Tunisia

MEPI in Tunisia

In 2011, MEPI programming in Tunisia addresses the economic, social and political concerns of Tunisians as they transition from rule under the Ben Ali era to a more democratic political system. MEPI is providing more than $20 million in support to help consolidate Tunisia's gains since Ben Ali stepped down and to assist Tunisians as they progress toward sustainable democratic development and economic prosperity.

Featured Highlights

New Cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows

The seventh cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows arrived in the U.S. on March 18, kicking off the six-week long academic portion of their fellowship. The twenty-two Fellows are based at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where they will complete coursework in democracy studies, conflict resolution, political mobilization, and communication.
Tunisian Team Competes in 20th Annual Commercial Law Student Competition in Vienna

Following MEPI-supported training through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law and Development Program, a six-person team representing the Faculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis participated in the 20th Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.
Public Opinion Research: A Tool for Rising Women Leaders

Public opinion research provides political parties and activists’ with insight into constituents’ perceptions and needs, and enhances policymakers’ abilities to respond to voters. Elected officials at all levels of government utilize public opinion data to improve citizens’ access to services and to better engage constituents, which is essential to increasing political participation.
Civic Education Leaders Visit Washington

The sixth cohort of the MEPI-funded Civic Education Leadership Fellows (CELF) visited the U.S. Department of State in Washington. The 13 Fellows – all university professors from the Middle East and North Africa – are completing three-month residencies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University.
MEPI Project Builds Capacity for Young Tunisian Lawyers

The MEPI-funded Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI), implemented by the American Bar Association (ABA), is supporting young Tunisian lawyers working towards positive change during the transitional period in Tunisia.
Middle East Legal Training Stimulates Study of International Commercial Law

More than 40 students from 7 universities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE gathered to refine their skills in practical applications of commercial laws with a focus on arguing sample cases before arbitrators. The training was held February 10-14, at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution in Abu Dhabi.
Fifty-Eight Tunisian Youths Placed in Jobs at Top Businesses

On February 20th, Education for Employment-Tunisia (EFE) held a graduation ceremony for a group of 58 young Tunisian men and woman who received hands-on training and were placed in jobs at major businesses including Consolidated Contractors Company, Vista print, and the United Bank for Commerce.
MENA Students Enter Young Entrepreneurs Competition

In 2012, over 5400 high school and university students from the Middle East and North Africa competed for spots on the MEPI-supported sixth annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition. Seventy five students secured finalist spots for the competition which took place in November 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
New Mobile Apps Assist People with Disabilities and Fight Corruption

MEPI-partner IREX is leveraging technology and media tools to serve the needs of communities in Tunisia and Morocco. IREX is actively providing technical support and small grants to non-governmental organizations (NGO) through the MENA Social Media/Social Action project (SM|SA).
International Youth Foundation Supports Local Tunisian NGOs addressing High Youth Unemployment Rates

MEPI-funded Tunisia Works project, implemented by the International Youth Foundation (IYF), aims to expand job training and community service opportunities for the country’s youth by building the capacity of local groups and institutions to support employability, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement projects.
U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Celebrates Launch of New MEPI Alumni Chapter

On December 20, 2012, the MEPI Alumni Chapter in Tunisia held its launch event with 150 attendees. U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Jacob Walles spoke about the importance of MEPI’s work in Tunisia, particularly the anticipated efforts of the new MEPI Alumni Local Chapter.
Government and Private Sector Representatives Participate in the 2012 Forum for the Future as Equals

At the Forum’s Ministerial meeting on December 13, over 100 senior officials from 31 BMENA and G8 governments, including government Ministers, as well as 45 civil society and private sector representatives, met to discuss key issues and challenges facing the BMENA region, with a focus on the themes of women’s empowerment, economic governance and entrepreneurship, and freedom of expression and association.
MEPI Launches 214 New Projects in 2012

As of September 30, 2012 (the end of Fiscal Year 2012), MEPI awarded an unprecedented number of grants to international and indigenous organizations working throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. These grants reflect a large increase in civil society activities in MENA, and strong demand for MEPI support, especially in countries that recently experienced democratic transitions.
MEPI Partner Uses New Media to Inform Citizenry

Through its Social Media|Social Action (SM|SA) project, MEPI partner IREX recently issued a solicitation to provide small grants to youth-serving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in leveraging media tools and approaches to increase the outcomes and impact of their organizations’ activities.
Students Leaders Learn About Civil Society and Leadership

A total of 118 undergraduate students from across the Middle East and North Africa participated in the 2012 MEPI Student Leaders Program in Washington, D.C. The program brings civically engaged students with outstanding academic achievements from universities throughout the region to the U.S. to study civil society, democratic participation, and leadership.
International Youth Activism Summit Promotes Cross-Border Collaboration

In June 2012, MEPI partner Soliya convened an international summit during which thirty-four Fellows ages 20 to 30, from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East met to work together towards the betterment of their communities.
IFES and Arab Parliamentarians Work on Political Finance in MENA

Recent electoral events in the MENA region have led to calls for greater transparency and accountability. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption are working on the MEPI-funded “Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region” project to increase stakeholders’ awareness on issues relating to political finance.
Young Activists Produce Films to Capture Change

After extensive training in media production and community engagement provided by U.S.-based NGO Soliya and MEPI, 110 young civil society leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa are harnessing the power of new media technologies to promote informed and constructive discourse on reform topics.
MEPI Partners with the League of Women Voters to Advance Reform in the Region

MEPI is pleased to announce the G8 Broader Middle East North Africa (BMENA) Initiative partnership with the U.S. –based NGO the League of Women Voters. The BMENA Initiative is a multilateral effort to promote cooperation between the G-8 and BMENA governments and civil society to advance reform efforts throughout the region.
EFE Matches Unemployed Youth with Jobs in Tunisia

Education for Employment (EFE) in Tunis celebrated the graduation of a new group of 24 young men and women from its MEPI-funded “Workplace Success” project on October 8. The project addresses youth unemployment in Tunisia by providing young women and men with skills and tools to find jobs or start businesses, build their futures, and give back to their communities.
Arab Women’s Leadership Institute’s Alumna Trains Young Women in Tunisia

Since its inception in 2008, the Arab Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI) program has successfully trained hundreds of emerging women leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa. These leaders have taken the knowledge gained through AWLI trainings and conducted activities of their own towards the betterment of their communities.
Youth engage in 100 Community Projects Across Tunisia

On July 4-6, 2012, 26 young Tunisian leaders attended the Mercy Corps Global Citizen Corps (GCC) workshop, which was coordinated in cooperation with the Tunisian Federation of UNESCO-ALECSO clubs. The workshop showcased the results from 18 small community projects being implemented by GCC local-chapters from Tozeur, Kasserine, Kairouan, Gabes, Gafsa, Tataouine, Jerba and Tunis.
North African Youth Connect Through Political Party Training in Tunis

On July 6-8, 2012, youth from an assortment of political parties in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia convened in Tunis for a Training of Trainers in political party activism conducted by MEPI partner the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The participating youth, ages 22 to 35, included doctors, lawyers, engineers, university students, and unemployed graduates who are active members of their parties.
Tunisian Youth Gain Valuable Skills and a Job through Education for Employment

EFE-Tunisie celebrated the graduation of 31 young unemployed Tunisians in July from the MEPI-funded Workplace Success program. The Workplace Success program trains unemployed Tunisian youth in workplace principles and places them in jobs that match their newly acquired skills.
Sec. Clinton Affirms Commitment to Supporting Arab Reformers

MEPI’s 2012 Leaders for Democracy Fellows (LDF) met with Secretary Clinton on May 29th, following their participation in the Civil Society Strategic Dialogue town hall meeting earlier in the month. The Secretary praised the fellows’ reform-oriented activism and work in advancing civil society during an unprecedented time in the Arab world.