MSME Justice Guidelines for Tunisia

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Tunisia’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and economic growth. Yet throughout their lifecycle, from business registration and growth to dispute resolution and closure, many MSMEs face legal, regulatory, and procedural challenges that can hinder their development and resilience.
To help address these challenges, HiiL – The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, in collaboration with national partners and ecosystem stakeholders, has developed the MSME Justice Guidelines for Tunisia. Drawing on evidence from HiiL’s Justice Needs and Satisfaction survey report, stakeholder consultations, and comparative good practices, the guidelines provide practical recommendations aimed at improving the business environment and strengthening access to justice for MSMEs.

Publications

The guidelines are structured around the key stages of the MSME lifecycle:

  • Business Creation: reducing barriers to registration, licensing, and early compliance.
  • Business Development: strengthening access to contracts, finance, legal information, mediation, and digital tools.
  • Business Dissolution and Restart: promoting fair and efficient procedures that enable entrepreneurs to exit, recover, and re-enter the market when needed.