(Ecofin Agency) - In a statement issued June 14, the World Bank reported it has granted Tunisia two loans both worth $175 million to finance two projects in digital transformation and economy.  

First project investment ($75 million) intends to improve access to financing for innovative start-ups and SMEs. It aligns with the government’s “Start-up Tunisia” program that aims to foster the creation and growth of small companies and SMEs in the digital sector, and boost economic and employment opportunities for youth.

“The project will finance equity and quasi-equity investments in innovative startups and SMEs, as well as support for concept development, investment readiness and technology adoption,” said the World Bank.

Second project, $100 million, targets digital transformation for user-centered services. It will support an approach in promoting public administration technology (GovTech) in view to improve social protection and education systems. The aim is to ensure that vulnerable populations (including low-income groups, rural women, illiterates and the disabled, etc.) have access to these important services.

Specifically, the project will focus on improvements in welfare services (cash and benefit transfers), broadening of pension and health insurance coverage and digital education management services (online enrolment, student/school monitoring and drop-out detection, digital learning management system to improve learning).