Tunisia boosts the inclusion of youth in local governance

The Maghroum’IN project, part of the EU4YOUTH European cooperation programme co-led by the FIIAPP, held a dialogue at the Cité des Sciences in Tunis to reflect on the role of Tunisian youth in society. The event brought together all the strategic institutional partners of the project, reinforcing the collaboration aimed at promoting youth participation in local governance through culture and sport.

During the meeting, the Tunisian Ministries of Youth and Sport, Cultural Affairs and Interior assessed the development and strengthening of local governance in ten pre-selected pilot areas across Tunisia. To better understand the specific characteristics of each area, Maghroum’IN has undertaken 3 technical assistance projects focusing on local governance, multi-stakeholder mechanisms, gender and social inclusion. These diagnoses have led to the elaboration of a model roadmap and the creation of a toolbox for the Multiannual Programme of Support to Culture and Sport (PMACS).

The participating institutions have developed during the meeting a roadmap illustrating the results of the consultations with stakeholders and the elaboration of recommendations, aimed at being integrated into the mission of supporting and facilitating the creation of spaces for culture and sport in the European Union.

In addition, the event was attended by David Lafuente, deputy director general of Injuve (Spanish Youth Institute); and Ariadne Ariosa, project manager at the organisation. Injuve’s visit has been a first exchange of knowledge with Tunisian institutions, which have known the mechanisms of youth participation in Spain. During this visit both representatives of Injuve have met the team of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Tunisia and the facilities of a sports and cultural complex in the capital. In addition, throughout the visit, the importance of talking about “youth” in the plural has been highlighted, since there is no specific profile of youth, but encompasses multiple situations and vulnerabilities (economic, political…)

Maghroum’In is a bid to strengthen Tunisia’s collective dynamics and the interactions between its youth and institutions through culture and sport, both in terms of mental and emotional health care and personal development, and as a catalyst for innovative spaces for participation, creation and transformation.