Tunisia: WB Grants $100 Million to Protect Environment, Promote Development in Poorest Regions

Washington – The World Bank (WB) announced on Thursday a US$100 million project to support better management of forests, rangelands and agricultural landscapes for more jobs and increased incomes in the North-West and Center-West regions of Tunisia, where almost half of the poorest segment of the population are concentrated.

Integrated management of forests and rangelands alone has the potential of raising the value of their output from the current US$16 million to US$75 million, and creating around 25,000 jobs, according to the WB.

“Sustainable and integrated management of landscapes has an important role to play in improving the lives of people in rural regions that have been left behind,” said Eileen Murray, World Bank Country Manager for Tunisia.

She added that “there is significant potential for growth if local communities are provided the support to reorient towards higher value added products and growing global markets. This would especially benefit women, who make up over half of the rural labor force and up to 80 percent in the North-West and Center-West.”