MEPI SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN PROJECT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001244

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG (NARDI/HAYES) AND NEA/PI
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: MEPI SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN PROJECT

REF: STATE 115408

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) The goals of the MEPI Small Business Initiative
for Women are in line with Embassy and GOT economic
development goals. In the face of chronic unemployment,
particularly among university graduates, promoting the growth
of entrepreneurship and building a supportive infrastructure
for small and medium-sized businesses is a high priority for
the GOT. Thus, GOT officials have requested assistance along
the lines of reftel proposal. To this end, Post is working
with the Small Business Administration to develop a project
proposal using Economic Support Funds to support
entrepreneurship among Tunisian youth (both male and female),
and the development of small and medium-sized businesses in
Tunisia. We believe the two initiatives would complement
each other well. Should Tunisia become one of the MEPI Small
Business Initative for Women participants, we would seek to
maximize the synergy between these two projects.


2. (C) While we would welcome the MEPI Small Business
Initiative for Women in Tunisia, however, MEPI/Washington
should be aware of the challenges associated with
implementing MEPI programs here. Over the past couple of
years, the local environment has become less permissive for
MEPI-branded programs; thus, we would not recommend overt
branding. In addition, media access is limited, affecting
recruitment and advertising. Also, even when the GOT has
initially responded favorably to MEPI programs, there have
been some instances in which it has failed to follow through
or has subsequently withdrawn support, effectively scuttling
programs. Finally, creating and registering new associations
or NGOs in Tunisia is extremely difficult, so programs need
to be crafted in such a way as to work with existing Tunisian
organizations, US or third-country organizations, or Tunisian
individuals.


3. (C) We attribute much of the resistance to MEPI to GOT
mistrust of the USG's political reform agenda. The GOT has
historically been more receptive to MEPI programs in the
economic pillar. Thus, notwithstanding the trend of
increasing difficulties faced by MEPI, we are hopeful that
the GOT will support this endeavor.
Godec