The appropriations proposed for the Family, Women, Children and Elderly mission would reach 331.690 million dinars in 2027, a rise of 15.60% compared to 2026. This amount was presented by the minister during a joint parliamentary hearing held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
A hearing dedicated to the mission’s budget
The Health Commission, the Women’s Affairs, Family Affairs, Social Affairs and Persons with Disabilities of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives held a joint session with the Services and Social Development Commission of the National Council of Regions and Districts.
The meeting was chaired by Azzedine Tayeb, head of the first commission, and Rafik Channoufi, head of the Services and Social Development Commission. Also present were Abdelkader Ammar, vice-president, Raouf Fkiri, rapporteur, as well as commission members Abdeljalil Hani, Moncef Maâloul, Aymen Marzouki, Riadh Bilal, Aouatf Chniti and Majda Ouerghi. Walid Haji, assistant to the president in charge of relations with citizens and civil society, and several MPs not belonging to the commissions also participated in the session.
Support for families and economic autonomy
The minister presented the 2027 directions for the mission, which include strengthening family ties, solidarity, and dialogue within families. The programs also aim to support the economic inclusion of families, women and girls, as well as individual and collective women’s entrepreneurship.
The minister specifically mentioned support for investment, access to financing and marketing, as well as job creation in rural areas through the valorization of local products and value chains. The prevention of violence against women and girls is also among the announced priorities.
Child protection and care for the elderly
In the field of childhood, the minister announced the preparation of a national plan for the inclusion of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The implementation of the national plan for the protection of children in the digital space will continue until 2028. The ministry also plans to launch the development of a national strategy to enhance educational and social activities.
The programs also include the revival of public kindergartens and the development of computer centers for children. The number of child protection delegates increased from 70 to 101. A bill on the protection of children in the digital space continues its consultative process with the services of the Presidency of the Government.
For the elderly, the ministry plans to improve the housing conditions in care facilities, in accordance with quality standards, and to continue studies and the preparation of new centers in several governorates. The minister also mentioned a new set of specifications for these facilities, as well as proposed laws on the protection of the elderly and the family mediation system.
Deputies alert to the extent of needs
Several deputies praised the ministry’s role, while judging the credits to be limited given the scope of its missions. They called for funding women-led projects with higher added value, in order to ensure sustainability and to promote the creation of jobs and stable incomes.
The discussions also focused on changes in the Tunisian family and on issues deemed worrying for children, notably digital dependency, early school dropout, and begging. Regarding the elderly, some deputies stressed the limited number of nursing homes and the insufficient coverage of mobile teams, especially for people without family support.
In response, the minister acknowledged that funds were limited, while noting that the ministry coordinates its actions with other departments. She also announced the revision of the terms of reference for shelters for women and their children victims of violence, as well as the planned establishment of a common digital platform to monitor their capacity to welcome and to facilitate the orientation of victims.
