Arab Conference on Economic Development of Rural Women and Girls Kicks Off in Tunis
The Arab Conference on "Economic Development of Women and Girls in Rural Areas" began this morning in Tunis. The conference is organized by the Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly, in collaboration with the Arab Women's Organization (OWA) and UN Women, on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated on October 15 every year.
Opening Remarks
At the opening of the conference, Mohamed Gdidi, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly, delivered a speech on behalf of Minister Asma Jebri, calling for the adoption of a unified Arab plan to strengthen the economic inclusion of women and girls in rural areas and to develop mechanisms for monitoring and coordination, taking into account Arab specificities.
He emphasized the need to establish networks for exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of female entrepreneurship, as well as supporting initiatives aimed at improving the economic and social situation of women in rural areas.
Gdidi expressed his conviction that the recommendations of this meeting will constitute a new practical stage in the process of strengthening the integration of Arab women and girls in rural areas, guaranteeing their rights to decent work and a safe life, and supporting their status in society for effective and visible participation in building the societies of tomorrow.
Ministry's Initiatives
He highlighted that in the field of supporting women's economic action, the ministry has launched specific programs, such as the National Program for Female Entrepreneurship and Investment "Raedet" (Pioneers), which has financed, until August 2025, around 6,000 female projects and created more than 12,000 direct jobs, with credits exceeding 50 million dinars.
This program aims to encourage female initiative and provide financing and support for the creation of projects in various sectors, including services, organic agriculture, handicrafts, processing industries, and rural tourism, which, according to him, represented 14% of the total projects granted and a fifth of the credits allocated to the program.
Rural Women's Participation
Gdidi noted that the percentage of women and girls in rural areas represents about 32% of the active population and 37% of those employed in the agricultural sector. This is why the Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly chose this theme, based on a deep conviction that social justice cannot be complete without the integration of women in all environments, particularly in rural areas, where economic, social, cultural, and community structures intersect.
Strategic Plan
For her part, Hanen Bendari, Director of Women's Affairs at the ministry, revealed that the ministry has begun to develop a Strategic Plan for the economic and social inclusion of women and girls in rural areas by 2030, with the aim of diversifying paths of economic and social development, developing legislation, and supporting network work between different structures for the benefit of women working in rural areas.
She explained that this strategy aims to ensure effective and inclusive governance for the implementation of reforms, strengthen coordination between actors, improve monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, ensure transparency, and promote equal access to economic and financial resources, markets, training, and capacity building, as well as access to basic services and participation and leadership of women in rural areas.
Six-Axis Plan
The Strategic Plan for the economic and social inclusion of women and girls in rural areas is divided into six axes:
- Improving access to economic, financial, and market resources
- Strengthening the capacities of women and girls in rural areas
- Providing them with appropriate training and access to basic services
- Empowering women and girls in rural areas
- Strengthening their participation in public life
- Guaranteeing their rights and strengthening their protection against forms of discrimination and inequality
Testimonies of Successful Entrepreneurs
The conference was punctuated by living testimonies of women entrepreneurs who have succeeded in rural areas, including Imen Chelbi, owner of the "Domaine El-Rawchen" project in the delegation of Zarzis (governorate of Medenine). She explained that her project, launched over 9 years ago, is an eco-friendly and environmentally based guest house, whether in the preparation of meals served to residents or in the offer of training workshops in this field, in addition to giving them the opportunity to discover a wide variety of animals raised on site.
Lobna Damess, owner of an integrated project for the production of oil and fig vinegar launched in 2016, indicated that her project uses fig oil to produce 70 cosmetic products very effective for skin care and wrinkle elimination.
She mentioned that fig oil is considered the most expensive in the world, with a price exceeding 3,000 dinars per liter, and that all global scientific studies have confirmed its cosmetic effectiveness for the skin and its high nutritional value.
Soundous Ben Nouri, founder of a medical waste treatment unit in the delegation of El Krib (governorate of Siliana), indicated that her project, which started with only seven employees in 2016 as part of a public-private partnership, now employs 60 permanent workers and aims to offer 145 permanent jobs in the coming years, affirming that she wishes to extend her reach to the Arab and African levels.
Exhibition of Rural Women's Products
It is worth noting that an exhibition of products of women and girls in rural areas, under the theme "Identity... Investment... Marketing", was organized on the sidelines of this Arab conference.
