The project aims to boost independent, professional information and debate for the Tunisian people, especially in the interior of the country. It takes into consideration the need to respond quickly in time for historic elections that will shape the country's future in an environment where new broadcast licenses are frozen and where the state broadcast network is the only one with a public service mandate and broad coverage in the interior. These objectives will be achieved through: (1) Creating an independent network of correspondents in the most marginalized region of the interior; (2) Strengthening the capacity of the regional radio station "Radio Gafsa" which reaches 1.4 million potential listeners; (3) Broadcasting through new media (internet) to reach the youth. - Overall goal: Radio Gafsa -the regional radio station broadcasting also to Kasserine, Sidibouzid, Tozeur and Kebili in Tunisia's marginalized interior -develops into a professional public service radio station that responds to the interests of its potentially 1.4 million listeners.

The project in brief

Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Credit area	Development cooperation
Project partners	Contract partner Swiss Non-profit Organisation Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’475’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’514’888
Project phases	Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 31.12.2014   (Completed)

Further technical details

• Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS
  Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Information and communication technology (ICT) Information and communication technology (ICT)
  Cross-cutting topics	Human rights The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes. The project also supports partner organisation improvements
  Type of support	Official development assistance (ODA)
  Type of collaboration	Bilateral cooperation
  Finance type	Aid grant
  Aid Type	Project and programme contribution
  Tied/untied aid	Untied aid
  Project number	7F08118