Tunisia, a country in northern Africa, supports those experiencing multidimensional poverty through its AMEN social program. Those eligible receive monthly cash transfers and an additional stipend for families with school-aged children to offset the costs of school supplies. AMEN was established in 2019 with the assistance of the World Bank and Tunisia’s Ministry of Social Affairs.

What Does the AMEN Money Go Toward?

AMEN targets poverty in Tunisia through transferring money to its most vulnerable citizens. More than 333,000 households currently receive these cash transfers. Multidimensional poverty levels determine eligibility. In other words, income is not the only factor; access to health services, education and housing is also considered.

Free or subsidized health care is also offered through AMEN. About 620,000 people receive subsidized health care in addition to those receiving free health care. Accessible health care is one of the many ways AMEN goes beyond a “poverty relief” program; it invests in Tunisian’s health and futures to target inequality.

The economy has suffered greatly since the spread of COVID-19 in 2020. Economic growth was at 0% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024. Unemployment rates reached 16% in 2024, which is quite high. During the pandemic, AMEN provided temporary money transfers to 900,000 households to help families stay afloat.

Empowering Women Through Financial Freedom

Women are often some of the most vulnerable in a population, particularly in low-income areas and those in traditional households who may depend on men to provide financially. AMEN provides opportunities for single women or those whose husbands can no longer work due to illness, death, imprisonment or any other factor.

Mothers no longer have to stress about feeding their children or keeping the household running with AMEN. Women make up more than 50% of households that receive cash transfers. The peace of mind that can only come from financial freedom is invaluable and a necessary step in breaking generational cycles of poverty and inequality.

Sponsoring Children’s Education

Poverty in Tunisia directly affects a child’s ability to attend and excel in school. School supplies can be expensive, an extra cost that families can’t afford. In other circumstances, some low-income families do not prioritize education for their children; instead, they expect them to help earn money for the family instead of attending classes.

AMEN recognizes the importance of education and supports children’s learning through their stipends. One hundred forty-eight thousand children are currently supported by AMEN and encouraged to go to school through the $10 per month stipend.

Moving Forward

AMEN seeks to improve its ability to help those experiencing poverty in Tunisia by revising its systems to determine who is eligible for the program. Ongoing research to strengthen knowledge around social protection is also being done. Continuing to improve AMEN will undoubtedly increase the quality of life for these individuals.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr