ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF TUNISIAN CITIZENS


Since 2020, Fondation Hirondelle has been implementing the media component of the PACT (Participation Active des Citoyennes et Citoyens Tunisiens) programme, in consortium with the Danish organisation NIRAS. The aim of the project is to expand civic space and encourage dialogue between governments and citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, so that public action can be genuinely co-constructed in the high steppes region (governorates of Gafsa, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kef, Sidi Bouzid and Siliana).


Phase 2 of the project started in May 2023. Fondation Hirondelle is pursuing its commitment by continuing to support local media as players in good governance and sustainable development at local level.

Map of the regions covered by the second phase of the PACT project.

Financial volume 2024

233 437 CHF


Sources of funding

  • Switzerland (Project Contributions)
  • Switzerland (Mandate via NIRAS)

Key figures for 2024


26 media partners

46 media professionals trained

6 governorates

Created with Sketch.

5,500 users on social networks

2 broadcast languages

30 hours of video production

Context

The political transformation that Tunisia has undergone since 2011 continues to present the country with structural difficulties. In response to this crisis, the President of the Republic took drastic measures that have given rise to controversy, including the introduction of a new constitution in 2023. On the economic front, the country’s financial situation has deteriorated sharply. Against this tense backdrop, the number of illegal immigrants seeking to reach Europe has reached record levels, social unrest has grown and human rights abuses have risen sharply.

Training, informing and taking part: local media at the heart of democratic dialogue

Against this backdrop, Fondation Hirondelle has provided support for the creation of a network of 46 journalists, almost 80% of whom are women and whose average age is between 25 and 35. Trained and coached on local governance issues, this network is active in 26 local and regional media outlets. In 2024, these journalists
produced 225 pieces of content, including 100 video reports. These productions shed light on public policy issues such as the difficulty of access to local governance
structures and the lack of employment opportunities for young people.
The journalistic content was shared by network media outlets, both on their airwaves and online platforms, as well as on a dedicated Facebook page.

In 2024, the journalists of this network received training and coaching in mobile journalism (MoJo), leading debates, and fact-checking, and worked on issues relating to the economic viability of their media organisations. Communities received communication training to help them express themselves clearly when speaking to the media.

Ensuring the sustainability of civil society and media actors at the local level is one of the key conditions for the emergence of democratic, inclusive, and accountable local governance. In this context, Fondation Hirondelle, alongside NIRAS, continues to support citizen initiatives as well as those led by civil society organizations,
municipalities, and local authorities in the six governorates covered by the project, while also providing support to media outlets that help strengthen this community-driven dynamic.
In 2025, the skills-building programme will be maintained and will continue to be provided both to communities in order to improve their ability to communicate about the issues they face, and to media and journalists, with a focus on mobile and investigative journalism. The network of journalists and media partners will be maintained and will be joined by 12 new journalists. Lastly, our digital presence is reinforced by the production of video content.


Our impact


The active journalistic coverage provided by the local media and their ongoing information on municipal actions and the challenges faced by citizens have greatly contributed to the dynamic of dialogue. They have also helped to establish a culture of accountability and transparency in municipal work, as well as providing citizens with access to reliable and useful information, thereby fostering a strong demand for accountability.

Testimonial



“This course completely transformed my work. I learned to lead debates
more forcefully and to use MoJo to produce engaging reports, which allows me to highlight voices from my community and to share their stories in a more impactful way.”


Naima Gharsallah, Radio Twiza, Sidi Bouzid.

Priorities


  • Encouraging participatory democratic local governance
  • Support the role of media and civil society as key local development actors

Activities


  • Strengthen the capacities of communities and network media
  • Produce multimedia content addressing local issues

Previous project in Tunisia



From 2011 to 2016, the national Tunisian Radio benefited from a program of Fondation Hirondelle expertise, advice, training, and technical support to help reform it into a genuine public service media and bring its regional stations closer to the population, as part of democratic transition in Tunisia after the revolution of December 2010 / January 2011.

Click here to see our previous project in Tunisia


FOLLOW NEWS ON SOCIAL NETWORKS