Laying the Fiscal Foundation for Tunisia’s Growth .

Recognized as the starting point of the Arab Spring movement, Tunisia’s 2011 revolution spurred unprecedented political and social transformation. USAID’s Fiscal Reform for a Strong Tunisia (FIRST) provided technical assistance and capacity building to the Tunisian government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, so that its fiscal institutions were well positioned for sustainable and inclusive growth following these political shifts. FIRST supported the Ministry of Finance to develop sound and fair revenue policies, as well as to modernize its tax administration. These efforts made it easier for the Tunisian government to carry out its revenue collection mandate effectively and transparently. The project also looked for ways to make the Ministry of Finance’s actions more efficient, from social spending to priority investment to service delivery. In addition, FIRST worked with the ministry to strengthen its strategic communications with policymakers and the public, particularly to increase the public’s awareness of and input to fiscal reforms.