ELECT – Elections libres et crédibles en Tunisie

Project completed

The project supports the orderly conduct of the 2019 Electoral process in Tunisia (legislative and presidential elections). It aims at ensuring International and African observation missions and enabling local NGOs to co-lead the process. This short term project completes and facilitates Switzerland’s support to democratic processes in the field of accountability and citizen participation since 2011.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tunisia
Governance
Human rights
Elections
Democratic participation and civil society
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
15.08.2019 - 30.06.2021
CHF  1’330’000
Background After 8 years of political transition, the 2019 electoral cycle is crucial to assert the credibility of institutions arising from the 2014 constitution.  After years of struggle against external pressures and internal difficulties, the High Independent Authority for Elections ISIE performed well in the organization of the 2018 municipal elections. This year’s process however will stretch capacities to their maximum. Switzerland’s and the International Community’s support to the Electoral process, including the current intermediary phase of the Swiss Elections Program (PSPET) are meant to support the institutional strengthening of electoral institutions. International observation missions and national civil society actors are crucial to legitimize the electoral processes.
Objectives Contribute to the consolidation of democratic governance in Tunisia by ensuring the orderly, credible and representative election of a new president in September and a new legislature in October 2019.
Target groups
  • Direct beneficiaries: Electoral authorities, national and international observers and national civil society organizations and directly targeted electorate groups of women, youth and other vulnerable groups.
  • Indirect beneficiaries: The public at large, journalists, constitutional bodies and different Ministries, civil society organizations.
Medium-term outcomes
  • Credible, trusted, International and African observation efforts shape perceptions of key domestic and International stakeholders about the integrity of the electoral process, asserting the legitimacy of institutions.
  • National civil society are in a better position to reach out to voters, assess, witness  and contribute to the plurality, credibility and impartiality of the 2019 Tunisian electoral process.
Results

Expected results:  

  • OS1: The quality and the credibility of the electoral process throughout its different rounds is impartially and professionally assessed by joint efforts utilizing short-term and long-term accredited observers of International and African non-governmental observation missions.
  • OS2: At least ten Tunisian CSOs are technically better equipped to provide quality voters’ mobilization (women, men and other vulnerable groups) and education services, effective citizen election observation missions in a professional and orderly manner, in coordination with the ISIE and other national and international efforts.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO


Other partners
  • OS1: The Carter Center (TCC) and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) will be contracted for their respective missions and the joint operations.
  • OS2: Two to three implementing organizations will be contracted to administer the funds after a call for proposals among the members of the ISIE’s Elections’ Coordination Group.
Coordination with other projects and actors
  • OS1 is cofunded with USAID for TCC and Sweden for EISA.
  • OS2 will be complementary to direct CSOs support funded by USAID and Canada in particular.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’330’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’256’079
Project phases

Phase 1 15.08.2019 - 30.06.2021   (Completed)