Tunisia’s statistical system for the collection, production, analysis and dissemination of high-quality statistical data in priority areas will be enhanced as part of a contribution by Italian cooperation to the Tunisia Economic Resilience and Inclusion Umbrella Fund (TERI), implemented by the World Bank.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) announced on Tuesday the signing of a new additional financing agreement with the WB on June 17 at the Italian Residence in the presence of Italy’s Ambassador to Tunisia Fabrizio Saggio, World Bank’s Resident Representative in Tunisia Alexandre Arrobbio, AICS Regional Headquarters Director Andrea Senatori and the Central Director in charge of Governance at the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The agreement provides for “the modernisation of the statistical system through increased and ongoing technical assistance to the INS.”
The goal is to “empower the Institute to produce and disseminate relevant data and statistics that will support the development of evidence-based policies.”
The agreement aims to ” improve “markedly” Tunisia’s capacity to better monitor socio-economic indicators, formulate sound policies and attract higher levels of investment to the country.
At the signing ceremony, Alexandre Arrobbio said that this new financing agreement shows his institution’s “ongoing commitment” to Tunisia and its “shared belief in the importance of accurate data and statistics to support informed decision-making.”
“We are determined to work closely with our Italian partners to strengthen Tunisia’s statistical capacity and foster its economic and social development,” he added.
The Italian ambassador to Tunisia underlined for his part, that Italy has “once again confirmed its commitment to stand by Tunisia” in its process of modernisation and sustainable development, “according to a pragmatic and global approach that meets the country’s real needs.”
Andrea Senatori pointed out that this additional funding will provide better data collection and analysis, to help define more relevant and effective intervention strategies for Tunisia’s sustainable development.
The Tunisia Economic Resilience and Inclusion Umbrella Fund (TERI) seeks to build Tunisia’s capacity to meet current economic and social challenges and support reforms.
The Fund is structured around a multi-partner Trust Fund and three associated funds (Moussanada, Compact with Africa and TRACE).
In June 2023, Italy joined other donors – the European Union, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Norway – who have joined forces with the World Bank to contribute to Tunisia’s development objectives under the TERI Fund.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse