In March 2021 WFP and the Tunisian Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment (ATPNE) held a capacity building workshop for cooperating partners in early March as part of the “Green Schools in Korba 2” project funded by WFP. WFP Tunisia Country Brief March 2021 TOperational Context Operational Updates The strategic direction of the Government of Tunisia currently focuses • WFP together with the Ministry of Education and the on strengthening democracy, while laying the groundwork for a Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) strong economic recovery. Tunisia has a gross national income (GNI) held the third session of the Steering Committee of the per capita of USD 10,800 at purchasing power parity (UNDP, 2020). National School Feeding Program (NFSP). This meeting The 2019 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human was an opportunity to review the progress of the Development Index (HDI) ranks Tunisia 95 out 189 countries and 65th implementation of activities under this framework. on the Gender Inequality Index (GII). WFP has positioned itself in a technical advisory role through • On International Women's Day 2021, WFP and the capacity-strengthening activities, providing technical assistance to the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research Ministry of Education (ME) and Ministry of Agriculture, Marine (CAWTAR) in cooperation with the Euro-Mediterranean Fisheries and Hydraulic Resources (MAPRH), as well as working with Women's Foundation and the Francophone Network for Gender Equality (RF-EFH) held a workshop under the other ministries and national stakeholders aiming to improve national school feeding and other social protection programmes in Tunisia. theme "Women’s Leadership: For an egalitarian future in the world of Covid-19". The aim was not only to celebrate women and girls during this day, but also to join efforts for a more egalitarian future by building synergies and strengthening coordination in the fight against discrimination and violence in the public and private spaces. • As part of the “Green Schools in Korba 2” project, WFP and the Tunisian Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment (ATPNE) held a capacity building workshop for cooperating partners early March in Korba (Nabeul). Several national partner associations attended the workshop, including the Association Horizon d'Enfance, La Ruche de Tozeur, ATPNE Korba, Islamic Relief Tunisia, Association Jeunesse Pour la Citoyenneté Active (AJPCA) Bizerte and Association de Développement Actif de Sejnane (ADAS). • WFP organized a workshop on social protection mechanisms with the Ministry of Social Affairs. The discussion focused on areas of cooperation between the two entities to strengthen the resilience and inclusion capacities of the Tunisian social protection system, by integrating particularly the nutritional and 2019 Human Development Index: Population: 11.7 million food aspects to the national social protection strategy 95 out of 189 with a focus on vulnerable households. Income Level: Lower middle GNI per Capita (PPP): USD 10,800 Contact info: Aziza BOUHEJBA ([email protected]) Photo: Capacity building workshop for partners in Korba (Nabeul) WFP Head of Office: Fatimata SOW SIDIBE for the Green schools in Korba 2 project. Further information: www.wfp.org/countries/Tunisia ATNPE/ Houda Boufaied WFP Country Strategy WFP signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Ministry of Higher Tunisia Country Strategic Plan (2018-2021) Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) for the establishment of a Total Requirement Allocated Contributions (in USD) (in USD) National University Feeding Program 4 m 4 m This historic agreement, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, is inspired by the Six-Month Net Funding Requirements 2021 Requirements (in USD) school meals activities undertaken by WFP in Tunisia to (March - August 2021) support the government’s capacity in strengthening the 1.1 m 0 m national school feeding program. Strategic Result 5: Developing countries have strengthened capacities to implement the SDGs Strategic Outcome 1: National institutions in Tunisia have strengthened capacity to implement enhanced school meals and social protection programmes which advance food security and nutrition by 2021. Focus area: Root Causes Activity: • Provide policy advice and technical assistance to national institutions implementing school meals and social protection programmes. Monitoring • WFP and the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI) The agreement will also benefit the South-South presented to the stakeholders the preliminary findings of the cooperation framework in food digitization, food waste Food Security and Monitoring System (FSMS). The data treatment and nutritional education. The steering collection covered a total of 1,333 households, in Kairouan, committee of the program will meet soon to finalize the Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid governorates. The preliminary results action plan and start the related activities. show that 1.2% of the populations surveyed are severely food insecure. Out of the three governorates, Sidi Bouzid presents a higher proportion of moderate food insecurity amongst its Funding partners population compared to Kairouan and Kasserine. These findings will help the government in formulating evidence-based • Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) knowledge to better support the most vulnerable segments of • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) the population. • Ministry of Agriculture - Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development of Siliana (CRDA) • UNAIDS - Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Challenges Framework (UBRAF) • UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner • A few of WFP’s interventions are still on hold due to COVID-19 Trust Fund health security measures. These interventions include mainly the • Principality of Monaco capacity strengthening support to the government through trainings, such as the roll out of the nutrition and hygiene guidelines as well as the nutrition-sensitive activities conducted by WFP’s cooperating partners at the school level. Partnerships • WFP signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education to support the Office des Oeuvres Scolaire (OOESCO) and the Centre National des Technologies en Education (CNTE) in developing a database for school meals recipients in Tunisia. Photo: Tunisia Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Olfa Ben Ouda, with WFP Tunisia Head of Office, Fatimata Sow Sidibé at the signature ceremony. WFP/Aziza Bouhejba WFP Tunisia Country Brief March 2021 .