job placement services are resulting in the hiring of over 620 young men and women. Moreover, the Project’s support for enterprises and workforce institutions, together with financial institutions and policy reform, is helping lay the foundations for longer-term economic growth and job creation.
The Tunisia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competitiveness Project focused partly on stimulating ICT entrepreneurship and company development through: Of the 83 enterprises and groups assisted by the USAID Project team, 45 were ICT firms and the remaining firms were 38 “ICT-enabled firms” operating in sectors such as apparel and textiles, specialty foods, and manufacturing. Technical assistance included strategic/business planning, market development, production planning, quality control, and financial management. Training covered soft skills and technical skills, mainly for newly recruiting staff. Of the 83 enterprises and groups assisted by the USAID Project team, 45 were ICT firms and the remaining firms were 38 “ICT-enabled firms” operating in sectors such as apparel and textiles, specialty foods, and manufacturing. Technical assistance included strategic/business planning, market development, production planning, quality control, and financial management. Training covered soft skills and technical skills, mainly for newly recruiting staff. The Tunisia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competitiveness Project developed ICT policy and regulatory reform through: The project worked in the following areas: business registration and investment, telecommunications, fiscal reform, and labor. The Tunisia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competitiveness Project focused partly on growing and Developing the Workforce through: Relying heavily on the rich pool of local human resource development trainers, the Project contracted with ten qualified Tunisian training organizations to deliver co-financed training for newly recruited employees, primarily in soft skills but also in critical technical areas such as environmental norms and safety. Under the co-financed training program, over 40 courses were offered to over 800 new recruits, some of whom participated in more than one course. The Project established six career centers at universities across Tunisia. The launches were milestone events not only for participating higher learning institutions but the country as a whole, representing the first time that such centers, focused on the needs of both students and enterprises, were ever established in Tunisia. In support of enterprise expansion and job growth, the Project worked with leading financial institutions to increase the availability of debt and equity capital for SMEs. The Project embedded short-term advisors in several financial institutions (banks and private equity funds) to assist them in improving their capacity to provide financial services to SMEs.Areas of Expertise
Private Sector Development
Market Systems/Competitiveness
Enabling Environment
Workforce Development
Access to Finance/Microfinance
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