From Paris to Rome, via Madrid and Warsaw, Tunisian Diaspora Can Now Directly Fund and Support Micro and Small Enterprises in Their Country of Origin
Thanks to the WIDU.africa project, Tunisians in the diaspora living in various European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, can now directly finance and support micro and small enterprises in their country of origin. This expansion to all European Union countries, as well as Norway and Switzerland, marks a new stage for the program, which has already created or maintained nearly 1,970 jobs in Tunisia.
WIDU.africa: A Bridge Between the Diaspora and Tunisian Entrepreneurs
WIDU.africa is a project that aims to optimize the potential of the diaspora for the development of micro and small enterprises, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Since its launch in 2019, WIDU has supported micro and small enterprises in six African countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Togo, and Tunisia, through financial support and tailored technical assistance.
WIDU.africa's Approach Stimulates Economic Growth
The WIDU.africa approach stimulates economic growth by strengthening the spirit of entrepreneurship, supporting job creation, and increasing income. WIDU constitutes a bridge that links diaspora communities and local entrepreneurs, interconnecting resources, learning, and opportunities.
WIDU Expands Its Horizons to Strengthen Diaspora Engagement
Initially accessible to members of the African diaspora living in nine European countries, WIDU is now open to diaspora communities in all European Union member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland. This expansion offers broader access to support mechanisms for entrepreneurs in Africa and creates new opportunities for the diaspora to contribute directly to the economic development of their countries of origin.
New Opportunities for the Diaspora
Diaspora communities in countries that were previously ineligible to participate in the WIDU project, such as Italy or Spain, now have the opportunity to support their friends and relatives in their entrepreneurial endeavors. This broader reach will enable significant growth in WIDU.africa's activities through the mobilization of the African diaspora in Europe.
WIDU.africa is Now Available in 30 European Countries
WIDU.africa is now available to the African diaspora living in the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Enhanced Financial Support for Local Enterprises
In parallel with this geographical expansion, WIDU.africa has also strengthened its main financing instrument, the Original WIDU Grant, to better respond to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs. The project's principle is simple:
- A member of the diaspora and a local entrepreneur each invest an equivalent amount in a project.
- WIDU doubles this amount in the form of a grant.
This month, the maximum threshold for this grant was increased to €3,000 (approximately 10,000 DT). This means that diaspora donors and Tunisian entrepreneurs can now jointly invest between €150 and €1,500 each.
Increased Support for Entrepreneurs
To provide more substantial support, WIDU.africa has also reevaluated and increased the maximum grant amounts for the second and third participation cycles. Entrepreneurs who decide to participate again in the WIDU program can now receive up to €5,000 in the form of a WIDU grant (approximately 16,800 DT).
WIDU.africa: Already Over 7,500 Micro and Small Enterprises Supported in Africa
Since its launch in 2022 in Tunisia, WIDU has financed 685 projects with over €1.4 million in grants. The supported enterprises have created and maintained over 1,970 jobs, with 61% of these jobs held by women.
At the regional level, WIDU is present in five other countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Togo. In the six participating countries, the project has supported over 7,500 projects, creating and maintaining over 16,550 jobs (with 52% held by women) and disbursing a total of over €12 million in grants.
By improving its financing tools and expanding its geographical reach, WIDU.africa is opening up new horizons and creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs in Tunisia and beyond.
