DW Akademie in Tunisia
Setbacks to Tunisia's democratic process are reflected in its declining freedom of the press. Journalists who report critically are facing growing pressure and threats, and arrests of reporters have increased.
These repressions are partly due to Decree 54which was issued in September 2022. The far-reaching cybercrime law gives authorities extensive powers to restrict online freedom of expression. In 2023, Amnesty International knew of some 40 cases against journalists, activists and ordinary citizens, but assumes the number of unreported cases is higher, often resulting in self-censorship. Disinformation and misinformation also play a major role in Tunisia, 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 outlets. Journalists for their part require adequate pay in order to produce quality content.
Our activities
DW Akademie’s projects in Tunisia focus on free and comprehensive access to information and support journalists and media startups in developing innovative, financially viable news and information services.
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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 continue to 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 Tunisand 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
