Promoting integrity and preventing corruption

Context

Democratic transition in Tunisia is stagnating. Furthermore, the country’s economic situation is unstable. Reform bottlenecks in public authorities and the political sphere are fostering problems such as widespread corruption. Tunisia has been unable to reduce these problems since beginning the process of democratisation in 2011. In addition to everyday corruption, political and economic corruption, in particular, are causing significant harm to the overall economy and society.

Objective

Democratic development in Tunisia has been expanded and stabilised. There is a culture of incorruptibility and integrity in the public sector, civil society and the private sector – especially among young Tunisians.

Approach

The project involves actors from government, the private sector and civil society. It also works with central government and communities. The Tunisian Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle, MEFP) is the lead executing agency and first implementation partner.

To contribute to effective corruption prevention in Tunisia, the project performs the following activities:

1. Developing a culture of integrity among young Tunisians: Through civil society engagement, the project promotes the development of a culture of integrity among young people. This includes dialogue opportunities, cultural offerings and information materials, for example.

2. Strengthening compliance standards in the start-up sector: This young and dynamic sector is a key driving force behind the country’s economic development. The project therefore focuses on playing an active role in adapting the legal framework for start-ups and also on training and support opportunities to integrate rule-based behaviour into the sector in accordance with standards and norms.

3. Economic integrity: To prevent corruption in the private sector effectively, the project promotes cooperation between companies and professional associations in networks. Moreover, it encourages companies to take voluntary measures to improve their internal compliance with anti-corruption rules.

Last update: August 2023