Tunisia CVE Prison Project

Narrative Quarterly Report

Award number: DSH-4000000984 Reporting Period:

October 1 – December 31, 2019

Contact: Hilde Deman Bouraoui Ouni Country Director Senior Project Manager Search for Common Ground-Tunisia Search for Common Ground-Tunisia 3, Rue Florence, Mutuelleville, Tunis 3, Rue Florence, Mutuelleville, Tunis Tel +216 98 743 803, [email protected] Tel +216 98 743 805, [email protected]

1 Acronyms

Search Search for Common Ground Search-Tunisia Search for Common Ground-Tunisia GoT Government of Tunisia DGPR Tunisian Directorate-General for Prisons and Re-education DCAF Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces CDC Child Detention Center CDIS Centre de Défense et d’Intégration Sociale CSO Civil society organization NGO Non-governmental organization INGO International non-governmental organization ISSAT International Security Sector Advisory Team CT Commission National Commission on Counter-Terrorism VE Violent Extremism VEP Violent Extremist Prisoner VEO Violent Extremist Offenders RFTF Returning foreign terrorist fighter M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MoJ Ministry of Justice ToRs Terms of Reference

Contents

Acronyms 2 Executive Summary 4 Activities of this Quarter 6 1. Four two-day observation sessions in the CDCs and the closing ceremony of the pilot conflict transformation training program 6 2. Two five-day training workshops for 60 representatives of the prison administration, prisons, and CDCs 9 3. First six five-day training workshops for the prison administration, prisons, and CDCs in the field of management and rehabilitation of the VEPs in respect of Human Rights standards 12 4. First Training of Trainers on Management and Rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs in Respect of International Human Rights Standards (December 9-13, 2019) 15 5. The sixth meeting of the coordination mechanism (December 18) 17 6. Support for micro-grantees 18 Impact 19 Challenges and Lessons Learned 20 Next Steps 20

Executive Summary

On December 4, 2017, Search for Common Ground-Tunisia (Search-Tunisia) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department signed a Grant Decision to fund a second phase of the prison project implemented by Search-Tunisia from December 1, 2015, to October 31, 2017. The overall objective of this second phase is to prevent engagement with violent ideologies amongst adult and young Tunisian detainees during and after their period of detention through improved rehabilitation and reintegration programming. This objective will be achieved through the following specific outcomes:

1. Enhance the capacity of the staff of the Directorate-General for Prisons and Re-education (DGPR), of prisons, and of Child Detention Centers (CDCs) to manage, rehabilitate, and reintegrate adult and young detainees, including violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and imprisoned returning foreign terrorist fighters (RFTFs), in line with international human rights standards for treatment of detainees. 2. Increase cooperation and coordination between state and non-state stakeholders in efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate detainees, including violent extremist prisoners and returning foreign terrorist fighters.

Activities for this second phase will revolve around the rehabilitation and reintegration of adult detainees and juveniles in prisons and CDCs based on international human rights standards. This will include a particular reference to the management and rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs in prisons, which has been identified as a priority by the DGPR and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) during the project’s first phase. These themes will be tackled through four main activities with expected results.

1. Capacity building of the personnel of the DGPR and of 27 Tunisian prisons and 5 CDCs. Expected results: At the level of the DGPR: 1.1. Two five-day training workshops completed (a total of ten days of training) and 60 staff trained (with 30 per training workshop); 1.2. One Guide produced for the management and rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs; 1.3. Nine five-day training sessions completed (a total of 45 days of training) and a total of 270 staff trained (with 30 per training session); 1.4. Two regional study visits, one to Morocco and one to Jordan or Saudi Arabia; and 1.5. Three five-day training of trainers completed (a total of 15 days of training) and 54 trainers capacitated (18 per ToT). At the level of CDCs:

1.6. One five-day training program on conflict transformation completed (a total of five days of training) and 40 participants trained; 1.7. One five-day training of trainers completed (a total of five days of training) and ten trainers certified; 1.8. Five two-day training workshops completed (a total of ten days of training) for 100 detained children (girls and boys) between the ages of 13 and 18 (with 20 per each CDC); and 1.9. One study visit to the Netherlands for CDC directors. 2. Dialogues and workshops to promote engagement and synergies between governmental and non-governmental stakeholders (including business and private enterprises) around issues related to the rehabilitation, reintegration, and socio-economic reinsertion of former detainees. Expected results: 2.1. One national workshop on the management, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of VEPs; 2.2. One national retreat on societal engagement in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the former prisoners including VEPs; 2.3. One national dialogue forum on juvenile offenders; and 2.4. One national dialogue on the rehabilitation and sustainable socio-economic reintegration of all categories of inmates, including VEPs and RFTFs. 3. The development of locally contextualized content that will support the management, rehabilitation, and reintegration of vulnerable categories of detainees, including VEPs, RFTFs, and children released from CDCs, in respect of international human rights standards and practices regarding detainees. Expected results: 3.1. One training on the management, rehabilitation, and reintegration of VEPs, which will enable the production of a draft manual on managing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating this category of inmates in Tunisia’s specific context. 4. Micro-grants to support initiatives by civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector actors, and media in the fields of rehabilitation, reintegration, and the socio-economic reinsertion of adult and juvenile detainees. Expected results: 4.1. Eight Tunisian NGOs and two local media outlets will benefit from a small grant (with an average of €5000 per grantee) in order to support programs for the rehabilitation and reintegration of former detainees (including juveniles).

Search-Tunisia believes that when the capacities of the DGPR are strengthened through staff training, dialogue sessions covering these themes, improved communication, and synergy with

5 relevant stakeholders, this current administration will be able to 1) improve their capacities regarding these concepts, 2) identify both main challenges and opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, and 3) deliver improved rehabilitation and reintegration programming that is in line with international human rights norms and standards.

In this reporting period, Search-Tunisia completed the following activities: 1) finalized the observation sessions in the CDCs and organized a closing ceremony in the Center of El Mourouj (the second day of the fourth observation session); 2) organized two training workshops for the DGPR and CDC senior officials on management and rehabilitation of VEPs in October-November; 3) organized the first six training sessions on the same topic for prisons and CDCs personnel in November-December; 4) organized the first ToT session for DGPR, prison, and CDC personnel in Mahdia in December; 5) supported the CSO micro-grantees to facilitate the implementation of their micro-grant activities; 6) organized the sixth meeting of the coordination mechanism for implementers in the prison system; and, 7) coordinated with the DGPR regarding relevant ideas for a potential third phase of this project.

Activities of this Quarter

1. Four two-day observation sessions in the CDCs and the closing ceremony of the pilot conflict transformation training program A) Four two-day observation sessions in the CDCs of Mjez El Beb, Sidi El Heni, Souk Jedid and Mourouj

After the first two days of observation in the CDC of Mghira (the only center dedicated to girls in Tunisia, located in the capital city of Tunis), Search-Tunisia continued to support and observe the progress of the remaining trainings in the centers of Mjez El Beb, Sidi El Heni, Souk Jedid, and Mourouj. The external expert/trainer continued to be part of the Search team for these support and observation missions (with the exception of the observation in Mourouj due to her other previous professional engagements).

As it was the case in the Mghira CDC (Sept 26-27), the primary objective of these observations was to observe the team of two trainers (who benefited from the ToT in conflict transformation held in the previous quarter) providing simplified training for children in each center. The aim was to strengthen the CDC staff’s capacities and skills acquired during the pilot training and the ToT session and put them to use in the preparation and facilitation of the two-day trainings for the children in the CDCs, and to give feedback to the trainers. Through these trips to the four different regions of Tunisia (from north to the Sahel, to the center of the country), Search was also able to provide logistical support to the CDCs through the purchase of some office supplies, as per CDC administration’s request.

In the organization of these observation sessions, Search-Tunisia aligned with the following requests of the CDC administration:

● These trainings had to be held in the CDC spaces themselves and no outside space would be allowed, including hotels. For security reasons, the courts would not allow children to leave the CDC facilities. ● Direct contact (especially outside the training room) with these children is not allowed during the observation session. ● Observation of the training should be limited to observing the course of the session, assisting the trainers with methodological issues, and informing the DGPR of any comments or suggestions for improvement. ● Trainings would be carried out in a continuous manner. Each week, the Search team and the expert will conduct observations. ● The trainings would take place in the five centers (one center for girls and four centers for boys) and a diverse group of 100 children would participate in these trainings, according to the dates provided.

The table below provides the details of the four observation sessions conducted:

Center Covered areas Dates Participants Trainers (all under 18 years old)

10 2 (1 M/1 F) Center of Mjez El Beb Bizerte, Jendouba, Oct 3-4 (all Male) (Governorate of Beja) Kef, Siliana, and sometimes Tunis

10 2 males Center of Sidi El Heni Mahdia, Kairouan, Oct 10-11 (all Male) (Governorate of Sousse) and Monastir

10 2 males Center of Souk Jedid Sidi Bouzid, Gafsa, Oct 24-25 (all Male) (Governorate of Sidi Sfax, Gabes, Tozeur, Bouzid) Tataouine, Medenine, and Kebili

Center of Mourouj Greater Tunis Oct 31-Nov 10 2 (1 M/1 F) (Tunis) (Ariana, Ben Arous, 1 (all Male) and other governorates

Called to respect the centers’ procedural rules as well as other activities, visits by the families, and calls for meetings with the representatives of the children’s judge, the eight trainers were staff responsible either for psycho-educational assistance or for social activities in the centers. On the basis of this restriction, the trainers prepared a program of two sessions per each day (three hours a day divided into two sessions) based on the following aspects:

● An icebreaker activity with the young people in the presence of the Search-Tunisia team and the expert (in addition to a representative of the administration) which enabled the ten young people who attended the training to be at ease and feel comfortable; ● A subject for debate with the children: violence and its impact on children (in Sidi El Heni), violence and drug use (Mjez Elbeb), the virtues of debating (Mourog), transforming negative vibes into positive ones (Souk Jedid); ● Games and exercises of non-violent communication and simulation of a conflict management situation; and ● Free time for the participants to say to what extent this training was beneficial to them and especially how they will behave with their friends in the center.

It should be noted that during each observation, the Director of each center made a point of attending themselves at the start and end of each day, as they wanted to accompany the Search- Tunisia team in the various training workshops that exist in the centers.

Generally speaking, the observations were all conducted under very friendly conditions without any restrictions except for those established from the outset by the CDC administration. The children’s selection was mainly based on their level of education (a minimum level of education required) and their regular behavior in the center (only the more disciplined children). It is important to highlight that the nature of the offense committed that led them to be in these institutions was not taken into account when choosing the participants.

B) The closing ceremony of the program

As the DGPR wanted the observation days in Mourouj center to also be a closing ceremony for the program, the eight trainers were invited and officially thanked by the Director General of Prisons and Rehabilitation in appreciation of their work and for continuing to motivate the rest of the staff.

The closing ceremony took place in the Mourouj center on November 1 following an official approval of the Director General who commissioned the Director of all the CDCs and two of his staff to represent him in this activity and to thank Search-Tunisia for all the work done with the CDC personnel.

2. Two five-day training workshops for 60 representatives of the prison administration, prisons, and CDCs

Training Program on Management Total Participants Participants Participants and Rehabilitation of VEPs and participants from from CDCs from RFTFs in Respect of International Prisons Administration Human Rights standards

First five-day workshop (Oct 28-Nov 1/ 25 21 1 3 Hammamet) (23M, 2F)

Second five-day workshop (Nov 4-Nov 21 17 1 3 8/ Hammamet) (20M, 1F)

TOTAL 46 38 2 6 (43M, 3F)

The training program on Management and Rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs is the second and most important component of this second phase of the project. It is a program that is expected to build on the previous pilot training conducted during the first phase of the project.1 It is also a program that has been designed to target senior officials of prisons and CDCs, the general prison administration in Tunis, and the CDCs who are mostly beneficiaries of the pilot training.

The main objectives of this program, designed to target 60 participants (28 high-level senior members of staff of the DGPR , 27 prison directors, and 5 directors of CDCs), included: ● Increasing understanding of the major challenges of managing this specific category of prisoners in continuity with what was discussed during the pilot training; ● Being able to analyze these challenges and approach them not only from a security perspective but also in relation to the challenges/opportunities provided by human rights and other related standards; ● Knowing and discussing the main good practices that have been defined in the main memoranda developed primarily in the framework of the work of the Global Counter-

1 In 2017, 100 participants from prisons and CDCs received initial training on these topics. A ToT for 15 participants selected by the DGPR followed this initial training. 9

Terrorism Forum (GCTF) (that of Rome, of Rabat, the Maltese principles, the Mandela Rules, etc.); and ● Being able to develop operational axes and pillars for a guide in the field of management, rehabilitation, and reintegration of prisoners of violent extremism including RFTFs.

To ensure maximum quality for the realization of these two technical workshops, Search-Tunisia contracted two international experts in the field of P/CVE from Palestine and Jordan have vast experience working in prisons in Tunisia, Jordan, and Libya, who are registered in Search’s internal roster of experts in the field of P/CVE and work in/with the penitentiary system.

Through constant coordination with the DGPR, Search-Tunisia was able to ensure the participation in the two training workshops of 46 participants in total. The long duration of the workshop (five days) represented an obstacle in reaching the desired 60 participants. This was the case in particular for prison directors and senior managers working in specific prisons, such as those in the regions on the borders with Libya and Algeria. However, the huge number and importance of the topics and themes to be covered did not allow to reduce the training duration.

The training program alternated between intensive theoretical and practical sessions. It was jointly led by the two experts who distributed tasks between them according to their strengths. The program focused on the following main themes: ● An initial introduction to the various concepts and themes of the training, especially the functional links that can exist between them within the framework of the prison system; ● Technical presentations of the various memoranda, good practices, standards, principles and rules in this field; ● An integral part of the work on the guide and the development of its main pillars and axes; and ● Practical recommendations for next steps in relation to the major challenges facing the prison system.

Presentation of Good Practices in the Field

The two experts presented international standards and principles developed as good practices that states can adopt or use as a basis to manage specific categories of detainees such as VEPs and RFTFs.

The main objective of these sessions was the presentation of the main standards for this field: the Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders, the Rabat Memorandum on Good Practices for Effective Counterterrorism in the Criminal Justice Sector, Malta Principles for Reintegrating Returning Foreign Terrorists Fighters (RFTFs), a reminder on the Mandela Rules, and the UNODC Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence in Prisons.

The methodology included presenting these documents to the participants, explaining the logic behind their development, and engaging them in a common reflection on the challenges of adopting and developing national documents building on these international standards.

Development of pillars and main axes of a practical guide in the field of management and rehabilitation of VEPs One of the main objectives of these sessions was to allow the participants to acquire knowledge and have a space to discuss about good practice and standards, enabling them to work on the development of the axes or a methodology for a practical guide in the field of management and rehabilitation of VEPs. The two experts worked on the following aspects:

● The identification of the guide’s objectives: The main rationale behind this session was to ensure that the development of any guide would not be an end in itself but would guide towards the achievement of objectives. These objectives need to be clearly identified and linked to a more strategic goal.

● The development of the guide: In this exercise, a clear limitation emerged in relation to the tools and the methodology, which were both lacking. Almost all participants pointed out that knowing their goals is not enough and training people on how to work with scientific tools for the organization of different activities in prisons and break them into operational plans is still highly needed. They felt the production of a guide is not enough since it will remain too theoretical. However, the mere fact of going through the process of trying to create a framework to set objectives was beneficial, regardless of the difficulty of achieving them in reality.

Evaluation of the Training The trainer developed a pre- and post-test to be distributed among the participants at the beginning and end of the training in order to evaluate changes in knowledge of the themes covered by the training.

The participants in the first training (25 participants) conducted in Hammamet (October 28 - November 1) showed a significant increase in their knowledge and skills after receiving the training. While in the pre-test the average score was about 5.2 out of 17, in the post-test the Search team registered an increase in the score to 12.8 out of 17, i.e. a 41% increase in total (see graph below).

The participants in the second training held also in Hammamet (November 4-8) completed the same pre and post-test and an average increase of about 35% in total was registered (see below -- 6.5 out of 17 in the pre-test and 12.33 out of 17 in the post-test).

3. First six five-day training workshops for the prison administration, prisons, and CDCs in the field of management and rehabilitation of the VEPs in respect of Human Rights standards

Training Program on Management Total Participants Participants Participants and Rehabilitation of VEPs and participants from from from CDCs Prisons Administration

RFTFs in Respect of International Human Rights Standards

First six five-day workshops from a total of nine five-day training workshops 169 133 18 18 for 270 staff in total on managing and (out of 180 rehabilitating VEPs and RFTFs in the expected) prison context (151M, 18F)

After the end of the first two trainings for senior officials of the DGPR, Search-Tunisia began from the end of November, 2019, a series of nine training workshops in the same field intended for middle officials and staff of central administration, prisons, and juvenile rehabilitation centers.

The nine trainings (for an expected population of 270 people) have been designed to cover all the existing 27 prisons, the 5 CDCs, and the central administration. Moreover, they intended to guarantee a link with the knowledge and tools acquired by the senior officials of the central administration, prisons, or CDCs during their training program.

The first four training sessions were given by the expert who conducted the first training in a logic of continuity and to build on the knowledge and information collected from senior managers on the nature of the links and hierarchical relationships they maintain with their staff.

The other two training workshops were delivered by another expert who will also facilitate the three remaining trainings as well as the two remaining ToTs in February-March 2020). This was the same trainer who already delivered the conflict transformation training program for the CDCs.

The following table provides details on the six training workshops held in this quarter:

Date Location Regions Covered Male Female

First 11-14 Nov Tunis Tunis, Zaghouen, 27 2 training Manouba (Women’s Prison), Bizerte

Second 19-22 Nov Tunis Tunis, Zaghouen, 27 3 training Manouba (Women’s Prison), Bizerte

Third 25-28 Nov Tunis Tunis, Zaghouen, 22 4 training Manouba (Women’s Prison), Bizerte

Fourth 2-5 Dec Tunis Tunis, Zaghouen, 23 3 training Manouba (Women’s Prison), Bizerte

Fifth 16-19 Dec Tabarka Jendouba, Beja, Kef, 25 4 training (Governorate Siliana of Jendouba)

Sixth 23-26 Dec Tabarka Jendouba, Beja, Kef, 27 2 training Siliana

TOTAL 151 18

Both trainers were in contact in order to make sure they provided the different participants with the same materials related to the management, rehabilitation and reintegration of VEPs in accordance with international norms and standards of Human Rights (Rome Memorandum, Malta Principles, Mandela Principles, etc). The only difference was the facilitation methods adopted by each trainer, each one having their own styles to deliver information and manage the training sessions.

This first round of the nine training workshops had the primary objective of ensuring a “simplified” process to learn about standards, techniques, best practices, and guiding principles in the field of management and rehabilitation of VEPs. The targeted beneficiaries were people who are more in contact with the daily life of prisons and CDCs and who, as part of a solid security approach, are used to proceeding by means which do not necessarily consider the aspects of mediation, conflict transformation, and, above all, an understanding of the various constraints of all the components of the system — including the prisoners themselves.

In terms of participant mobilization, the DGPR made an extraordinary effort to ensure a mix of participants coming from prisons and centers in four geographical areas: the prisons and CDCs of the Greater Tunis region (including Bizerte and Zaghouane), the North West region (closer to the Algerian border), the Central region (including the prisons and CDCs located in the Sahel – to be covered in the next quarter), and finally those of the Southern region (closer to Libyan border – to be covered in the next quarter). The majority of participants worked in prisons, with an average of five CDC and three DGPR participants per training. The average participation in each training varied between 25-29 participants, a fairly respectable average when taking into account the internal constraints of the prison environment and the significant training duration.

In terms of methodology and training content, the two experts adopted a simplified approach tailored to a population with a relatively low level of technical knowledge of the themes. More than 80% of participants were prison guards who work on aspects related to prison security and have only received the basic security training provided by the prison and reeducation school. More

14 than 90% of the participants had never followed before any training similar to the one offered by Search (on the development of a guide and methodological aspects).

The results of the pre-test confirm for all participants a very low level of technical knowledge: almost 80% of the participants did not have any knowledge of the memoranda, the principles, or the internal technical procedures and aspects. It was clear that the majority of the participants focused on one priority: the securitization of the detainees and the prison staff.

As it was the case for senior officials, the participants believed that the standards, good practices, or guiding principles that exist in the various documents presented during the training sessions are not something easily applied in Tunisia. When the experts or the Search-Tunisia team clarified that these principles or standards are just a model or good practice, participants still believed that the intrinsic problems of the penitentiary system (prisons and CDCs) do not allow to be inspired by these models.

4. First Training of Trainers on Management and Rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs in Respect of International Human Rights Standards (December 9-13, 2019)

Training Program on Management Participants Participants Participants TOTAL and Rehabilitation of VEPs and from Prisons from CDCs from the RFTFs in Respect of International administration Human Rights standards

First five-day Training of Trainers on Management and Rehabilitation of VEPs and RFTFs in Respect of 12 2 1 15 International Human Rights (11M, 4F) Standards (Mahdia, December 9-13, 2019)

After the end of all the training workshops (the first two training courses for senior officials and the nine training courses for mid-level management), the project planned the organization of five- day trainings of trainers (ToT) for 54 prison staff in total (a total of three five-day ToT). The plan was that two members of staff selected by facilitators and Search-Tunisia staff from each of the 27 target prisons would receive additional training on facilitation tools related to the management and rehabilitation of VEPs and imprisoned RFTFs.

As it was the case for the first phase, the DGPR did not follow this logic of selection: they asked for an extended list from the experts and the Search-Tunisia team to draw inspiration from it. For this first ToT held on December 9-13, the DGPR opted for involving eight senior officials, five

15 mid-level managers, and two high-level officials (not directors) from the CDCs. Only three of the fifteen participants had previously benefited from a ToT, while the remaining twelve were not really familiar with the concept of ToT and the required follow-up to be ensured after the training in the prisons or rehabilitation centers where they worked. The ToT was organized in December before the completion of all other training programs to allow the Palestinian expert trainer to conduct it before his departure, building on the previous trainings held.

The agenda prepared by the expert gave priority to methodological aspects, in particular:

● The characteristics of a trainer: posture, communication, gestures, understanding, facilitation, moral, deontology, etc.; ● The capacities required to prepare the materials for the training, with a focus on pre-/post- tests and how to design and use them; ● Identifying the training objectives: designing the training plan, how to carry out the training, how to evaluate it; ● How to transform the training objectives into training activities with tools and content; ● The use of the KSA technique (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes) to understand how to identify objectives and how to translate them into training activities; ● Formation of groups to work on each point separately, and especially on the identification of objectives, design of the training plan, and the implementation of specific activities; ● Evaluating the training with the beneficiary himself and the trainer as the center of the operation.

In general, the average level of the fifteen participants was good: they all benefited from previous training for senior or mid-level managers.

The participants worked on three themes: classification and reclassification, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, and disengagement from violence in prisons.

In terms of knowledge, the table below shows five questions that the consultant asked at the start of the training as a basis for measurement and the participants’ answers:

Question Participant’s answers

Q1: Do you know the current Tunisian 4 out of 15 counterterrorism strategy?

Q2: Do you know which article in the CTC 3 out of 15 strategy asked prison department to counter radicalization, and in which pillar?

Q3: Which year did the government of Tunisia 10 out of 15 issue the counterterrorism and money laundering law?

Q4: Which pillar of the strategy tackled 0 out of 15 reintegration of RFTFs?

As confirmed by the expert trainer, the participants’ very low level of knowledge of key topics represented a great challenge in terms of passing skills and knowledge onto other prison staff.

As described in the graph below, the pre-post test showed an increase in 30% progress in knowledge.

This first training for a group of 15 participants (including four women, all high officials with good experience) ended on a positive general note: the good personal commitment of the participants.

5. The sixth meeting of the coordination mechanism (December 18)

After the fifth meeting at the Embassy of the Netherlands on June 10, 2019, the next coordination mechanism for initiatives and projects targeting the PVE and the penitentiary system launched by

Search-Tunisia in 2016, was held on December 18, 2019, at the headquarters of the FACE Tunisia Foundation (a network of corporate citizens who adopt CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility).

This meeting of the coordination mechanism, which in the fifth meeting included for the first time local civil society organizations, had the following objectives:

● Continue to facilitate this opportunity for exchange and learning from the experiences of each organization participating in the mechanism; ● Involve the institutional part in the discussions (invitations had been sent to the Ministry of Justice and to the DGPR as well as to the Ministry of Social Affairs); ● Identify project opportunities and new initiatives that can benefit the prison system and its ecosystem (institutions, CSOs and the private sector); and ● Brainstorm some ideas for an advocacy campaign (see below).

The meeting was attended by Search-Tunisia, FACE, the INSAF Association (one of the nine sub- grantees of the Search prison project), and the Tunisian Center for Global Security Studies, with a number of organizations not being able to join at the last minute.

The meeting was an opportunity for the organizations to provide an update of the different activities that they have carried out in recent months in direct contact with ex-detainees as well as with prisons.

6. Support for micro-grantees

During this crucial period of the micro-grant progress cycle, Search-Tunisia continued to facilitate the formalization of partnership agreements between the nine micro-grantees and the CDIS. The aim is to allow these associations to officially have the beneficiary lists with whom they will work, and to continue to carry out the agreed activities and especially those intended for ex-detainees, adults or juveniles. In this context and thanks to the meeting organized on behalf of the CSOs at the Ministry of Social Affairs in June 2019 with the Director of Social Defense and Rehabilitation, four associations were able to conclude a partnership agreement with the regional CDIS in October 2019: We Youth in Sfax, ABFID and IRADA in Medenine, and Rawafed in Sidi Bouzid. The conclusion of these four agreements will allow these four associations to carry out activities within the framework of this program but also within the framework of other projects.

It is important to point out the regional meeting (a closing activity of the grant) organized on October 24 in Siliana by the Radio Misk Association on the rehabilitation and reintegration of detainees. The event was attended by 11 beneficiaries (all ex-detainees, including two women), six regional associations, and most importantly, with the participation of the regional directorates of Vocational Training and Employment, Social Affairs, Religious Affairs, Siliana prison, the Laaroussa delegation, and many other regional entities.

Some other highlights from the different CSO partners that are benefitting from the micro-grants include: ● Rawafed Association in Sidi Bouzid was able to register, starting October 2019, five children leaving the CDC in Souk Jedid at a training center that teaches how to make tools from olive wood (the only one in Tunisia); ● Scouts Without Borders organized in November 2019 a three-day Rehabilitation Camp for the five beneficiaries under the supervision of an educator and a psychiatrist; ● In October 2019, We Youth organized two training courses (two days each) in entrepreneurship for ten beneficiaries; ● Tunisia+ has completed the project management training cycle for five beneficiaries; ● During the first week of November, the OTCS organized a meeting between the ten beneficiaries and representatives of the delegation and CSOs active in the Sidi Hassine region. The meeting was moderated by an expert who worked in the DGPR as manager of release preparation programs.

Some CSOs are still encountering challenges in the implementation of their activities. Search- Tunisia will continue monitoring their work to provide support in overcoming obstacles and ensure the successful completion of their local initiatives.

Impact

During this reporting period, Search-Tunisia further strengthened its strategic relationship with the DGPR through the achievement of positive results, especially during the months of October- November (the two trainings for senior DGPR officials) and December (the first five-day ToT session for 15 senior officials from DGPR and CDCs). The following are the project’s main achievements during this quarter:

● The finalization of 80% of the second component of the training program which focused on the management and rehabilitation of VEPs in respect of human rights standards. The two technical training workshops, the six trainings for mid-level officials and the first ToT directly benefited 236 DGPR staff. This demonstrates the ability to work with the DGPR and to engage them in the long term. ● The different meetings and conversations with the DGPR officials were of great importance as they enabled to further understand their needs and allow Search-Tunisia to identify gaps in terms of capacities and sustaining certain good practices. The debate around the practical guide for example revealed a strong need for further investment in terms of capacity building around this objective and tool.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

During the implementation of the different activities for this reporting period, Search-Tunisia identified two main challenges:

● Although the DGPR confirmed a very good level of commitment in relation to the mobilization of its (senior and lower ranking) staff for training (194 people including 46 senior), around 30% of the participants in the training for mid-level managers were not necessarily well suited for the training. ● The lack of coordination between the department of international cooperation of the DGPR and the training school of the DGPR. This becomes evident in issues such as the setting of educational objectives and their vision, defining the theme of the trainings, or even deciding what skills or other aspects to value regarding continuing education.

The DGPR’s limited capacity to continue to increase cooperation with other actors (particularly local organizations) and its difficulty in continuing to facilitate opportunities to increase officials’ capacities in the upcoming years without substantial external support (such as through this project with Search-Tunisia) will remain valid. Search-Tunisia will continue to support the DGPR and MoJ, while keeping in mind that they manage sensitive issues in a delicate political and security context.

Next Steps

During the next quarter, Search-Tunisia will:

● Hold the remaining three training workshops for mid-level personnel of the DGPR on the management, rehabilitation, and reintegration of detainees, including VEPs and RFTFs, that will take place in February-March and target prison staff and mid-level DGPR officials. Search-Tunisia will continue to rely on the same expert (Maya Jizzini). 90 persons are expected to attend these trainings. ● Organize the remaining two ToT sessions for 36 selected persons (senior and more junior staff). ● Continue to support micro-grantees in overcoming daily and strategic challenges through regular field visits. ● Continue to coordinate with the DGPR in order to accelerate procedures regarding the two remaining regional study visits.