August 25, 1999: Chairing the closing session of the Conference of Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali launched a call to the international community for the creation of a world fund aimed at promoting the world's poorest regions suffering crises and catastrophes.

President Ben Ali's call won the support of prestigious world personalities, and was met with wide approval in international conferences and meetings.


September 7, 2000: During the Millennium Summit, President Ben Ali reiterated his call to the international community for the establishment of a world fund for solidarity and poverty eradication, premised upon the principle that solidarity among States and peoples is a human duty and a moral commitment.

December 20, 2000: In its 55 th session, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution approving President Ben Ali's initiative, and requesting the UN Secretary General to undertake the necessary consultations with member States and with financial and development institutions, for the purpose of examining the necessary procedures for the establishment of this fund, and to submit a report in this regard to the 56 th session of the UN General Assembly.


Late December 2001: The 56 th session of the UN General Assembly examined the Secretary General's report concerning the creation of the World Solidarity Fund, and entrusted the Secretary General to undertake the necessary measures for its effective establishment.

September 2002: The final declaration of the Earth Summit held in Johannesburg offered full support to the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund as a proposal emanating from the UN Organization, and calls for its effective establishment as from the beginning of 2003.

December 2002: The UN Secretary General submits to the 57 th session of the UN General Assembly concrete proposals concerning the mechanisms for the effective establishment of the World Solidarity Fund.

December 2004: Consultations are ongoing to launch the Fund, particularly after the decision of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, announced in his speech on 10 December 2004, to allocate 10% of the funds collected by the Tunisian Solidarity Fund to the World Solidarity Fund in order to help with its successful launching as an international mechanism to fight against poverty in the world.

In 2006, on initiative made by Tunisia, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming December 20 “International Human Solidarity Day". This decision, aimed at stimulating and promoting the values of solidarity and international cooperation, came to support President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s call for the creation of a World Solidarity Fund.