Tunisia

Tunisia continues its path towards building its democracy. With several elections held in 2019, Tunisian citizens have been called to shape their political system. However, with deep social and economic challenges, continuous mixed migration flows, as well as sporadic terrorist attacks in the country, the new democracy must address social and territorial inequalities, tackle unemployment, and enhance citizen engagement.

Despite an undeniable dynamism, civil society still faces many challenges to fully assume its political role. Participatory democracy is also emerging in Tunisia, enshrined in the 2014 Constitution and the Local Government Code. However, these processes are not yet effective due to the lack of experience of the various stakeholders in terms of participatory democracy and creating participation mechanisms for civil society in decision-making processes.

Tunisia faces the challenge of economic recovery and employability of young people, weakened by the COVID-19 crisis. Ten years after the revolution, young people still feel a form of exclusion linked to difficulties in access to employment, regional disparities in development, gender inequalities and feeling of abandonment of public authorities.

 

Acted in Tunisia

In 2020...

45
young women and men vulnerable to violent extremism elected in Local Youth Councils
45 women
from the governorates of Mahdia, Monastir and Sousse supported to develop inclusive and sustainable social and entrepreneurial initiatives
3
Convergences Forums organized in Tunis to promote Social and Solidarity Economy

Acted in Tunisia has three main pillars of intervention:

  1. Promoting citizen action and youth participation, by educating on citizenship, democracy and sustainable development, strengthening youth leadership and creating spaces for multi-stakeholder dialogue.
  2. Promoting democracy, good governance, and the role of civil society, by strengthening the institutional capacities of civil society organizations, supporting the implementation of civil society initiatives with a high impact on 3Zeros and by establishing mechanisms for participatory democracy.
  3. Encouraging inclusive economic opportunities, by raising awareness and mobilizing around the social and solidarity economy and circular economy and by supporting innovative economic initiatives to address environmental and socio-economic inclusion issues.

Throughout these main pillars, Acted provides assistance to vulnerable populations, contributes to reducing territorial inequalities and promotes gender equality.

In a context where social and solidarity enterprises and civil society are becoming important development actors, Acted is developing a flagship initiative in Tunisia to promote collaborative initiatives with a strong impact on the 3Zeros.

The 3Zero House is a physical collaborative space that will serve as a multiplier and accelerator of innovations and solutions by local actors in the country. It aims to strengthen cooperation between public, private, academics, research, media, and civil society actors to co-construct innovative solutions. The 3Zero House is envisioned as a unique hub that will support, incubate, and accelerate innovation by local social enterprises, civil society organizations and individuals towards a Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty world.

ACTED, 2017
ACTED hosted a springboard training for women in Benghazi Training Centre

Current projects

Circular economy and entrepreneurship support project in the Manouba Governorate, Tunisia
Coordinated response to the rise in violent extremism in the regions of Tunis, Jendouba, Kef, Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine
ACTED, 2017
Arts Exhibition in ACTED Training Center, Benghazi

Resources

overview

October 2017

Overview of Acted programmes in Libya
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