Italy and UNIDO partner to transform Tunisia’s Vocational Training System in support of Youth Employment & Sustainable Development

The Italian Cooperation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed today a new funding agreement in Tunis for the launch of the project “Tunisie Professionnelle – Renforcer l’emploi en Tunisie par une formation professionnelle dynamique”.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Mr. Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Tunisia, and Mr. Lassaad Ben Hassine, UNIDO Country Representative in Tunisia, and in the presence of Ms. Isabella Lucaferri, Director of AICS Tunis, during a ceremony held at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) regional office in Tunis, with the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training.

With a total budget of EUR 6.5 million, fully financed by the Government of Italy, the three-year project aims to enhance youth employability in Tunisia through the modernization and revitalization of the national vocational training system. The initiative will be implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MEFP).

The project will focus on improving the quality, accessibility, and market relevance of vocational training programs, particularly for young people and women. It will support the modernization of training centers, introduce innovative teaching methods, and strengthen partnerships between public institutions and the private sector.

The agreement signed by the Italian Cooperation and UNIDO strengthens a long-standing collaboration between the two institutions. As His Excellency Mr. Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Tunisia, emphasized: The Italian government is committed to contributing to strengthening the vocational training sector in partnership with the Tunisian Authorities. This new initiative with UNIDO, in line with the Mattei Plan for Africa, will pave the way to concrete and long-lasting work opportunities for the young Tunisians, setting the conditions for a sustainable and more prosperous future ”

Aligned with Tunisia’s Vision 2035 and national strategies for employment, youth inclusion, and economic development, the project will contribute to building a skilled workforce, expanding opportunities for decent work, and supporting the country’s path toward inclusive and sustainable development.

In this regard, Mr. Lassaad Ben Hassine, UNIDO Country Representative in Tunisia, highlighted: “ »Tunisie Professionnelle » stands as a tangible expression of the exemplary tripartite cooperation between the Government of Italy, the Government of Tunisia, through the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). This collaboration, which goes well beyond financial support, aims to serve as a structuring lever to help transform the national vocational training system by aligning it with the needs of the Tunisian economy, strengthening employability, and promoting equitable access to training and integration opportunities for youth, women, and vulnerable groups, particularly in underserved regions.”

This partnership reaffirms Italy’s and UNIDO’s shared commitment to advancing Tunisia’s development priorities and delivering results in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).