THE BLOG

10
Jul

2018 Municipal Elections Media Center

CHALLENGE

Partner with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) to prepare and execute the Media Center for Tunisia’s May 6 municipal elections.

SOLUTION

Coordinate between suppliers, IFES, and ISIE for all Media Center activities prior to and during its opening to the public. Manage graphic design, screen management, production, tri-lingual mass mailing and SMS communication with journalists and media partners, space design, and event staffing for workshops, press conferences, and information desks.

RESULT

Over the course of one week, more than 1,200 media personnel from online, radio, TV, and print participated in Media Center activities including the opening ceremony, 14 press conferences, 3 workshops, and the announcements of the final results. 32 SMS and email campaigns secured involvements from individuals in government, civil society, international organizations, and various public institutions. The majority of the Media Center’s activities were accompanied by live translation and sign language interpretation.

10
Jul

Dez El Bab

CHALLENGE

Increase voter participation in Tunisia’s 2018 municipal elections while highlighting young artistic talent.

SOLUTION

Partner with Mourakiboun and Democracy International to host a day-time festival that is open to the public and encourages greater voter turnout through music and art.

RESULT

Multiple high-profile music groups and public figures such as Hatem Karoui engaged an audience of over 500 people on Habib Bourguiba Avenue for five hours filled with speeches, poetry, musical performances, and a live 3D mapping spectacle, all of which encouraged high participation rates for the May 6 municipal elections.

05
Apr

Startup Act 2018

CHALLENGE

Convene key players in Tunisia’s digital economy sector to discuss innovation and economic growth in Tunisia.

SOLUTION

Bring together entrepreneurs, civil society actors, parliamentarians, and President of the Government Youssef Chahed for an interactive panel and discussion about the future of Tunisia’s digital economy sector, in partnership with the Tunisian Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies.

RESULT

Expert panelists from government, the private sector, and civil society discussed the current and future state of entrepreneurship and innovation in Tunisia, particularly the Tunisian Startup Act. The event, hosted at the Bardo Museum, was streamed live to maximize audience and allow for both on and off-line interactions with the panelists.

29
Nov

Coworking Summit 2017

CHALLENGE

Support the work of coworking and collaborative spaces as trendsetters, innovators, and community builders across the African continent.

SOLUTION

Gather the founders and managers of spaces to expand their network throughout Africa, position their spaces at the forefront of regional and international trends, and demonstrate their accomplishments to creative and business communities.

RESULT

Connect over 250 participants from 26 countries through the “Future of African Cities,” hosted October 18-20 in Cairo, Egypt, for three days of collaboration sessions, workshops, trendwatching panels, and networking events.

31
Oct

Afkar Fellows

CHALLENGE

Increase the impact and visibility of unconventional leaders in the MENA region that are working to build movements, challenge norms, and cultivate safe spaces for alternative thought.

SOLUTION

Select 14 creative individuals from Western Sahara, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt to articulate their personal vision and professional needs; support them remotely and in-person over one year.

RESULT

Provided personalized, longterm support programs for each fellow including expert media and fundraising assistance from our international partners, as well as financial assistance for either equipment, exploration, or collaboration between fellows.

31
Oct

3alli Soutek 2017

CHALLENGE

Empower and support young Tunisians from around the country to develop sustainable technology solutions to social issues.

SOLUTION

Support teams of young leaders over one year to design and build civic technology projects.

RESULT

Five promising teams were selected through ‘civic tech’ hack-a-thons hosted in Djerba, Kef, and Tunis. Over the year, these teams received trainings, career coaching, one-on-one mentorship, and media support; they participated in collaborative workshops, pitching competitions, and networking events.

20
Sep

Omidyar Network Leadership Forum Global Workshop

CHALLENGE

Convene leaders from developing democracies to support individual capacity building and the strengthening of this global community of practitioners.

SOLUTION

Host the Omidyar Network Leadership Forum Global Workshop in Tunis, which brings together alumni from Stanford’s Draper Hills Fellowship, Stanford faculty, and key influencers in Tunisia for a 3-day conference comprised of academic sessions, workshops, TED-style talks, guest lectures, and site visits. Many sessions were streamed live for a global audience.

RESULT

Participants acquired new approaches to promote democratic change in their home countries through networking, practicing new strategies, and witnessing Tunisia’s unique democratic transition.

08
Mar

Mubadirat Media Campaign

CHALLENGE

Inspire and empower young women in North Africa to take the initiative to start a business and become entrepreneurs.

SOLUTION
“Mubadirat,” a trilingual media campaign that targets aspiring women entrepreneurs through inspiring content, models for success, and resources to open a business or launch a project. Mubadirat also hosted events and debates on women entrepreneurs in Tunisia and Egypt.

RESULT
Mubadirat produced a compelling video series of successful women entrepreneurs in Egypt and Tunisia, facilitated extensive media coverage of women entrepreneurs in the regional media, and raised awareness about gender-based issues in entrepreneurship.

13
Jan

Coworking Summit 2016

CHALLENGE

Support and sustain the growing coworking movement and collaborative economy in the Mediterranean region through empowering the founders and managers of coworking, innovation, and art spaces.

SOLUTION

Host the second annual Coworking Summit in Djerba, Tunisia, which brought together over 50 participants from 14 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and North America. Over three days, this summit provided space managers and founders with the opportunity to connect with their peers from across the region, learn from shared experiences, and participate in tailored capacity-building activities.

RESULT

This summit strengthened the Southern Mediterranean regional creative economy, fostered stronger connections and networks between participants, and produced initiatives for greater collaboration amongst creative spaces and innovative changemakers.

13
Oct

Investment Matchmaking

CHALLENGE

Tunisian entrepreneurs struggle to access the capital needed to grow and scale their startups.

SOLUTION

Connect promising startups to regional and international investors through a two-day matchmaking, pitch, and networking event.

RESULT

Build relationships between Tunisian startups and investors to facilitate financing, mentorship, and skill development.