DW Akademie in Tunisia

Setbacks to Tunisia's democratic process are reflected in its declining freedom of the press. Reporters Without Borders' 2024 World Press Freedom Index ranks Tunisia at 118 out of 180 countries - a huge drop compared to being ranked at 73 in 2021.

This decline is connected to the authoritarian governance of President Kaïs Saïed. The coup in 2021 abolished the separation of powers and, together with the constitutional referendum results a year later, led to a huge deterioration of working conditions for journalists. Those who report critically face mounting pressure and intimidation from government officials and others loyal to Saïed. Arrests of media professionals have also increased. 

These repressions are partly due to Decree 54 which was issued in September 2022. This far-reaching cybercrime law gives authorities extensive powers to restrict online freedom of expression. In 2023, Amnesty International knew of about forty cases against journalists, activists and ordinary citizens, but assumes the number of unreported cases is higher, often resulting in self-censorship. Disinformation and misinformation in Tunisia also play a major role, especially on social media.  

However, the media remain key players in defending the country’s democratic gains, whether through research and verifying and distributing information, or as role models for how to manage information. 

Still, the country’s media system has been further weakened by the ongoing economic crisis, with non-state media struggling to remain financially viable. This especially affects local non-state media. Journalists for their part need to be adequately paid in order to produce quality content.

Our activities

DW Akademie’s projects in Tunisia focus on free and comprehensive access to information.

Download our latest evaluation report here.

It has launched the Smart Media Accelerator, a project supported by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project  includes the Media Loves Tech incubation program aimed at media startups that combine quality journalism with digital innovation, and receive support until their prototypes are ready for market. The annual program got underway in 2018 in cooperation with Al Khatt, a Tunisian NGO.

The Smart Media Accelarator also offers Media Parcours which supports established media in their digital transformation process and in developing new business models and  journalistic formats. Candidates submit proposals which are then selected by an independent jury.

Together with Lectful, a technology partner, the accelorator program also provides freely accessible online courses and master classesaimed at Tunisian media professionals and media managers.

An online course launched in 2023 focuses on science and health journalism and is aimed at Arab-speaking journalists in the MENA region. Called "Dalilak Liloloum"  ("Your guide to science") the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is for specialized journalists wanting to extend their expertise and practical skills at their own pace. Also funded by the BMZ, the Pop Up Think Tank Tunis: A crisis lab for the environmental cause was developed in cooperation with the Carthage Health Association, a Tunisian NGO, and includes online events for networking events on health topics.

As part of the EU project "Tunisie 360° - On en parle!" (2023-2026), DW Akademie provides financial support and consulting to selected media and NGOs in producing journalistic formats on social and economic issues. AMAJ, the project partner, is a southern Tunisian NGO behind Radio Nefzawa in Kebili. Its role is to organize dialogue formats for southern Tunisian radio stations (Caravanes de débat) using a mobile radio studio.

DW Akademie is also part of a European consortium (Programme d'appui aux médias en Tunesie II) and with EU funding supports digital innovations in the media sector as well as the development of new business models for private and community media.

Also focusing on networking and dialogue is "Parler Environnement," a project (2023-2024) funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and aimed at journalists and staff of environmental NGOs from Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritania. The project supports regional research as well as the production and distribution of articles relating to the environment and climate.

The project builds on the Pop-Up Think Tank Tunis and in early 2023 hosted training sessions, roundtable discussions and cultural events on science journalism to help solve the environmental and climate crisis. The think tank also offered a co-working space as a physical space for dialogue.  

DW Akademie has been working with local project partners in Tunisia since 2011 and in 2013 opened an office in Tunis. DW Akademie and its country program were officially registered in Tunisia in 2021 

Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), German Federal Foreign Office (AA), European Union (EU)

Program Director: Vera Möller-Holtkamp 

Locations: Tunis, Kebili, Medinine, Kasserine, Bizerte and others

Partners: Al Khatt, Radio Nefzawa, Lectful 

Focus: Qualification, media viability, civic participation