Support to an Integrated and Sustainable Local Development through the Articulation of Territorial Platforms in Tunisia (ATP Programme 2015-2018) CONTEXT High rate of unemployment, especially among the youth, poor living conditions in interior regions and weak local governance systems were among the main causes that precipitated the Tunisian Revolution in 2010. More than four years have passed and addressing these challenges continue to be a major social demand. Whereas the government will certainly need some time to launch different policy reforms, the population expects immediate measures that improve their quality of life. Following the adoption of the 2014 Constitution, new policies aimed at promoting decentralization and good governance are to be shaped. This represents an opportune moment to introduce and test innovative mechanisms that enhance local democratic governance and strengthen accountability, transparency and inclusive participation. The “Support to an Integrated and Sustainable Local Development through the Articulation of Territorial Platforms in Tunisia” Programme) (ATP Program responds to the needs of enhancing local development and local governance. Furthermore, the ATP Programme has been identified in coherence with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2015-2019) for Tunisia and the UNDP Country Programme Document and Action Plan (CPAP 2015-2019). The CPAP identifies policy reforms and implementation in local democratic governance and development planning (national and subnational) incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as key areas to contribute to. The aim of it is reducing poverty and promoting job creation particularly for youth and women. ATP PROGRAM The ATP Program was formulated within the framework of the ART Initiative (see text box); the Ministry of Development, Investment, and International Cooperation (MDIIC) and the Ministry of Interior (MI) are the main national partners in charge of its coordination.
UNDP-ART INITIATIVE and the TERRITORIAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT The ART Initiative was established in 2005 as an innovative UNDP global programme offering specifics skills and tools to tackle local development challenges and foster local governance. It promotes the territorial approach to development, which is based on multi-sector, multi-partner (public, private, civil society, academia, traditionally excluded groups…), and multi-level (national, regional and local) platforms, where the plurality of actors of a given territory work jointly for the promotion of the sustainable development of that given territory. The ART key numbers: •
10 years of experience
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22 Country Programs supported
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60 Local Economic Development Agencies established and supported
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Over 70 South-South/Triangular cooperation Initiatives
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9 bilateral donors
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12 UN Agencies adhere its approach
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More than 600 decentralized cooperation partners (local authorities, universities, CSOs, NGOs and private sector firms) including 75 regions and 375 municipalities.
Pilot municipalities and regions: - Médenine Region: Beni Khedech and Médenine - Siliana Region: Kesra and Siliana - Mahdia Region: Bou Merdes and Mahdia During a second phase of the programme other regions and municipalities will be targeted The pilot regions have been identified based on regional development indices, the presence of other TFPs in the field and the existence of other UNDP projects