International Development Grant
Strengthening the resilience of women's organizations in the social economy (FORTER'ESS)
Project Number: CA-3-P009505001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $1,800,000.00
Start Date: December 22, 2020
End Date: December 30, 2023
Duration: 3.0 years
Project Description
This project aims to promote the decent work of Tunisian women and improve the sustainability of women-led Social and Solidarity Economy Organizations (SSEOs) during the COVID-19 crisis in Tunisia. In the absence of support and assistance these organizations the majority of which unestablished risk the permanent cessation of their activities due to containment measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that have had significant economic social and health consequences for thousands of Tunisian women and their families. Project activities include: (1) assessing the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women-led SSEOs; (2) developing resilience and development plans to support SSEO’s continuous operations; (3) designing a leadership development program for women entrepreneurs and leaders of SSEOs; (4) organizing training sessions on access to local markets export procedures and the production of manuals on quality standards for the sectors/products targeted by SSEOs; and (5) the realization of a study and training on the integration of gender considerations in the legal texts governing SSEOs in Tunisia.
Expected Results
The expected results of this project include: (1) consolidated women-led SSEOs in disadvantaged areas of Tunisia; (2) improved workplace protection and working conditions for women entrepreneurs and SSEO workers; and (3) established an inclusive equitable and supportive ecosystem for women SSEOs particularly in terms of their legal framework.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of April 2024 include: (1) the project strengthened the organizational and financial capacities of 22 social economy organizations impacted by COVID-19 in north-west Tunisia (Béja Jendouba and Kef governorates). A total of 850 women members of these organizations benefited from direct or indirect support; (2) 1OO women managers received training to strengthen their managerial skills. Training focused on the values and principles of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) the administrative and financial management of cooperatives and technology and IT tools; (3) 22 social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations took part in training courses on sales techniques commercial prospecting and received materials to facilitate the sale of their products (packaging); (4) 3 sales outlets in Djebba Testour and Kef have been fitted out to facilitate the sale of products from social and solidarity economy structures; (5) social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations members have taken part in national regional and local fairs and events enabling them to boost the sales momentum of the organizations benefiting from the project. These participations enable a better understanding of the market and the needs of the end customer; (6) the project accompanied 100 women to register in social protection systems while working on networking with the responsible structures including the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale Affaires sociales Union tunisienne de l'agriculture et de la pêche and Bureau de l'artisanat for the professional card; (7) sensitized 22 social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations to safety in the workplace with the purchase of health and safety equipment for group premises; (8) set up training courses including those on International labor organization (ILO) tools Think. COOP & Start.COOP and Get Ahead in order to strengthen the capacities of institutional partners who support women entrepreneurs such as the Bureau d'Ap
Key Information
Executing Agency:
ILO - International Labour Organization
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Unsolicited Proposal