Forward Thinking hold roundtables in Tunis, 23rd - 26th February 2016

Forward Thinking travelled to Tunisia to organise the final roundtable workshops of our pilot project supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on the growing gap between young political activists and Tunisia's political system and exploring how this might be addressed. We held a total of three roundtables over the course of this visit, bringing together young Tunisians from across the political spectrum with diverse stakeholders including with representatives of the international community and members of the Assembly of People's Representatives.The first roundtable focused on the issue of youth entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on identifying the challenges that prevent young people from launching their own businesses. Obstacles identified included the regulatory burden, a lack of financing opportunities, and a working culture which prioritises the perceived safety and security of state employment above all.       The second roundtable brought the group of activists together with representatives from the German Embassy (including the Deputy Head of Mission and the First Secretary) to discuss the role of the international community in Tunisia and how it is supporting the country's transition. What followed was an in-depth debate on the role of the private sector and how financial support from the international community is utilised, with the individuals from the Embassy clarifying how money is dispersed and monitored.The final roundtable brought a small group of activists into the Tunisian parliament (the Assembly of People's Representatives) to meet with deputies to discuss how to address the disengagement of many young people from the political system. Participants felt that failures in communication were partly responsible for driving this disengagement, and explored how to improve channels for dialogue between the ARP and wider society.        In addition to the roundtable workshops Forward Thinking held several bilateral meetings with senior politicians, including with the Minister of Social Affairs, to discuss the current situation in the country.