+

Tunisian Diaspora Fund

April 2011. Lotfi Saibi and Mondher ben Hamida

High Level Overview

+ Contents

Background

Objectives

Preliminary Engagement Model

Next Steps

2

+ Background

Question is:

How can we turn this excitement into tangible actions?

January 14, 2011

Pre Jan14

Time

Post Jan14

• Apathy

• Suspicion

• Frustration

• Lack of involvement

• Emotionally involved

• Highly motivated

• Very excited

• Willing and able to help

Tunisian

Diaspora

3

+ Objectives

Turn the Tunisian Diaspora into an involved and active

participant in the re-building process

4

Goal

Tap into the global pool of Tunisian

experts abroad (and home) to

establish a Think Tank that can

help the business and political

communities

Primary Dimensions

Expertise

Leverage the collective power of

the Tunisian diaspora to raise

funds to invest mainly in the poor

regions of the country

Investment

+ Preliminary Engagement Model

www.newtunisia.org

Web Portal

Create a virtual portal for Tunisians abroad to:

1. Create and maintain the web largest directory of Tunisian experts

2. Lay the foundation for a World-Class Think Tank to provide a constant

stream of ideas, proposals and reports to the Tunisian political and business

communities

3. Provide an interactive and transparent platform to collect funds, select

investment opportunities and track progress

Models

Leverage (at most) 3 investment vehicles:

1. Micro-Lending – make an immediate impact

Leverage existing institutions (e.g. www.endarabe.org.tn )

Add Tunisia to the network of leading micro-lending brokers (e.g.

www.kiva.org and www.babyloan.org)

2. SICAR/VC – invest in midsize projects

Establish a fund to invest in midsize industrial and/or agricultural

projects with significant employment potential

3. Government or Private Bonds – contribute to large/ambitious projects

Contribute to large initiatives (e.g. public works, private company

extension, etc.)

5

+ Next Steps

Set up and launch www.newtunisia.org

Define a execute a fund raising campaign under the banner

“$1,000 per Tunisian Abroad”

Define and build an ‘Expertise Repository’

Organize a ‘Reboot Tunisia’ conference (before end of 2011)

to set up think tank groups, review funded initiatives and

define final framework

6

+ Sustainability issues

Declining interest after initial set up period - especially when there

is disagreement on what and where to fund a project.

Funding too slow to come by - causing projects to be on hold for long

periods.

Sustainable maintenance - As Diaspora funds tend to usually pay for and

upgrade schools and hospitals, little attention is paid to training and staffing these

facilities.

Lack of local resources – local resources and innovation is marginalized at

the expense of foreign resources.

Lack of training - needs assessment, fundraising strategies, designing project

proposals, planning, accessing information and identifying potential sources of support.

+ Recommendations

Collaboration with local government leaders with the sincere interest of

improving their communities.

Engage the communities – communication and information sharing with

local groups, leading to community ownership.

Strong Multiplier-Effect – training educators and health professionals must be

accomplished for the building and rehabilitation projects to succeed.

Training of Associations in mastering the technical skills of project

management, fundraising, and planning.

+ Example school project

+ Example regional Hospital