Launch of the “Employment4Youth” project

UNIDO and the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy kicked off the project “Industry 4.0 to foster youth employment in Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire” (Employment4Youth) during a ceremony held on 30 September 2022 in Tunis. The ceremony, attended by various partners, stakeholders, experts and sector’s professionals, was marked by the signature of the project contract between UNIDO and the Ministry, thus opening the door to a new era of partnership and cooperation between the two parties.

The “Employment4Youth” project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the “Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation“ and aims at boosting integration into 4IR ecosystems combined with increased and enhanced employment opportunities and conditions in selected enterprises in Tunisia and Côte d’Ivoire.

For Fatou Haidara, Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations at UNIDO, the project can be a flagship example of South-South cooperation. "The Employment4Youth project will guarantee a solid environment to promote the development of Industry 4.0 based on the transfer of knowledge and expertise and to improve the skills of young people to better use the technologies of the future", said Haidara during her speech.

In the context of the launch ceremony, three panels were organized to discuss the Tunisian strategic orientations in terms of the 4IR, its role as a lever for creating and promoting employment as well as cooperation initiatives. The participants stressed the importance of promoting the Tunisian model as a winning exportable model in the sub-region and in Africa, and the need to put in place a Development Plan for Industry 4.0 and a reform to overcome some existing institutional obstacles. 

An exhibition of Tunisian start-ups focusing on innovation, industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence was also organized, giving the opportunity to startups and young entrepreneurs to showcase their achievements and aspirations for an innovative industrial sector, driver of the national economy.

For further information contact Rafik Feki (R.Feki [at] unido.org (R[dot]Feki[at]unido[dot]org)).