The 2011 revolution was a powerful expression of Tunisians’ desire to have their voices heard in the economic and political life of their country. Following the 2011 Revolution, the Government of Tunisia embarked on a series of efforts to improve the quality of governance, advance administrative reforms, fight corruption, increase social inclusion, and reduce regional disparities. USAID Tunisia supports these efforts through economic and governance assistance programs that promote both economic participation and democratic consolidation.

The Supporting Youth and Empowering Local Communities (SHAREKNA, “to participate, involve, or engage with us”) project fosters social cohesion and community resilience in disadvantaged communities. It partners with young people and local stakeholders to identify community-level challenges, including drivers of violent extremism, and develop community-driven actions to address them; provides resources to youth and community stakeholders to implement concrete activities to mitigate identified local challenges; and builds the capacity of local civil society organizations to collaborate with youth and community stakeholders so that they can continue to identify and address local challenges.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Increased and more effective collaboration between public institutions and citizens, resulting in improved social cohesion and a more democratic, inclusive society in disadvantaged communities.
• Greater long-term resilience in selected Tunisian communities that currently face economic, political, and social stresses.
• Strengthened civil society organizations, better able to work effectively with youth and other stakeholders to ensure continuing progress in addressing local challenges.

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Supporting, in partnership with local stakeholders and implemented by local youth, a community-led process to identify the aspirations, assets, needs, and vulnerabilities of young people within their communities.
• Convening diverse sets of community youth and other stakeholders to build relationships and networks; share and come to agreement on the aspirations, assets, needs, and vulnerabilities of community youth; and identify community-based action plans and initiatives to address these challenges.
• Providing sub-grants to local civil society organizations to implement select activities identified in the community-based action plans, which to date has included refurbishing youth centers, equipping sports associations, and mobilizing neighborhood cleanup campaigns.
• Supporting communities to address issues that may be identified through other community-led means, such as volunteer mobilization and advocacy campaigns.
• Mobilizing, when appropriate, support for relevant identified community needs from other USAID, U.S. government, or international donors.

These activities will support Government of Tunisia efforts to heighten collaboration between institutions and citizens while building community resilience, thereby improving social cohesion and helping to create a more democratic, inclusive society. Sharekna works in the following communities: Cite Ettadhamen (Ariana), Douar Hicher (Manouba), El Kef (Kef), and Sidi Bouzid as well as Souk Jdid (Sidi Bouzid).

CONTACTS

MISSION

USAID/Tunisia
U.S. Embassy Tunis
Les Berges du Lac-1053
Tunis
TUNISIA
Email: DOCTunisia@usaid.gov

HEADQUARTERS

Tunisia Desk
U.S. Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20523
USA
Email: TunisiaDesk@usaid.gov