International Cooperation: DREC on a Working Mission in Tunisia

From 6 to 11 December, a Monegasque delegation led by Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Department of External Relations and Cooperation (DREC), carried out a working visit to Tunisia. The mission focused in particular on the socio-professional integration of young people, with the inauguration in Tunis of the “Nouvelles Chances” Forum and visits to several cooperation projects both in the capital and in the southern regions of the country.

Less than two years after the 4th Bilateral Cooperation Commission, held in the Principality in February 2024, the visit took place within the framework of the Sectoral Agreement on Vocational Training signed on that occasion. At the invitation of Riad Chaoued, Tunisian Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Isabelle Rosabrunetto spoke at the opening of the “Nouvelles Chances” Forum, dedicated to solutions for the socio-professional integration of young people—a national priority for Tunisia and one of the strategic priorities of Monegasque Cooperation for 2025–2030.

In her address, the Director General emphasized that “the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of Tunisia share common priorities, particularly youth employability in the Mediterranean region”, reaffirming the joint commitment to mobilize the region’s driving forces in order to offer young people a better future and a more active role in shaping change.

The Forum’s “Vocational Training Village” brought together numerous partners supported in Tunisia by the Princely Government, including the Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD), the Association Patrimoine pour l’Économie Solidaire (APES), the RAFIQ association and its Second Chance School.

During the visit, Isabelle Rosabrunetto also signed an agreement with the Tunisian Association for Management and Social Stability (TAMSS) to support nine centers of the Tunisian Agency for Vocational Training (ATFP), with a particular focus on strengthening the alignment between vocational training and labor market needs.

Also in Tunis, a meeting with the Director General for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it possible to continue the high-level political dialogue initiated between the two countries in 2008. The delegation was also received by Monica Noro, Acting Coordinator of United Nations Agencies in Tunisia, a key partner of the Princely Government through projects implemented with UN-Habitat, UNHCR, UNIDO, and the World Food Programme.

In the Governorate of Tozeur, in southern Tunisia, the delegation observed the tangible results of local initiatives, notably those led by the SHANTI association and the AGDOR – Association for the Sustainable Management of the Ras El Aïn Oasis. Together, these organizations have fostered a strong social and solidarity-based economy dynamic around the “Corbeille” of the city of Nefta, an area severely affected by water stress.

The visit also included the Amal pour la Famille et l’Enfant association, which works to combat school dropout, as well as the Tahaddi and Abou al Sunni specialized education schools, which promote the inclusion of children with disabilities.

Tunisia is a historic partner country for Monegasque cooperation, with the first joint programs dating back to 1993 and the signing of a General Framework Cooperation Agreement in 2008. In line with national priorities, most projects supported in Tunisia focus on Education and Child Protection and Training, Employment and Entrepreneurship.