PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID)
                                         APPRAISAL STAGE
                                                                                                             Report No.: AB7278
    Project Name                            Communications for reforms
    Region                                  MNA
    Sector                                  PREM
    Project ID                              P144917
    Borrower(s)                             Global Productions
    Implementing Agency                     Recipient executed
    Environment Category                    [ ] A [ ] B [ ] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined)
    Date PID Prepared                       March 30, 2014
    Date of Appraisal                       August 28, 2013
    Authorization
    Date of Board Approval                  n/a

1. Country and Sector Background

Tunisia’s economic policies have resulted in a lack of competition, a heavy bureaucratic
burden, labor rules which promote job insecurity, and governance failures in many
economic sectors. These policies have deepened regional disparities, promoted economic
exclusion, and reduced the sustainability and reach of the country’s social safety net, all of which
are at the core of the many grievances Tunisians have concerning their economic opportunities.
There is widespread support in Tunisia for the idea that changing the economic system will
require the debate and eventual adoption of deep reforms which touch at the core of the
socio-economic model. Adopting reforms to improve the business environment, reduce
discretion and increase transparency in the regulatory and legal framework, eliminate privileges
and remove monopolies/concessions , will require a national debate and broad consensus in order
to pave the way for more inclusive growth and job creation in the medium-term. Debate over
these core economic issues and Tunisia’s socio-economic model has been noticeably absent in
the media. As a result, many Tunisians lack a concrete understanding of the origins of existing
economic challenges, the potential tradeoffs of certain reforms, and the sources of and solutions
to their most pressing economic challenges.1

2. Objectives

The Development Objective is to contribute to public understanding and increase public
debate of economic issues in Tunisia. This will be achieved through the production and
dissemination of a series of media products that aim to educate, inform, and provoke public
debate over the key economic issues facing the country.



1
 A survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in July 2012 found that “low awareness of government plans for economic
development coupled with disagreement over models for job creation (drove) participant frustration.� See Rowsell, Nicole and Asma Ben Yahia
< http://bit.ly/S6yJbr>.
3. Rationale for Bank Involvement.

The proposed operation is directly linked to the programmatic Governance, Opportunity
and Jobs (GOJ) Development Policy Loan (DPL) series, a key component of the ISN. The
project is fully consistent with the DPL series by addressing key economic reforms while
addressing social disparities and improving government transparency. It seeks to promote
understanding, increase public debate and help build consensus around government reforms
supported under the DPL series. The activities supported by this project, by being fully aligned
with the DPLs, will facilitate the design and implementation of reforms agreed among
development partners.

4. Description

The recipient, a Tunisian production company, will implement a strategy to raise
awareness of and educate Tunisians about a core set of development policy issues through
compelling multimedia programming. For each topic, the recipient will produce a range of
programming and content intended to simplify the subject and explain to the Tunisian public
practical applications, choices and opportunities related to that issue one topic every few weeks,
over a period of 12 months. These reforms are at the core of the MENA strategy, affecting
governance, economic and social inclusion, sustainable growth and jobs creation.


5. Financing

Source: MDTF                                                                      ($m.)
                                                                      Total         0.6

6. Implementation

Implementation will be carried out by the Recipient, with support by the Bank team as
may be requested. For each topic, the recipient will produce a range of programming and
content intended to simplify the subject and explain to the Tunisian public practical applications,
choices and opportunities related to that issue one topic every few weeks, over a period of 12-18
months.


7. Sustainability

The recipient will gauge interest from media partners in producing similar content in the
future. The commercial nature of the initiative, through the use of outside sponsors, will help
ensure the sustainability of the project past the end of Trust Fund financing.
8. Lessons Learned from Past Operations in the Country/Sector

N/A

9. Safeguard Policies (including public consultation)

N/A

10. List of Factual Technical Documents

N/A

11. Contact point

Antonio Nucifora, Task Team Leader

12. For more information contact:

       The InfoShop
       The World Bank
       1818 H Street, NW
       Washington, D.C. 20433
       Telephone: (202) 458-4500
       Fax: (202) 522-1500
       Email: pic@worldbank.org
       Web: http://www.worldbank.org/infoshop