Project profile — Social economy project of agricultural services for rural women in Tunisia

• Tunisia (100.00%)

• Industry: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development (32130) (89.00%)
• General Environmental Protection: Environmental education/training (41081) (11.00%)

• Gender equality (principal objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (significant objective)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (significant objective)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Nutrition (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to economically empower agri-food processors in Tunisia and equip them with the tools and expertise needed to become more resilient in the face of climate change over 4 years (2022-2026). The project focuses on poverty reduction, the promotion of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and girls. It seeks to address the lack of training, inaccessibility to financing opportunities, and lack of female leadership within the agricultural and agri-food sectors, as well as the poor integration of gender-based considerations and perspectives in public policy. Project activities include: (1) providing training to improve existing agri-food practices and the management of energy, water and waste; (2) conducting an analysis of policy frameworks, issues and opportunities related to women's management of Mutual Agricultural Service Societies (MASS) which consider the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change; and (3) increasing MASS’s capacities to provide financing opportunities, and product packaging, promotion, negotiation and distribution services to agri-food processors, especially women. The project directly benefits 21,000 people and indirectly affects 144,000 people.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) use of climate change mitigation and adaptation practices by women agri-food processors; (2) increased access to financial services and training programs for women agri-food processors; (3) increased empowerment of women in the management and governance of MASS offering economical services and training programs.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) carried out 1 climate change vulnerability analysis of value chains and identified the best practices, processes and technologies favoring climate change mitigation and adaptation; (2) initiated the development of training on best practices, processes and technologies favoring climate change mitigation, adaptation and environmental sustainability; (3) carried out the necessary training with each Agricultural Service Mutual Society (ASMS) and Agricultural Development Group (ADG) of Agri-food Transformer (AT), shared and validated the results with the leaders of these organizations; 4) produced various documents for the implementation of measures to facilitate the participation of as many women as possible. This includes 1 action plan with specific measures, 1 gender-neutral language guide and 1 collection of playful gender equality awareness-raising activities; (5) carried out 1 baseline survey of ASMS and ADG members to find out their specific needs; (6) conducted 1 initial workshop on the importance of collective work with 131 people, including 123 women, from 10 organizations, including 5 ASMSs and 5 ADGs; (7) conducted a second workshop in February with 60 people, including 56 women, in 5 project regions (Béja, Kairouan, Siliana, Jendouba and Medhia); (8) disseminated 1 program on UPA Développement International's (UPA-DI) social networks. The call for proposals aimed at supporting local sustainable economic development for youth employment. No ASMS, ADGs and ATs expressed interest in applying; (9) shared diagnoses of gender equality needs and related activities during workshops at TAs; (10) welcomed 1 delegation of 13 African agricultural producers, including 4 representatives from the Fédération de l'UPA de l'Estrie as part of the “Viens marcher ma terre” course. During their stay, the delegation met with the Fédération de l'UPA de l'Estrie team to learn more about the scope of the federation's work with more than 5,000 agricultural and forestry producers in the region; and (11) empowered the project team in the administration of the electronic surveys and developed the AT baseline. The survey involved a total of 310 people (301 women and 9 men) from 5 regions and 10 Professional Agricultural Organizations (PAOs).

• Proactive disclosure