Pledge to make a difference, together.
I WATCH" is an independent, non-profit Tunisian watchdog organization, founded in March 2011. It aims to combat corruption and improve transparency. I WATCH is based on two basic principles: No to exclusion: The organization does not exclude anyone based on a religious, political, ideological, or regional background. No trusteeship: "I WATCH" believes in the youthful energies of Tunisia. The youth who made the revolution have the qualifications that make them trustworthy. The organization works to include young people in the decision-making system and rejects trusteeship in any way due to lack of experience. I WATCH has been working for eleven years with the government and elected institutions, civil society stakeholders and journalists to promote accountability and transparency in the public and private sectors. The organization has conducted several advocacy campaigns with local civil society organizations to improve the anti-corruption legal framework. Since 2013, I WATCH is also member in the joint committee (Ministry of Finance and Civil Society) which aims to provide the ministry with key policy recommendations on fiscal and budget issues). In 2016 / 2017, I WATCH has managed to push for the adoption of access to information law, whistle-blowers protection law and asset declaration. In 2016, we have created a network of Parliamentarians Against Corruptions (PACs) which aimed at helping I WATCH advocate for anticorruption policies in Tunisian legislation. In 2019, we created a civil society alliance to enhance public budget transparency at the local level, and we launched the Local Integrity System (LIS) to assess financial transparency and integrity in municipalities. The project aimed to evaluate the performance of municipalities and provide technical and financial assistance to local CSOs to engage with their municipalities, create local accountability networks capable of holding local office bearers into account. In addition, we have engaged journalists to produce investigations related to corrupt practices and we are now working with local communities and local CSOs to build their capacities and help them establish their own radio stations on the FM band. I WATCH runs an YALAC center since 2015 and last year the center has received 326 alerts, filed 4 cases before the penal judiciary, 21 cases before administrative court; 140 ATI cases, sent 130 access to information (ATI) requests, and received 326 alerts from whistleblowers. Using the access to information law, YALAC team filled in 2022, 130 requests before several institutions such as ministries, the head of government, the parliament, and the presidency. In addition, the organization works on strategic litigation, during the first quarter of 2023, 2 cases aimed at improving the integrity of the political scene in Tunisia were filled; the first case was brought against the Minister of Justice for non-compliance with the regulations and orders made by the competent authority. While the second was brought against a lawyer and a political party for their racist statements and attempts to direct public opinion against sub-Saharan populations living in Tunisia. Facing an increasingly obscure political context and lack of responsiveness from public institutions and administrations regarding access to information requests. Furthermore, we have monitored every election since the 2011 uprising totaling the number of elections that we have observed so far to 6 national elections, in addition to monitoring campaign finance, vote-buying and the abuse of state resources. After each election, I WATCH launches an "meter" to evaluate the Prime Minister / President's promises against what s/he really achieved during their mandate. In its 2020-2023 strategy, I WATCH has developed a vision for media that aims to provide local and community radio with the needed skills and means to achieve a wider audience. I WATCH has been working for three years on the media sector, whether by working on technical assistance to local radios across Tunisia or by creating its own media platforms (Shbebek, iBlog or its FM radio SON FM which broadcasts on 100.00FM in Grand Tunis and on wwwSonfm.tn). SON FM has 11 full-time employees (including journalists, sound technicians, community managers) and 10 IWATCH employees involved in the production and animation of radio programs.