(3 Minutes Read)
Mohamed El Kafi Rahmani, Director of the “Self-employed” Project under Tunisia’s Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, has announced a steady rise in the number of participants enrolling in the national “Self-employed” program. Despite what he described as a relatively slow launch, the initiative has gained momentum in recent months, reflecting growing interest among Tunisians seeking to establish independent careers.
Rahmani highlighted that the program is targeting the registration of 25,000 individuals within its inaugural year. As of now, 3,300 self-employed individuals have officially joined the program. Notably, 700 of these registrations took place in July alone, followed by an additional 400 new sign-ups since the beginning of August — an encouraging sign of increasing engagement.
He further explained that improvements to the program are ongoing, especially through periodic revisions of the governing decree. These adjustments have broadened the eligibility criteria, allowing a wider range of professionals and tradespeople to benefit. For instance, in 2025, the scope of the program was expanded to formally include the self-employed — a group previously excluded from the scheme.
In a bid to offer more practical support to participants, Rahmani also announced a new financing facility that will become available starting September 1st. This funding line allows eligible self-employed individuals to apply for loans of up to 15,000 Tunisian dinars. The loans come with a favorable repayment plan: a 5,000-dinar interest rate, a seven-year repayment period, and a grace period of two years during which repayments are deferred.
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Rahmani pointed out that self-employed individuals can apply for loans through the Tunisian Solidarity Bank, under the same eligibility conditions that apply to other entrepreneurs seeking to launch or expand their ventures.
This combination of regulatory adjustments, financial incentives, and expanding support mechanisms aims to foster entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, and encourage more Tunisians to pursue independent work as a sustainable livelihood path.
