Savoirs Éco - Project to Support Economic Knowledge Producing Institutions in Tunisia

Expertise France has been implementing the Savoirs Éco project since 1 February 2023, with €4.5 million of European Union financing. The project will last three years. 

It aims to support public debate on economic issues by strengthening economic knowledge producing institutions (SPSEs) in Tunisia. This includes public institutions that conduct economic analysis to inform decision-making, economic research institutes and civil society think tanks.

The project is providing technical and financial assistance based on three lines of action: 

1. Capacity building for SPSEs.
2. Support for the production of studies/policy briefs by SPSEs.
3. Support for the dissemination, popularisation and experimentation of the studies/policy briefs produced. 

To support the implementation of the activities, Expertise France is working with four partners: the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI), the Global Development Network (GDN), France Stratégie and INSEE.  

The Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP) and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) are the two international partners of the project.

Strengthening capacities for economic analysis with the ITCEQ

Working closely with the Tunisian Institute of Competitiveness and Quantitative Studies (ITCEQ), Expertise France is carrying out activities to strengthen capacities for analysis and support for economic decision-making. In this respect, we are helping to improve:

• The evaluation of public policies
• Modelling and quantitative analyses
• The information system
• The internal organisation
• The communication and dissemination of these analyses 

A Practical Guide on the Evaluation of Public Policies has been prepared to strengthen public tools for economic analysis and promote policies built on evidence-based data.

Supporting the scientific research ecosystem in Tunisia 

The Global Development Network, a partner contributing to the implementation of the Savoirs Éco project, is coordinating the implementation of the Doing Research Assessment of the economic and social science research system in Tunisia. This strategic tool is used to identify the barriers and drivers in relation to nationwide scientific knowledge production.

Support for the institutional organisation of public decision-support institutions

At the request of the Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), a study was conducted on the institutional organisation of public institutions that support economic decision-making. A policy brief was prepared on the results of this study. It identifies three lines of action to improve the performance of public SPSEs:

• Establish high-level institutional coordination between knowledge producing actors
• Build a culture of quality by evaluating the research produced
• Strengthen synergies with the academic sphere and other knowledge producing actors 

Mentorship programme with FERDI

FERDI (Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development), an implementing partner of the Savoirs Éco project, has set up a mentorship programme. The objective is to assist economic knowledge producing institutions (SPSEs) in Tunisia with the production, dissemination and promotion of rigorous and operational economic analyses, accessible to a non-specialised public. 

The two editions of the FERDI mentorship programme have assisted SPSEs with their thinking on economic issues in Tunisia, including, as far as possible, the dimensions of social justice, gender equality and regional disparities. 

Launch of the Ecotous platform

The aim of the Ecotous platform is to popularise economic and sustainable development issues in Tunisia among the general public. It has been set up by the Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) and the Arab Institute for Human Rights (IADH) through financial support deployed under the Savoirs Éco project. It contains accessible, educational and diverse content (articles, videos, infographics), with the aim of democratising access to economic knowledge and strengthening economic culture among citizens.

Creation of the “Eco Leaders” community of influencers

The activities of the Savoirs Éco project include support for a new generation of content creators interested in economic issues. These young influencers produce original content for social media on Tunisian and international economic issues. 

Strengthening the national economic debate: the ITCEQ Debates

The Savoirs Éco project has enabled the ITCEQ to take a more open and dynamic approach to disseminating its analyses. By diversifying the formats, targeting a broader public and establishing its conference-debates as a regular event, the institution has become a key actor in the economic and social debate in Tunisia.

These developments have facilitated the flow of ideas and strengthened the dialogue between researchers, public decision makers and private operators, providing fresh perspectives on the issues addressed and encouraging more regular exchanges between these spheres.