Introduction:

We are pleased to present to our members, supporters, funders, and the public at large this report which summarizes the work of CSID-Tunisia during the past six months.  Between July 2012 and January 2013, CSID-Tunisia organized one national dialogue conference on the constitution, and eight workshops to bridge the gap between the various decisions makers and policy makers on key issues related to the new constitution.

During our National Dialogue Conference, held on July 6-7, 2012, and attended by over 200 participants (from the National Constituent Assembly (ACN), various political parties, and civil society), we identified six controversial and divisive issues on which serious and deep divisions exist or may arise.  We then worked with a German organization (Transform e.V.) to not only train Tunisian facilitators, but also to design and conduct six workshops to try to build compromise and if possible consensus around these issues.  One two and a half day workshop (closed to the media) was organized on each one of these divisive issues, and 30 key decision makers and policy makers (roughly 10 from the Constituent assembly, 10 from political parties, and 10 from civil society) were invited to discuss, debate, negotiate, and arrive at a mutually agreeable solution, using the latest and most sophisticated facilitation methods and techniques (called the KUMI method).

We believe that these workshops were very helpful and constructive in solving these hot issues rather quickly and amicably, and in building mutual understanding, cooperation, and consensus between the various political leaders and parties.  This has proved extremely helpful and beneficial in the constitution writing process and in producing a constitution on which satisfies the needs of most Tunisians.  Naturally, there remains some issues that need further discussions and debates and which probably should be left outside of the constitution since the purpose of a constitution is to determine and solidify the points of agreement and consensus, and not to solve all the political, social, or economic disagreements.

In addition to these workshops, CSID-Tunisia organized about 10 other conferences and symposiums for various political and religious leaders to promote and encourage dialogue, and also organized more than 25 training workshops on "Islam and democracy - Towards an Effective Citizenship".  We believe these activities and projects are laying the foundation for a successful and lasting democracy in Tunisia.  We greatly appreciate the support of the UK-Arab Partnership Fund, which funded most of these activities and also for the support of all our members, donors, participants, and contributors for their willingness - and sometimes eagerness - to work with us towards building a better and brighter future for Tunisia, and for the Arab World.


Radwan A. Masmoudi