AfDB

At the African Development Bank

Second day in Tunis: European Commission delegation

After waking up to the beautiful sounds of construction next to our rooms, we decided, in the beauty of the sunny Tunisian morning, to go to a traditional Hammam. We divided the group in two, and for the first time so far, boys and girls went their separate ways around town (...it was difficult, not going to lie). The boys found what the Lonely Planet guide describes as the best Hammam in Tunis. The girls walked quickly around the Medina to find the Hammam- and finally decided not to go in (fail!). On their way out of the Medina, they met Ali (number two), a sweet middle aged man who showed them around museums and UNESCO sights at true turbo speed.

The group reunited again around noon at the hotel. We rushed to get ready and get to the European Delegation in Tunis. It is located near the lake, not far from the airport. We were very sad to hear our first speaker had to cancel. We waited until 15:00 in a nice cafe in front of the Delegation and we sat on the terrace, in the sun. We were all incredibly happy to sit outside in the bright sun, after a few months of central European winter.

Regis Meritan gave us a very complete overview of the activities of the European Union in Tunisia. He explained how the revolution last January 2011 was completely unexpected - a large part of the Tunisian population was resigned to the status quo of the country. People lived in fear and they did not dare talk about politics in public. From one day to the next, the impossible happened. People in the Delegation and the streets started discussing politics and their grievances and the revolution came in a sudden rush on the 14^th of January. In response to the revolutions and the challenges the new democracies face, the EU has now changed its policies towards the Maghreb countries. This new policy framework will change how aid is distributed and the way policies are created, by focusing more on the increase in budget support. In Tunisia, 80% of aid provided by the European Commission through Europe Aid, is spent on macroeconomic support.

After a long day's work, we ended up in the hotel, eating pizzas and preparing for our Conference the next morning.

First day in Tunisia: Tunis, AFTURD and AfDB

After  months of preparation, meetings, discussions and fundraising we are finally here in Tunisia. We flew from Brussels to Tunis on Sunday evening, and we got to the Hotel Carlton relatively late, we had dinner close by. 

In the morning, after breakfast in the hotel, managing to catch a taxi and getting a bit lost, we got to AFTURD's office. The Association des Femmes Tunisiennes pour la Recherche et le Développement. Imen Hamza met us and made sure we were settled in their conference room. We then met the rest of their staff, including the founder and president Radhia Bel Hak Zekri. 

Straight after the visit to AFTURD we went to the African Development Bank headquarters. Marianna Maculan, who we had been in contact with from Brussels, came to pick us up downstairs and gave us access to the building. We went upstairs to a sunny conference room where Emanuele Santi explained to us in detail the activities of the Bank in Tunisia. Aterwards Marianna Maculan gave us a small presentation about the general structure of the AfDB. 
We had late lunch in a very nice restaurant, near the AfDB, the Bamboo Lodge around 4 p.m. and we concluded the day with a trip in the Medina guided by our new friend Ali.

Talking a walk in the Medina