Tunisia - Project to Develop and Promote Agricultural Sub-sectors in Zaghouan Governorate (PDPFA-GZ)

The Project to Develop and Promote Agricultural Sub-sectors in Zaghouan Governorate (PDPFA-GZ) is consistent with Tunisia’s Strategic Development Plan (PSD) 2016-2020. The Project will be implemented in the Zaghouan Governorate, which covers a surface area of 282 000 hectares and has a population of 186 210 (INS, 2018). This region has an average poverty rate of 20% (15.2% nationwide), an illiteracy rate of 26.4% (18.8% nationwide) and a rural poverty rate of 34.2%. The unemployment rate is 16.9% compared with 14.8% nationwide. Women are more vulnerable as they lack access to resources and formal employment. PDPFA-GZ was prepared under a UA 412 000 Middle-Income Countries Technical Assistance Fund (MIC-TAF) grant awarded by the Bank in 2014. The grant resources were used to design the related technical studies and evaluate the Integrated Agricultural Development Project (PDAI) in Tunisia. It complements the first phase of the Integrated Agricultural Development Programme in Zaghouan Governorate financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the tune of USD 16.05 million. PDPFA-GZ, whose total estimated cost is EUR 43.86 million, aims to develop priority agricultural subsectors (olive oil, tomato, dairy and other local organic products) selected in conjunction with regional authorities based on their economic, social and environmental impact. Besides improving their competitiveness, the subsectors selected will have an overall impact on economic recovery and the reduction of unemployment, poverty and inequalities. The project comprising three components will be implemented over five years. The components are: (i) Rural Infrastructure Support; (ii) Sustainable Agricultural Development and Promotion of Agricultural Value Chains; and (iii) Project Coordination and Management.