The resident representative of the WB in Tunisia, Alexandre Arrobio, said Thursday, March 30, 2023, that the “stopping” of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2023/2027 between his institution and Tunisia will in no way interrupt the implementation of projects in progress or in preparation.
“We do not yet have a date for the approval of this strategy, but we are in the process of discussing this with the Tunisian authorities”, he added during a round table with representatives of the Tunisian media, organized at the headquarters of the WB in Tunis.
Arrobio was keen to point out that the CPF does not require the same conditions as for financing agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as it has no impact on the financing of projects in the countries.
“More than twelve months have passed since the end of the last Country Partnership Framework. This did not prevent us from supporting Tunisia in social protection and SME financing projects,” he said.
The WB is “predisposed” to help Tunisia cope with the water stress to which it is currently exposed, within the framework of the CPF.
“The Bank fits into the agenda of each country and aligns itself with the priorities of the government’s development plans and strategies. We are therefore ready to respond to these priorities,” he noted.
Discussions on the WB’s country partnership framework with Tunisia, defining the strategic orientations of medium-term operational commitments (2023-2027), had been temporarily suspended on March 6 by WB management following the controversy triggered by the statements of the President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed on sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, which were considered racist in tone by several international decision-makers.
In a note to staff, the president of the BM group expressed his institution’s “deep concern” about the situation of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia.
“The safety and inclusion of migrants and minorities are part of the institution’s core values, namely inclusion, respect and anti-racism in all its forms,” the bank said in a statement.
While noting the positive steps taken by the government to calm the situation, the international financial institution assured that it was maintaining dialogue and engagement with the Tunisian authorities.
