USAID/Tunisia resumed operations in 2015 and expanded support to Tunisia’s democratic transition through the promotion of inclusive civic participation in democratic processes, local governance, youth, and inclusion. 

CURRENT PROJECTS

  • Tunisia Accountability, Decentralization, and Effective Municipalities (TADAEEM or “Consolidation”) · 2017-2023 ·  $54 million・Implemented by Deloitte

TADAEEM supports the Government of Tunisia’s long-term decentralization initiatives by improving citizen participation in, and oversight of, key government functions, municipal service delivery, and regional and national service delivery mechanisms that aim to respond to the needs of citizens.

  • Political Transitions Project (PTP) ·  2020-2025 ·  $19 million・ Implemented by CEPPS partners - IFES, NDI, IRI, and Internews

PTP builds on the success of USAID’s previous “Elections Planning and Processes (EPP)” project, and aims to strengthen key electoral institutions, civil society organizations, media and elected officials in order to increase public trust and inclusive participation in the political process.

  • Ma3an (“Together” in Arabic) ·  2018-2023 ·  $48.5 million・Implemented by FHI 360

Ma3an aims to increase youth participation in civic and political life, address youth grievances, and prevent radicalization in Tunisian communities vulnerable to violent extremism.  Ma3an’s objectives are to equip youth with the skills to engage in civic action to address their communities’ needs and grievances through positive youth development and enhance Tunisian capabilities to prevent and counter violent extremism.

  • “Let’s Talk About Religious Freedom” ·  2021-2023 ·  $177,000 ・Implemented by Attalaki Association for Freedom and Equality

Through USAID/Tunisia’s first direct grant to a Tunisian organization, the project aims to support tolerance and acceptance by promoting a culture of differences and religious diversity.

  • FemmeMedina ·  2021-2022 ·  $500,000 ·  Implemented by Cities Alliance through UNOPS

This project works directly with the Mayor of Tunis to develop a gender-sensitive approach to urban planning that would support women living in these areas and city leaders to improve participatory  decision-making. The project sets out to rehabilitate the historic Medina of Tunis in a way that reimagines how public spaces can be designed to be more inclusive and enhance the experience of the Medina for the community.

IMPACT

  • Civil society projects supported by USAID encouraged higher voter turnout of key demographic groups including women and youth voters, persons with disabilities, and rural regions. For example, 69% of women living in rural areas reached through voter education campaigns confirmed that they voted in the 2018 municipal elections (Selma Votes in Tunisia).
  • Reached over 1 million citizens through Civic and Voter Education Campaigns, and ensured that people with disabilities were included in the 2019 elections by developing sign language lexicon, a smartphone application, and a series of animated videos into the Election Commission’s voter outreach efforts.
  • Ma3an is modernizing safe spaces in communities throughout Tunisia. Forty seven (47) safe spaces have been refurbished and equipped. These upgraded spaces including youth centers provide marginalized and under-served youth with safe spaces and opportunities to engage in sports and cultural activities as well as civic action to address youth grievances. These centers will also serve as job information centers linking local youth with prospective employers. See youth video from Ma3an beneficiary.
  • At the national level, Ma3an is working with Tunisia’s Ministry of Education to create and roll out a new civic education curriculum in over 6,000 primary and secondary schools throughout Tunisia serving over 2 million students. This new civic education curriculum will instill an appreciation of Tunisia’s new democratic institutions and norms and help promote a Tunisian identity centered on the responsibilities of democratic citizenship.
  • TADAEEM worked with its partner municipalities to identify and eliminate 400 informal dumpsites throughout 24 municipalities.TADAEEM reconstructed roads in 14 municipalities and parks and green spaces in 7 municipalities. For better public lighting, 3,100 LED lights were installed in 6 municipalities. TADAEEM also installed solar panels on 6 municipal buildings and have developed and implemented effective interventions to gradually improve their functionality and gain legitimacy.
  • TADAEEM introduced digitized data collection tools and trained municipal staff and their partners to update and maintain the service databases to support the municipalities ability to identify problems, allocate resources more effectively, cost and budget based on services, and monitor performance when implementing interventions.
  • TADAEEM streamlined and automated the construction permit process while providing all the municipalities with equipment and a core trained cadre to ensure widespread usability of the e-construction platform throughout Tunisia. By the end of the project, all the 350 municipalities, 24 governorate offices, the Ministry, and CFAD will be able to communicate and coordinate online through the provided video videoconferencing equipment system and training by TADAEEM.

CONTACT

USAID/Tunisia TunisiaDesk@usaid.gov