The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is now emerging as a key driver of inclusive development across the African continent. Cooperatives, associations, mutuals, and social enterprises: these hybrid structures reconcile economic performance with social impact, placing people and the environment at the heart of their business models.

In North Africa, the SSE has experienced sustained growth in recent years, fueled by changing economic contexts, a youth seeking opportunities, and public policies increasingly sensitive to sustainability issues.

A Fertile Ground for Social Innovation

In countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the SSE is positioning itself as a concrete response to shared challenges: youth unemployment, territorial inequalities, women's inclusion, and adaptation to climate change.

Governments are multiplying their initiatives to structure this sector: Morocco has included the SSE in its national development strategy; In 2020, Tunisia adopted a pioneering framework law that regulates and promotes social enterprises; Egypt is exploring new forms of microfinance to support rural cooperatives. These efforts are opening up unprecedented space for actors capable of building bridges between civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and sustainable finance.

Tunisia, a laboratory for the social and solidarity economy (SSE)

Tunisia occupies a unique position in this landscape. With a dense network of associations and strong entrepreneurial potential, the country combines a tradition of solidarity inherited from agricultural cooperatives and mutual societies with a highly skilled and connected youth.

The Tunisian law on the SSE, adopted in 2020, has clarified the legal framework, facilitated access to financing, and stimulated the emergence of impact-driven startups. Numerous local initiatives, particularly in sustainable agriculture, the circular economy, and community services, attest to this dynamism. Tunisia is thus positioning itself as a regional hub for social innovation, capable of inspiring its neighbors and attracting international partnerships.

ComDev Africa: A Catalyst for the North African Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE)

It is in this promising context that ComDev Africa has chosen to establish a regional hub in Tunisia, marking a new stage in its growth strategy. Drawing on its pan-African experience from Senegal to Kenya, including Côte d'Ivoire, the organization brings unique expertise in supporting, incubating, and financing projects with social and environmental impact.

By establishing itself in North Africa, ComDev Africa aims to strengthen the local SSE ecosystem while fostering South-South exchanges. Its model, which combines social enterprise incubation, citizen mobilization, educational engineering, and innovative financing mechanisms, perfectly meets the needs of Tunisian entrepreneurs: structuring, skills development, and access to appropriate financial resources.

 A strategic market open to partnerships

The North African market has several specific characteristics that make it a prime area for collaboration for ComDev Africa:

Cultural and linguistic proximity between the Maghreb countries, facilitating the pooling of programs and the sharing of experiences.

Privileged access to European and African markets, thanks to trade agreements and diaspora networks.

Growing demand for responsible investments, driven by international donors, impact funds, and public policies geared towards sustainability.

ComDev Africa can thus play a bridging role between local actors (associations, cooperatives, start-ups), regional institutions, and international partners. By creating synergies, the organization will contribute not only to boosting the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in Tunisia, but also to disseminating replicable models throughout the Maghreb.

Towards a new era of African cooperation

The establishment of ComDev Africa's North Africa Hub in Tunisia goes beyond simply opening an office. It symbolizes a commitment to building an African social and solidarity economy (SSE) network capable of influencing the continent's major economic and environmental transitions.

By uniting talent, supporting local initiatives, and creating bridges with other regions of Africa, ComDev Africa confirms that the SSE is not just an alternative: it is a path to a fairer, more inclusive, and more resilient economy.

By Ahmed Ben Ghanem, North Africa Hub Manager

ahmed.ghanem@comdevafrica.org