The 2019 election cycle changed the face of Tunisian politics, ushering in many non-affiliated candidates and political outsiders into parliament, including the election of political outsider President Kaïs Saïed. By electing a new class of political leaders, Tunisian voters expressed their discontent with the status quo and their desire to empower new voices who could change the economic, political and social situation in Tunisia. But despite these changes, Tunisia has so far been unable to address its underlying economic weaknesses.

In the face of the spread of COVID-19 in Tunisia, one of NDI’s longstanding citizen election observation partners, Mourakiboun, is stepping up to make its data available to decision-makers and encouraging local CSOs to start evidence-based preventative initiatives in their communities.

As COVID-19 becomes a leading governance challenge around the world, local governments are at the front lines of the effort to combat the spread of the virus. Following the first appearance of coronavirus in Tunisia, municipal councils established local crisis committees across the country to improve local government responses to COVID-19 and create safer environments for citizens. Civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties and elected officials are coming together through these committees to help communities combat the spread of COVID-19.

On March 3, Tunisian civil society demonstrated the impact that collaborative advocacy can have on policy making. As the Tunisian parliament moved to quickly amend electoral policy to establish a new vote threshold for parliamentary representation, six Tunisian election observation groups, known collectively as the Collaborative Group (CG), launched a successful joint advocacy initiative to delay review of the amendment in favor of a broader, more participative review.