Summary:

On 13 October 2022, the US Department of State announced a $60 million grant would be delivered to help provide economic relief to struggling to Tunisian families. The grant, executed by the US Agency for International Development, will be provided to a UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) program and have a specific focus on alleviating educational costs for vulnerable children. The announcement from the US Department of State reiterated that this support was in addition to the US’s ongoing support to the Tunisian private sector and civil society organizations, as well as the ongoing security cooperation between the two countries.

Outlook:  

The grant appears to follow the strategy communicated by US diplomatic messaging following Kais Saied’s dismissal of parliament in July 2021 and his ongoing effort at government-wide reform. With Tunisia’s status as a reliable, long-term democratic partner in question, the US is emphasizing support for education, civil society, and the private sector and letting the power of its financial aid reinforce the message that an undemocratic government cannot expect the same levels of financial support from one of its largest historical benefactors.