Orange Tunisie marked the 15th edition of the Prix Orange de l’Entrepreneur Social en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient (POESAM) with a ceremony held on September 8 in Tunis. The event highlighted the country’s growing commitment to technology-driven social impact, bringing together entrepreneurs, ecosystem players, and development partners. A key feature of this year’s edition was the launch of the first National Women’s Award, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tunisia, reflecting a stronger push for female-led innovation.
Expanding Recognition and Participation
The 2025 edition attracted 136 project submissions, a significant turnout that underscores the strength of Tunisia’s innovation ecosystem. These projects tackled challenges across education, health, agriculture, energy, transport, environment, and services, showing how digital tools and telecoms can accelerate socio-economic progress. The volume and diversity of applications illustrate both the demand for inclusive solutions and the determination of local entrepreneurs to drive systemic change.
Finalists and Jury Deliberations
Seven entrepreneurs presented their projects before a jury of experts representing institutions such as Orange Tunisie, UNDP Tunisia, Flat6Labs, AfriLabs, Digital Africa, and AfricInvest. Three of the shortlisted initiatives were led by women and competed for the newly introduced National Women’s Award. The panel also included representatives from media and entrepreneurship circles, reinforcing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in evaluating impactful ventures.
Innovative Projects Showcased
Among the standout projects was Alder Green Solutions, which helps transform African farmland into traceable carbon sinks, providing revenue for farmers while supporting corporate sustainability. Mycelium Innovations demonstrated how agricultural waste can be turned into biodegradable packaging using mushroom-based biomaterials shaped with 3D printing. LR Move presented a digital platform connecting people with reduced mobility to adapted vehicles and trained assistants, creating safer and more inclusive travel experiences.
Other Impactful Initiatives
ExynoTech introduced a smart buoy combining IoT and AI to monitor fish farming conditions, optimize productivity, and promote sustainable aquaculture. Arzaak, focused on empowering undereducated women in Africa and the Arab world, offers online training, personalized coaching, and an AI-driven marketplace to convert creative skills into income opportunities. Ecofeed showcased an affordable, sustainable animal feed solution by transforming local agricultural and marine by-products, while ProVerdy highlighted an AI platform that automates carbon footprint tracking and connects businesses to certified offset projects.
Announcing the Winners
After deliberation, the jury awarded the top prizes to four Tunisian entrepreneurs. Souha Bêjaoui won first prize for her climate-focused project ProVerdy, while Malak Boukthir secured second place with Ecofeed, and Fehmi Kharroubi took third with ExynoTech. The National Women’s Award, supported by UNDP, went to Jihene Touati for her education-focused initiative Arzaak, marking a significant step in recognizing women-led innovation.
Prizes and International Prospects
Winners received financial rewards of 15,000 Tunisian dinars (DT), 10,000 DT, and 5,000 DT respectively, while the Women’s Award laureate was granted equipment worth 10,000 DT. All four awardees have now qualified for the international POESAM finals, where they will compete with peers from 16 other countries where Orange operates. At the global level, prizes range from €10,000 to €25,000, with an additional €20,000 reserved for the International Women’s Award, providing further opportunities for recognition and growth.
Beyond the Competition
Orange Tunisie and the Orange Group are also offering business development, networking, and coaching opportunities to the winners, ensuring that their projects gain exposure and support beyond the prize money. This approach reflects the telecom operator’s strategy of combining innovation with social responsibility to drive sustainable impact. By integrating entrepreneurship, technology, and inclusive growth, Orange Tunisie continues to position itself as a key enabler of Tunisia’s digital and social transformation.
The 15th edition of POESAM demonstrated the vibrancy of Tunisia’s social entrepreneurship landscape and the growing appetite for technology-driven impact solutions. The introduction of a dedicated women’s award, supported by UNDP, signals a broader shift toward greater inclusivity in innovation. With their place secured in the international finals, the Tunisian laureates now stand to showcase their solutions on a larger stage, reinforcing the role of local talent in shaping global conversations on sustainability and social progress.