Tunisia: Opportunities for a fresh start and prospects for remaining

For these people, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH creates better opportunities to make a fresh start. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ supports migrants with their return and reintegration to selected countries of origin. The focus of its efforts is on providing individual advice on opportunities for training and work – both in Germany and in the country of origin.

The same objective is shared by the German-Tunisian Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration, which was officially opened in Tunis today by Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller. The centre’s work supplements existing advisory services and is co-managed by the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) – which is jointly run by GIZ and the International Placement Services (ZAV) of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) – and the Tunisian National Employment Agency (ANETI).

‘Our aim is to create permanent prospects for people to remain in Tunisia, regardless of whether they are returnees from Germany or members of the local population,’ explains Ralf Sanftenberg, director of GIZ’s Migration for Development Programme. ‘People are often unaware of the training and employment opportunities available to them at home in Tunisia. So visitors to the centre are provided with information about training measures and support with their search for employment in Tunisia.’ Visitors also learn how GIZ can support them with basic and advanced training through existing programmes at the local level, and with starting up a business of their own. In addition, the centre provides advice on the requirements for working, studying or completing a training course in Germany on a legal basis.

CIM already runs similar migration information centres today in Kosovo, Albania and Serbia, managed in each case in cooperation with local employment agencies. Almost 30,000 people have already made use of the advisory services at the centres established in April 2015 and October and November 2016; around 900 people have taken part in application training courses.

Tunisia, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo are just four of many countries in which GIZ is helping to improve people’s job opportunities and prospects: thanks to the contribution of GIZ and its partners, almost 900,000 people found employment worldwide between 2010 and 2015 – and more than three million people increased their income.