Through the Ma3an project, FHI 360 is working to strengthen civic engagement and economic empowerment for young people across 33 Tunisian communities in 15 governorates to drive progress toward sustainable, inclusive development. Meaning “Together” in Arabic, Ma3an equips young people with the skills and connections they need to collaborate with key stakeholders from the local government, civil society and private sector to address community-specific priorities and create a lasting foundation for social cohesion and prosperity.
Ma3an furthers locally led development by implementing activities primarily through 227 youth-led and youth-serving organizations — civil society organizations, youth centers and school clubs — with existing and long-standing commitments to supporting young people. FHI 360 has also partnered with international organizations, IREX and Search for Common Ground, and Tunisian partners, Institut Arabe des Chefs d’Entreprises, Jeunesse Sans Frontières, and the government of Tunisia’s National Counterterrorism Commission (CNLCT) and Ministries of Education, Youth and Sport, and Culture.
Since 2018, Ma3an has mobilized a robust network of youth leaders, established safe spaces where young people can thrive, and equipped national, regional and community stakeholders with the tools needed to meet the evolving needs of Tunisian youth. To date, the project has achieved the following goals:
- Established a Youth Leader Network connecting 11,417 young Tunisians to skills-building and community leadership opportunities.
- Renovated and equipped 223 safe spaces in 52 local institutions that serve 35,599 youth, including girls, young people with disabilities, and young people from low-income households.
- Enhanced the service delivery capacity of 227 local youth-serving organizations through improvements in gender equality, social inclusion and activities to increase youth employability.
- Strengthened the capacity of 48 local representatives of Tunisia’s CNLCT to engage with youth and community stakeholders, resulting in 54 locally led initiatives to prevent violent extremism.
- In partnership with the Ministry of Education, piloted revised civic education programs at 68 middle and high schools, and supported teachers at 100 schools to run youth community service clubs through which nearly 2,000 students have led projects.
Ma3an youth: The Jawaher Chtobri success story
