Community-Based Enterprises Face Financial Challenges Despite Favorable Legislative Framework
Although the legislative framework is favorable for community-based enterprises, only 15 of these projects are currently active, a number that could increase by the end of the year.
Hasna Jiballah, Secretary of State in charge of Community-Based Enterprises, recently highlighted that bureaucracy represents a major obstacle to the activation of many of these societies.
Present in various fields - from tourism to services, including transportation, waste valorization, and traditional industries - some Tunisian community-based enterprises have already turned to exportation.
However, the most important question is whether community entrepreneurs are prepared to face financial challenges.
During a recent training session for 20 young promoters, organized by the Banking and Financial Council in collaboration with several banking institutions, the importance of acquiring skills to manage risks was emphasized.
This represents a new type of support from banks, aiming to equip community promoters with essential financial tools to succeed.
The Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training has also stressed, in the same context, that access to financing and training are crucial to support these initiatives.
To address the difficulty of accessing financing, the partnership, which began in March 2024 between the ministry and the Banking and Financial Council, has proposed to include a common platform for banks as soon as possible, gathering financial data to facilitate loans and financing lines for community-based enterprises.
Despite these efforts, the financing challenge remains major for community-based enterprises, even with the legislative facilities they have acquired from the state.
