Tunisia

HiiL has been active in Tunisia since 2012. As one of our focus countries, our goal is to contribute to a justice system that is more accessible, responsive and people-centred. Since 2017, our work has been grounded in national Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) data, helping to identify priority issues and co-develop practical solutions so more people can resolve their justice problems.

In 2021, we launched a dedicated multi-year programme centred on improving access to justice in employment-related disputes—a problem identified as one of the most common legal challenges in the country.

In 2025, we begin a complementary two-year initiative supporting justice solutions for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (mSMEs). These businesses make up 99% of Tunisia’s economy, yet face persistent barriers in areas like registration, compliance, taxation and dispute resolution.

Strategic Partners

We collaborate with the Tunisian Presidency of the Government, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Labour Inspection, The National Registry for Companies (RNE) and the Tunisian Bar Association. These partnerships ensure that our activities are grounded in national priorities and have local ownership. We are also supported by the Dutch Embassy in Tunis and the Open Society Foundation.

Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Data

Understanding people’s real justice journeys is central to our work in Tunisia.

In 2017 and again in 2023, HiiL conducted nationwide JNS surveys. The 2023 study reached 5,008 people across the country, including many who also took part in 2017, offering a rare longitudinal view of justice needs over time.
In 2024, a follow-up e-JNS survey was conducted with 2,548 respondents to assess outcomes and changes over time.

Key insights from the 2023 survey:

Employment justice is the most pressing issue. Around 31% of Tunisians reported facing one or more legal problems in the past four years. Employment-related problems were both the most frequent (24%) and the most serious (19%), including unpaid wages, unfair dismissals, contract disputes, and lack of social protection.
COVID-19 worsened justice challenges. The pandemic sharply affected the labour market, increasing unemployment and deepening income insecurity, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Resolution rates and satisfaction remain low. Only 1 in 5 people were satisfied with how their most serious legal problem was resolved, indicating ongoing gaps in trust and effectiveness.

Women, youth, and informal workers continue to face higher barriers, especially in accessing information, support, and enforceable outcomes.

Justice for mSMEs (2025–2026)

A new initiative building on previous work and beginning with a national JNS survey focused on the legal needs of mSMEs. Activities will include: Development of evidence-based guidelines for justice providers, A dedicated Justice Innovation Lab to co-create scalable solutions, A Hack4Justice: AI Edition hackathon to support a public institution in developing a user-facing legal tech tool and High-level dialogues with national stakeholders on justice reforms for small businesses.

Justice Accelerator (2019–2024)

Notable supported startups include:

Juridoc specializes in legal documentation in business and tax law, offering intuitive access for legal professionals.

E-Tafakna uses artificial intelligence to simplify contract creation, analysis, and signing, aiming to make legal services more accessible—especially for individuals and small businesses—to reduce inequalities in access to justice.

Flouci by Kaoun, a fintech solution promoting financial inclusion and digital identity for Tunisians.

Idaraty, a digital platform that streamlines interactions between citizens and public administrations by offering clear, step-by-step guidance on over 400 administrative procedures.

Key Achievements

Justice Innovation Lab (2023)

A structured co-creation process involving government, legal professionals, innovators and civil society, which identified barriers and developed the Employment Justice Platform prototype.

Employment Justice Platform (2024)

Co-designed with 25 key national stakeholders during the Justice Innovation Lab, this digital platform ‘Monde du Travail’ helps labour inspectors and users resolve work-related legal problems. It offers user-friendly information, tailored advice, early resolution tools, and referrals. The platform was developed under a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Ministry of Social Affairs in Tunisia, and was announced publicly in February 2025. The platform is now being integrated into the Ministry infrastructure and will be launched soon.

Tech the Justice Gap Forum (2023)

This high-level forum was held under the patronage of the Presidency of the Government and gathered over 200 justice professionals, policymakers and tech entrepreneurs. Event video and Forum report.

Employment Justice Guideline (2024)

A practical resource for justice practitioners and policymakers, offering step-by-step guidance to improve outcomes in employment disputes based on behavioural insights and JNS data.

Justice Accelerator (2019–2024)

Over 130 startups supported across Tunisia, MENA, and Africa. In 2024 alone, 14 Tunisian startups received support and 135 young entrepreneurs joined three hackathons focused on employment justice and MSME legal needs.

Justice Innovators Parade (2024)

This national showcase featured 15 Tunisian startups and drew representatives from the Bar Association, CONECT (employers’ union), and national registries. The event fostered visibility and concrete partnership opportunities for local innovators.