EBRD and Advans Tunisie expand access to finance for young entrepreneurs

• EBRD financing package of TND 15 million to microfinance institution Advans Tunisie
• Donor support from Switzerland to benefit Tunisian youth-led MSMEs
• Small Business Impact Fund supported capacity building for MSMEs

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up efforts to improve access to finance for youth-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Tunisia.

Under the EBRD’s Youth in Business programme, Advans Tunisie will receive up to TND 15 million (€4.4 million) to on-lend to MSMEs owned or led by young entrepreneurs, promoting the financial inclusion of an underserved segment of the Tunisian economy and bridging the financing gap for entrepreneurs across key sectors.

The loan is complemented by donor support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) under the Small Business Impact Fund (SBIF).*

This project aims to strengthen Advans Tunisie’s capacity to serve young entrepreneurs, and will focus on digitalisation, non-financial services and gender inclusion. Support will be delivered through the EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses programme, offering tailored advice, training, workshops, mentoring and e-learning courses to young entrepreneurs.

The financing package includes a first-loss risk cover guarantee of up to 12.5 per cent under EBRD’s SME Local Currency Programme, providing additional risk mitigation.

Advans Tunisie is a leading microfinance institution in Tunisia. It was founded in 2013 by the international microfinance group Advans, which operates in six countries across Africa.

Since the EBRD began operations in Tunisia in 2012, it has invested more than €2.9 billion in 83 projects across the country, with 65 per cent of that investment going to the private sector.

*The Small Business Impact Fund is supported by: Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taipei China and the United States of America.