Tunisia is expanding its efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable development by scaling up the social and solidarity economy (SSE), where youth empowerment and institutional reform are at the core. This was the key message of the National Forum on SSE and Social Innovation, held in Tunis from 26 to 28 May 2025.
Organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union, the Forum brought together government officials, social partners, youth leaders and development actors to assess the impact and future direction of SSE.
The meeting built on a decade of ILO-supported SSE initiatives in Tunisia, including the 2020 SSE Law and significant projects such as FORTER’ESS, PAJESS and the ongoing EU-funded JEUN’ESS initiative. Implemented in seven regions, JEUN’ESS has supported more than 170 SSE enterprises and created more than 3,600 jobs; more than half of these are in the hands of women.
The forum also provided a platform for national dialogue on integrating SSE into broader policy, financing and governance frameworks. Speakers stressed the need for stronger public-private coordination, improved data visibility and dedicated financing instruments for SSE institutions.
ILO officials praised Tunisia’s leadership in the field of SSE and reaffirmed the organization’s support for placing social and economic justice at the heart of national development strategies.