Tunisia’s Southern Banks Leave Women Behind: New Study Reveals Gaps in Financial Inclusion

Tunisia’s banking network covers only a tiny fraction of the country’s southern territory, where fewer than one in five women holds a formal bank account. This is according to a new study on the financial inclusion of women and youth, published on September 22. Led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the research was conducted in collaboration with the Financial Inclusion Observatory and the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

A Seven-Province Focus

The study focuses on seven governorates: Kairouan, Gabès, Médenine, Tataouine, Gafsa, Tozeur, and Kébili. Researchers analyzed a wide range of data, including:

• The presence of financial institutions
• Access costs
• Levels of financial literacy
• The degree of trust residents have in these institutions

According to the findings, the dominance of the informal economy in these regions cannot be explained solely by the lack of infrastructure. It also reflects deeply rooted habits and economic models that public policies have yet to fully integrate.

Toward a Targeted Action Plan

The study’s conclusions are intended to inform the National Financial Education Program 2023–2027, providing concrete recommendations for:

• Designing financial products tailored to local needs
• Launching awareness campaigns targeting women and youth in these regions

Opportunities for Microfinance and Digital Payments

The diagnostic highlights a significant opportunity for microfinance and digital payment solutions. In areas where distrust of traditional banking channels remains high, models based on proximity are most likely to succeed. These include:

• Local agents
• Simplified financial products
• Community-based intermediaries

Rather than simply expanding the traditional banking network, these approaches offer the best chance of converting informal practices into formal financial usage.