Tunisia—Fiscal and Accounting System of Tunisia (FAST)

While the Tunisian economy remains fragile in the aftermath of the 2010 revolution and the global financial crisis, improving security conditions over the last two years are leading to a more attractive climate for business and investment. Despite these improvements, Tunisians remain eager for tangible benefits of the revolution—in both government effectiveness and sound public investments, and equitable economic opportunities in the private sector.

FAST supports the systems and procedures necessary to operationalize and accelerate Government of Tunisia reforms that are modernizing the system for managing public revenues and expenditures.

FAST complements other activities by the U.S. Agency for International Development and other international donors in Tunisia to support the Government of Tunisia and the Ministry of Finance’s plan for improving public financial management. FAST focuses specifically on enhancing and upgrading the government’s integrated public financial management information system (PFMIS) to increase the efficiency, transparency, and predictability of public finances. The project strengthens the government’s capacity to carry out fiscal, budgetary, and revenue collection mandates. The project also advances electronic services to optimize regulations, procedures, and authorizations that reduce the cost and time burden on businesses, facilitate investment and trade, and promote innovation.

Finally, FAST works to strengthen communication between policymakers and the public to build a common understanding of the constraints to—and opportunities for—economic expansion. Combining key public financial management reforms with associated e-service platforms that spur equitable economic growth, FAST represents an important opportunity to assist Tunisia in financing its journey to self-reliance.

Select Activities

• Design PFMIS in a collaboratively drafted conceptual framework, including core functional and technical requirements and an outline of the system development approach.
• Implement PFMIS modules using an “agile with discipline” approach that includes accounting, budgeting, cash management, debt management, treasury systems, payroll, and asset management modules.
• Train Ministry of Finance staff by reinforcing training-on-job functions, system operability and security, and using PFMIS data to improve reporting on budget and expenditure management.
• Simplify business processes by detailing the new streamlined process, including the rules, regulations, roles and responsibilities, key performance indicators, and flow diagrams for new processes.
• Foster public-private dialogue to help the government engage with the public and private sectors about key economic and fiscal policies through institutionalized mechanisms.

Select Results

• Co-organized the launch of a national Online Business Registration system. The system provides the following e-services: (1) business registration for legal companies, (2) business registration for individuals, (3) trade name reservation simulation, (4) electronic signature functionality, (5) electronic delivery of company extracts, and (6) online consultation on specific tax issues.
• Prepared the hardware strategic plan for 2021–2028 to strengthen the Ministry of Finance data center infrastructure.
• With Tunisia’s National Business Registry (RNE) launched an online business registration system to reduce the cost and time required for opening a business through e-services including business registration for legal companies, business registration for individuals, trade name reservation simulation, electronic signature functionality, electronic delivery of company extracts, and online consultation on specific tax issues.
• Installed the FreeBalance Government Resource Planning Accountability Suite solution in the Ministry of Finance’s data center and test environments.