Tunisia’s transition to democracy remains incomplete and under stress. Since the presidential measures to suspend the parliament, dismiss the government and draft a new constitution were enacted in 2021, socioeconomic conditions have continued to deteriorate, and risks of unrest have increased. Meanwhile, the ambitions of the 2011 revolution for rule of law, accountability, economic prosperity and human dignity are far from being realized. USIP works with Tunisians to improve national and local governance and security, rebuild trust and strengthen civil society. 

USIP’S Work

USIP works directly with the Tunisian government and civil society to improve governance, manage conflict, implement security sector reforms, rebuild trust between citizens and the state, and help create conditions more conducive to a democratic transition. The Institute also conducts research that informs future programs, analyzes ongoing efforts and helps develop new approaches to peacebuilding in Tunisia. From its offices in Tunis and Washington, D.C., USIP convenes thought leaders, government officials and international visitors.

Localized Peacebuilding Processes with National Impact

Drawing from its pioneering work in conflict resolution and violence prevention, USIP established the Tunisian Coalition of Facilitators (TCF) in 2014. Together, USIP and the TCF develop and implement field-tested inclusive governance, mediation, and reconciliation processes in locations across the country where conflicts have national and international implications. The TCF includes national and local peacebuilders who understand local conflict dynamics. USIP empowers these leaders to resolve underlying conflicts that affect community and national stability. Examples of the TCF’s peacebuilding work include:

Douar Hicher: In this marginalized community, a heavy-handed response by security forces to high levels of violent extremist recruitment has contributed to the community’s fragility. USIP and TCF are building resilience by empowering women from the community to reintegrate families who have been alienated and stigmatized due to ties with extremists. Fifteen of the women have become active leaders in their community and are now addressing drivers of radicalization in collaboration with local authorities and security forces.

Medenine: In this southern border region, TCF addresses a major trigger of conflict in Tunisia: the historically violent relationship between youth and security forces. USIP and TCF have led a reconciliation process that culminated in the creation of a sustainable conflict mediation unit (CMU). Since 2020, the CMU has pro-actively prevented the escalation of eight emerging conflicts between security officers and youth from marginalized neighborhoods.

Supporting Community-Focused Policing

USIP works across Tunisia, and the capital Tunis is home to the Institute’s regional office, which implements programs, convenes experts, conducts trainings, and facilitates initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa.

Internal security forces are on the front lines of Tunisia’s political transition. They are critical to protecting communities and deepening their trust in government after decades of authoritarian rule. To sustain Tunisia’s democratic institutions, the nation’s security forces need to become inclusive, citizen-centric, skilled in handling emerging security challenges such as unrest and violent extremism, and proactive in institutionalizing reforms.

With these objectives in mind, USIP is working closely with the National Guard and National Police on the complex process of overhauling their training systems to help create a more professional, accountable, and public-service-oriented institution.

Building Institutional Capacity to Support Regional Peace and Stability

In light of Tunisia’s ambition to play a larger role in promoting regional peace and stability, the government issued a decree in 2019 to expand the diplomatic training academy’s mandate and carry out comprehensive reform in the training program to better prepare diplomats with the skills to meet the evolving challenges facing their region and the world. Given USIP’s extensive expertise and experience in international conflict resolution and mediation, as well as its long history of training partnerships with government institutions, the Institute is working in partnership with the Tunisian government to help the academy achieve its new mandate in supporting regional peace and stability. USIP is primarily focused on supporting curriculums in conflict management and mediation, thematic expertise of lead instructors, pedagogical approaches, research and thought leadership, and strategic and operational planning. 

Strengthening Local Environmental Governance in Tunisia

Environmental degradation amid rapid onset climate change has become a major threat to the country’s stability. Mismanagement of natural resources and longstanding infrastructure problems in critical areas like water and sanitation, waste management and industrial pollution have imperiled citizens’ livelihoods, health and well-being. In marginalized communities, these pervasive issues have become significant drivers of internal displacement, social unrest and violence. Building on successes in multi-stakeholder problem-solving approaches in conflict-prone regions, USIP has launched a pioneering and adaptive new initiative which will support government, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to co-develop and implement solutions to environmental governance challenges that are exacerbating fragility and heightening exposure to climate shocks.


photo of women participating in a USIP training on dialogue, peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism

Fifteen women, who have family ties with extremism, used USIP training on dialogue, peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism to become active leaders in the community engaging government and security forces to address root causes of violence and extremism. In Medenine, near the Libyan border, the conflict mediation unit (CMU) has prevented the escalation of eight emerging conflicts between youth and security officers since 2020.


Related Publications

Is China Eyeing a Second Military Base in Africa?

Is China Eyeing a Second Military Base in Africa?

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

For over three decades, every Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year has been to Africa. This year continued the tradition with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, visiting Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire. Notably, every one of these countries is coastal. And yet, at a time of continued speculation over China’s next military installation in Africa, none of these countries has featured prominently as potential locations in previous analyses. We might, therefore, reasonably ask what China’s current considerations are around basing in Africa. Faced with an increasingly multipolar and assertive Africa at a time of domestic economic challenge, however, China’s long-term strategy remains unclear.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

Overcoming the Challenges of Transitional Mobilization

Overcoming the Challenges of Transitional Mobilization

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Nonviolent action can be a powerful way to bring about peaceful transitions from autocratic rule to democracy. But even when initially successful, movement leaders often face significant challenges, from frustrations that grievances are not addressed quickly enough to counterrevolutions aimed at restoring the authoritarian status quo. This report examines two recent transitions—the 2011 Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution—and presents recommendations for improving the likelihood that change initiated through nonviolent action leads to robust and lasting democracy.

Type: Peaceworks

Nonviolent Action

To Support Youth, Tunisia Needs a New Approach to Development

To Support Youth, Tunisia Needs a New Approach to Development

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

A decade after the Arab Spring, there are still high hopes for a long-promised “Tomorrowland” of opportunities in Tunisia. However, such a reality remains an enigma for so many of the country’s youth. As a young peacebuilder in Tunisia, I understand that the state has very limited resources. But even so, our leaders have not delivered the desired (or expected) developments that could support so many citizens — including youth, women and vulnerable communities.

Type: Blog

Democracy & GovernanceGenderYouth

View All Publications