AGP Executive Report

Higher Education & Mobility: Russia says it will expand scholarships for Tunisian students, with funding covering tuition, accommodation, healthcare, travel and living costs, and plans to raise the foreign-student quota from 2,000 to 5,000. Science & Skills in Tunisia: Sfax marked Regional Knowledge Day, spotlighting top baccalaureate results, competition wins, and awards for researchers and faculty deans. Engineering for Africa: Tunisia Africa Business Council and the Tunisian Order of Engineers will host a Sept. 12 panel in Tunis on positioning Tunisian engineers in African infrastructure, energy, water, industry, technology and spatial planning. Tech & Education (Regional): Google extended a free one-year student AI offer to 27 African countries, but notably excludes North Africa, including Tunisia. Climate & Weather: Tunisia expects thunderstorms with possible hail in western north and center, with gusts over 70 km/h. Agritech (Elsewhere): Namibia cancelled an AI crop-monitoring deal after procurement and legal issues.

Higher Education & Mobility: Russia plans to expand government-funded scholarships for Tunisian students, covering tuition, accommodation, healthcare, travel and living costs, with quotas set to rise from 2,000 to 5,000 over coming years. AI Governance: Tunisia ranks 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (2026), scoring 2.12/4, with strengths in policy frameworks but concerns around brain drain. Digital Access for Students: Google is offering a free one-year Google AI Plus subscription to university and college students across 27 African countries—yet notably excludes North Africa, including Tunisia. Finance for Innovation: The EBRD is boosting its risk-sharing facility with Attijari bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m to unlock more private-sector lending, plus a new €8.6m ESG investment facility. Local Knowledge & Research: Sfax marked Regional Knowledge Day, highlighting top baccalaureate results, competition wins, and awards for researchers and faculty deans. Weather Watch: Tunisia expects thunderstorms with possible hail in western north/center, gusts over 70 km/h, and slightly rough seas. Cost of Living: A report revisits how prices in Tunisia have surged since the Arab Spring, driven by dinar depreciation and higher import costs.

Tunisia–Germany Cooperation: President Kaïs Saïed met German FM Johann Wadephul, pushing for a more balanced EU–Tunisia partnership and deeper ties in higher education, scientific research, vocational training, energy and tech innovation. Migration & Security: Wadephul urged tackling the root causes of migration in Africa, citing Sahel instability and smuggling networks operating through Tunisia and the region. AI Governance & Skills: Tunisia placed 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (score 2.12/4), while Google expanded its free student AI offer to 27 African countries—note: no North African countries included. Finance for Innovation: EBRD expanded its risk-sharing facility with Attijari Bank Tunisia to €70m to boost private-sector lending, plus a new €8.6m ESG investment facility. Engineering for Africa: A Tunis panel on Sept. 12 will spotlight a “Tunisia Engineering Offer for Africa,” aiming to bundle Tunisian engineering, consulting, construction, tech and financing for African markets. Weather Watch: Thunderstorms with possible hail and gusts over 70 km/h are expected in western and central/northern Tunisia.

AI Governance: Tunisia ranks 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (AAGI) 2026, scoring 2.12/4, with strengths in policy frameworks but ongoing concerns like brain drain. Digital Skills & Access: Google expands its free one-year Google AI Plus offer to students in 27 African countries, but notably excludes North Africa (including Tunisia), highlighting a regional gap in AI access. Financing for Tech-Ready Firms: The EBRD boosts its risk-sharing facility with Attijari Bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m, aiming to unlock more private-sector investment, plus a new €8.6m ESG support line for corporate climate and social upgrades. Engineering for Africa: Tunisia’s engineers’ role in Africa’s industrial transformation will be discussed Sept. 12 in Tunis under a “Tunisia Engineering Offer for Africa” push to package local expertise for infrastructure, energy, water and tech projects. Defense Tech in the Region: Turkish-made armed drones are increasingly widespread across Arab states, with Tunisia listed among buyers, underscoring growing regional defense-tech ties. Weather Watch: Thunderstorms with possible hail are expected Monday across western and central-northern Tunisia, with gusts over 70 km/h. Climate & Activism: North Africa’s social movements are shifting toward practical socioeconomic and climate-focused demands, targeting renewables projects over fairness and implementation.

AI Governance in Focus: Tunisia ranks 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (AAGI) 2026, scoring 2.12/4, placing it in the top tier for AI policy and institutional frameworks while still flagging gaps like talent drain. Startup & Digital Economy: Google expands its free one-year Google AI Plus student offer to 27 African countries, but notably leaves out North Africa (including Tunisia), while highlighting broader push for AI skills across sub-Saharan markets. Finance for Growth: The EBRD boosts its risk-sharing support with Attijari Bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m to unlock more private-sector lending, and adds a new €8.6m ESG facility for corporate sustainability investments. Construction Trade Link: CEPEX opens registrations for a business prospecting mission tied to EXPO BÉTON in Kinshasa (Oct 7–10), targeting Tunisian firms in construction materials, infrastructure, energy and related sectors. Security Cooperation: A Tunisian police training delegation visits Michigan to exchange law-enforcement academy management know-how, supporting the Police Academy for Security Sciences. Fertilizer Shock Watch: A new analysis warns Africa remains vulnerable to fertilizer price spikes tied to global shipping disruptions, urging scaling of local nutrient solutions and better farm profitability.

AI Governance in Tunisia: Tunisia ranks 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (AAGI) 2026, scoring 2.12/4, with strengths in policy and institutions but ongoing risks like brain drain. Google for Students: Google expands its free Google AI Plus offer to students in 27 African countries, but notably excludes North Africa including Tunisia. Green Finance Boost: The EBRD expands its risk-sharing facility with Attijari Bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m and adds an ESG investment line to back energy-efficiency and social projects. Construction Trade Push: CEPEX opens registrations for a business prospecting mission tied to EXPO BÉTON in Kinshasa (Oct 7–10, 2026). Heatwave Watch: Tunisia faces a major Maghreb heatwave with INM forecasting up to 48°C, with chergui winds worsening conditions.

AI Education & Access: Google is expanding its free one-year Google AI Plus offer to students across 27 African countries, with Gemini tools, higher usage limits and 400GB cloud storage—though Tunisia is notably absent from the eligible North Africa list. AI Governance: Tunisia places 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (AAGI) for 2026, scoring 2.12/4 and showing policy frameworks still under construction. Finance for Growth: The EBRD boosts its risk-sharing facility with Attijari Bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m, plus an €8.6m ESG investment facility to help firms fund energy, waste and workforce projects. Trade & Construction Links: CEPEX opens registrations for a business mission to EXPO BÉTON in Kinshasa (Oct 7–10, 2026) targeting Tunisian construction materials, infrastructure and energy firms. Health & Safety Tech: A Tunisian app, Handimap, launches to help people with reduced mobility find accessible parking in real time across France using a centralized, verified dataset. Climate Watch: A Maghreb heatwave is pushing Tunisia toward 48°C, with very hot conditions expected to persist.

AI Access for Students: Google is expanding its free one-year Google AI Plus offer to 27 African countries, giving eligible students Gemini tools, higher usage limits and 400GB cloud storage—while notably leaving out North Africa, including Tunisia. AI Governance Watch: Tunisia ranks 10th in Africa in the inaugural African AI Governance Index (2026), scoring 2.12/4 and showing a policy framework “under construction,” with brain drain flagged as a key risk. Finance for Growth: The EBRD boosts its risk-sharing facility with Attijari Bank Tunisia from €20m to €70m, plus adds an €8.6m ESG investment line to help firms fund energy, renewables, waste reduction and social projects. Construction Trade Push: CEPEX opens registrations for a business mission to EXPO BÉTON in Kinshasa (Oct 7–10), targeting Tunisian construction materials, infrastructure and public works firms. Heatwave Alert: Tunisia faces a severe Maghreb heatwave, with INM forecasting up to 48°C in several regions as the chergui hot wind intensifies. Mobility Tech (Local): A Tunisian in France launches Handimap, a real-time app mapping verified accessible parking spots across France for people with reduced mobility. Rail Upgrade Link: Hyundai Rotem’s partnership is driving electrified rail upgrades in East Africa, with Tunisia readers likely tracking the broader regional tech shift.

Heatwave Watch: A Maghreb heatwave is pushing Tunisia toward 48°C, with the chergui hot, dry wind intensifying conditions and forecasts warning the extreme weather will persist. Accessibility Tech: Tunisian entrepreneur Chouaieb Nemri (France) launched Handimap, a real-time app that centralizes verified parking spots for people with reduced mobility across France, using fast geospatial search and a PWA interface. Health & Talent: Tunisia’s dermatologist Asmahan Souissi won an international 2027 Young Dermatologist award for Africa, with the Health Ministry highlighting the role of research and innovation in boosting Tunisian healthcare. Security Cooperation: A Tunisian police training delegation visited Michigan to exchange academy management and law-enforcement training know-how, supporting the development of Tunisia’s Police Academy for Security Sciences. Digital Growth in Africa: A new report argues Africa’s next economic leap is digital—AI, cloud, and data-driven services are positioned as major growth engines. MENA Tech Startup Push: EgamesArena reported pre-launch traction across MENA and ongoing support from FasterCapital to scale its esports marketplace and tournament services. Tunisia in the News: Around 150 easyJet passengers were stranded at Enfidha airport for nearly three days after a Belfast flight was cancelled due to a technical issue.

Tunisia–US Security Cooperation: A Tunisian police training delegation visited Michigan to exchange law-enforcement academy management know-how with the Michigan State Police and Michigan State University, aiming to strengthen Tunisia’s capabilities against shared security threats and support the Police Academy for Security Sciences. Maghreb Heatwave: Tunisia is bracing for a severe heatwave with INM forecasts of up to 48°C in many regions, while Algeria issues orange alerts with temperatures possibly reaching 49°C—raising public health and infrastructure concerns. Accessible Mobility Tech in Tunisia: Tunisian developer Chouaieb Nemri launched Handimap, a France-wide app that centralizes verified parking spots for people with reduced mobility and helps users find them quickly via a geospatial search tool. Tunisia’s Medical Talent: Dermatologist Asmahan Souissi won a major 2027 Young Dermatologist International Achievement Award for Africa, with the Ministry of Health highlighting Tunisia’s growing research and innovation capacity. Digital Growth in Africa: A new analysis argues Africa’s next economic leap is digital—AI, cloud, and data-driven services are reshaping sectors from healthcare to agriculture, with the AfDB estimating major GDP gains from wider AI adoption. Global Tech & Security Spillovers: A separate report highlights hackers leaking large spreadsheets allegedly tied to Morocco’s police and intelligence services, underscoring regional cyber and information-security risks.

Heatwave Watch: A Maghreb heatwave is pushing Tunisia toward 48°C in several regions, with the chergui hot, dry wind intensifying conditions and forecasts warning the extreme weather will persist. Accessible Tech in Tunisia: Tunisian developer Chouaieb Nemri (France) launched Handimap, a real-time app mapping verified reserved parking spots for people with reduced mobility across France, using a fast mobile-friendly platform and centralized data from previously fragmented sources. AI & Cyber Skills for Auditors: IIT Madras Zanzibar is running a two-week training for African government auditors on data science, AI, and cybersecurity, with participants including Tunisia, aiming to modernize public-sector auditing. Health Recognition: Tunisia’s dermatologist Asmahan Souissi received an international award for Africa from the International League of Dermatological Societies, after a record number of global nominations. Mobility Disruption: Around 150 easyJet passengers were stranded at Enfidha airport for nearly three days after a Belfast flight was cancelled due to a technical issue.

Heatwave Watch: Tunisia, Algeria and Libya are bracing for a Maghreb heatwave with INM forecasts of up to 48°C in Tunisia and Algeria issuing orange alerts as temperatures may reach 49°C. Accessibility Tech: Tunisian developer Chouaieb Nemri (in France) launched Handimap, a real-time app mapping verified accessible parking spots across France using a centralized, fast mobile-friendly platform. AI & Auditing Training: IIT Madras Zanzibar is running a two-week course for African government auditors on data science, AI and cybersecurity, with Tunisia among the participating countries. Health Recognition: Tunisian dermatologist Asmahan Souissi won an international Young Dermatologist award for Africa, with Tunisia’s Health Ministry highlighting support for research and innovation. Internet & AI Adoption Gap: A report on internet freedom and ICT development across Africa flags low connectivity in several countries and discusses how AI is being used across governance, healthcare, agriculture and civic spaces, including Tunisia. Industrialisation Benchmark: The AfDB’s Africa Industrialisation Index shows Morocco overtaking South Africa as Africa’s most industrialised economy, with Tunisia not highlighted but the regional shift matters for policy debates. Mobility Disruption: Around 150 easyJet passengers were stranded at Enfidha airport for nearly three days after a Belfast flight was cancelled due to a technical issue.

Health Tech & Accessibility: Tunisian developer Chouaieb Nemri launches Handimap, a real-time app mapping verified parking spots for people with reduced mobility across France, aiming to unify fragmented open-data sources into a fast, mobile-friendly tool. Climate & Public Safety: A Maghreb heatwave is pushing Tunisia toward 48°C, with Algeria issuing orange alerts up to 49°C—raising risks for health and infrastructure. Local Health System Updates: Tunisia’s Official Gazette publishes 17 Ministry of Health appointments, including new hospital directors and heads of basic healthcare groups across multiple governorates. Education & AI Skills for Auditors: IIT Madras Zanzibar runs a two-week training for African government auditors on data science, AI, and cybersecurity, signaling growing regional demand for practical tech governance. Tunisia Mobility Disruption: About 150 easyJet passengers are stranded at Enfidha airport for nearly three days after a Belfast flight cancellation tied to a technical issue. Research Spotlight: Tunisia’s dermatologist Asmahan Souissi wins a major international award for Africa, boosting visibility for Tunisian medical talent.

Heatwave Watch: A severe Maghreb heatwave is pushing Tunisia toward 48°C, with the chergui hot, dry wind making conditions worse, while Algeria issues an orange alert as temperatures may hit 49°C. Mobility Tech: Tunisian developer Chouaieb Nemri in France launched Handimap, a real-time app mapping verified accessible parking spots for people with reduced mobility across France. AI Training for Auditors: IIT Madras Zanzibar is running a two-week programme for African government auditors on data science, AI and cybersecurity, including participants from Tunisia. Health Leadership: Tunisian dermatologist Asmahan Souissi won a major international award for Africa, with Tunisia’s health ministry highlighting the role of research and innovation. Public Health Appointments: Tunisia’s Official Gazette published 17 Ministry of Health appointments, including new hospital directors across several governorates. Food Security Pressure: A fertiliser shortage debate is growing as farmers report urea access problems and higher prices, raising concerns ahead of winter vegetable and Boro demand. Tech & Finance in Tunisia: A look at Tunisia’s fintech ecosystem finds a key tension: more digital sophistication alongside rising cash use outside banks. Migration & Safety: Two people died and 12 are missing after a migrant boat capsized off southern Tunisia, with one survivor rescued. EU Policy Debate: Europe’s “return hubs” plan is under scrutiny as implementation details remain unclear.

Tunisia Health & Talent: Dermatologist Asmahan Souissi (Internal Security Forces Hospital, La Marsa) won the 2027 Young Dermatologist International Achievement Award for Africa, with the Health Ministry praising Tunisia’s research and innovation ecosystem. Public Health Administration: Tunisia’s Official Gazette published 17 Ministry of Health appointments, including new hospital directors across Béja, Médenine, Monastir and several local healthcare groups. Water & Infrastructure: Tunisia is turning to seawater desalination in Sousse to tackle water shortages. Migration & Safety: A migrant boat capsized off southern Tunisia; two died and others are missing, while another report highlights bodies found during Mediterranean search flights and the risks of crossings. Aviation Disruption: About 150 easyJet passengers were stranded in Enfidha for nearly three days after a Belfast flight was cancelled due to a technical issue. Food Security & Fertilisers: A fertiliser shock linked to Strait of Hormuz disruptions pushed urea prices sharply higher across Africa, renewing calls for local nutrient and green fertiliser systems. Tunisia Tech & Economy: A fintech ecosystem analysis flags Tunisia’s paradox: more advanced fintech tools, but rising cash outside banks. Regional Science & Tech: Bangladesh’s Team Atlas won a global robotics title in Japan with an AI-powered smart aquaculture platform.

Health & Recognition: Tunisia’s Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani met dermatologist Asmahan Souissi after she won the 2027 Young Dermatologist International Achievement Award for the Africa region, selected from a record number of global candidates by the International League of Dermatological Societies. Healthcare Leadership: Tunisia’s Official Gazette (JORT No.84, Aug 21, 2026) published 17 appointments to regional hospitals, local hospitals and basic healthcare groups across multiple governorates, with some effective dates going back to May/June. Science & Research: A new study links occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) with poorer sleep quality and higher depression/anxiety among power-plant workers, even below international exposure limits. Public Health & Food Security: A fertiliser-market shock tied to disrupted shipping pushed urea prices sharply higher across Africa, renewing calls to scale local organic fertilisers and nutrient-use efficiency. Tunisia-India Tech Ties: CONECT says Tunisia wants to grow trade with India from about $521m to $1bn in five years, highlighting cooperation in smart irrigation, desalination, pharma and digital engineering. Tech & Society: Tunisia’s fintech ecosystem is advancing, but cash still dominates—cash outside banks hit a record TND27.5bn in February, showing the gap between digital services and everyday payments. Regional Human Impact: A migrant boat capsized off southern Tunisia with two dead and 12 missing; one survivor was rescued.