Alarming Illiteracy Rate among Women: A Call to Action for Female Entrepreneurship
The first census figures have revealed a staggering 22.4% illiteracy rate among women in a country that has always prioritized education. When combined with a 20.3% unemployment rate among this population, it becomes clear that female entrepreneurship is more than just a priority.
A Glimmer of Hope: Female-Led Projects on the Rise
In 2024, 858 projects were declared by women entrepreneurs, a 17.7% increase from 729 in 2023. The total investments reached 166.3 billion Tunisian dinars (MTND), a 15.2% year-over-year growth. Notably, these projects represent 26% of the total number of industrial projects declared, 14% of the total investments declared, and 14% of the expected industrial jobs created in 2024.
Job Creation and Investment Trends
These projects are expected to create 6,198 job opportunities, compared to 2023's 7,528 jobs. On average, a female-led project mobilizes 0.194 billion dinars and creates 7.2 job opportunities. In 2023, these figures were 0.198 billion dinars and 10.3 jobs, respectively. The trend is negative, indicating that it's not easy to venture into the business world in the current context.
Local Market Focus and Sector Analysis
An analysis of female-led investments reveals that 97% of declared projects are oriented towards the local market. The agro-food sector dominates, with 39.3% of investment intentions, followed by textiles and clothing (28.7%). We expect to see women in high-value-added industries, such as technology sector is largely dominated by women. Our universities are largely dominated by women. This is bound to change soon.
Note: MTND stands for Million Tunisian Dinars.
