Tunisia, like the Middle East and NorthAfrica (MENA) region in general, has long experiencedunemployment, particularly among young university graduates.Unfortunately, job creation in existing enterprises is notsufficient to absorb a growing stream of graduates, and thistendency is unlikely to change in the short run. A recentHealth District (HD) project is therefore trying to teachuniversity graduates to create their own jobs. The businessplan thesis competition uses the undergrad thesis writingprocess to teach students to create an enterprise projectand write a business plan. Apart from professors, privatesector coaches mentor the students. Completed theses aresubmitted to a competition, whose winners receive financialsupport and further coaching to incubate the enterprise.First results from the baseline survey and accompanyingqualitative interviews show the passionate take-up of theprogram and warrant cautious optimism regarding theemergence of an entrepreneurial culture. The recent eventsin the MENA region, which first unleashed in Tunisia, haveside action supported by the Tunisian employment DevelopmentPolicy Lending (DPL).
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