Page 42 - U4SSC Factsheet, Bizerte, Tunisia, June 2020

have helped to reduce poverty in Tunisia overall, especially in comparison with other countries in the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, disparities remain within many Tunisian regions, and
even within cities.

Ensuring gender and youth parity and representation: It is recommended, therefore, that Bizerte
continues to monitor poverty levels, especially those experienced by its female population, which
earns only three-quarters of what the male working population earns.

It is also recommended that Bizerte determines income distribution trends within its working population,
again focusing on the levels of equality between genders and between younger and older members of
the workforce. To increase gender equity in the areas of employment, participation in management
mechanisms, education, health, violence against women and urban services, Bizerte should consider
drafting a comprehensive Local Equality Action Plan. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women and other national plans and international conventions are helpful
sources that can provide guidance in this regard. The city should also conduct a gender analysis of its
municipal departments, commissions and boards.

Further improving day care availability for children will also lead to greater gender parity in labour
market participation. It is recommended that the city increases the number of affordable institutes
and facilities available for childcare, while also providing a safe and good learning environment for
children. This should go hand in hand with progressive and equality-centred fiscal, wage and social
protection policies.

Improving housing affordability: Housing expenditure in Bizerte, as a percentage of total household
income, is very high, with a notable percentage of Bizerte's population living in slums, informal
settlements or inadequate housing. The constriction of disposable income that arises due to an increase
in housing expenditures is referred to as ‘housing stress’. In developed countries, a household is typically
described as being in housing stress if it is paying more than 30 per cent of its income in housing costs.
In OECD countries, in particular, households spend, on average, around 21 per cent of their gross
adjusted disposable income on their housing costs.

It is recommended, therefore, that Bizerte takes steps to ensure that the city’s prevailing rate of housing
expenditure becomes more sustainable. Housing affordability should be prioritized for study as a critical
determinant of the living conditions of individuals and households. It should be treated as a relative
measure that reflects the balance of income, living arrangements, and housing costs. Any sharp rises
in energy prices should also be considered.

Lastly, it is recommended that Bizerte reports its voter participation rate in future years. This is an
important KPI as engaging people in decision making through civic voting improves decision quality
and inclusiveness with cities, and helps improve on the existing laws and regulations.

36 U4SSC Factsheet | Bizerte, Tunisia | June 2020