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THE FRICAN GOVERNANCE ARCHITECTURE PROJECT-(AGA)

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In 2017 a new Pan African initiative to mobilize Civil Society for joint action to push for the implementation of the ACDEG was started under the EC PANAF Project. The EC PANAF project aims at “Mobilizing Civil Society Support for Implementation of the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and broadly the Africa Governance Architecture (AGA)”.

 The project which is implemented in 8 countries of; Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zambia  unites the strengths of a consortium of 13 CSO partners led by ActionAid Denmark (AADK), with a strong regional dimension delivered by civil society platforms/co-applicants WACSOF, EACSOF and SADC-CNGO and continental impact based on ActionAid’s well-established international advocacy networks. 

The action aims to increase and strengthen the role that CSOs play in processes to ensure that all African Union (AU) member states are democratic and accountable to their citizens, and aligned with the African Governance Architecture of the AU.

 Through activities at national level in 8 focus countries, in the EAC, ECOWAS and SADC regions and with a strong continent-wide advocacy component, the action will contribute to making civil society a central constituent part of democratic policy-making and implementation in the AU and that the needs and aspirations of the citizens of AU member states are reflected in AU and national government policies and actions.

The action will enable citizens, especially young women and men in Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to enhance their awareness and understanding of the importance of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and the AGA.

It will increase advocacy and campaigning for implementation of these legal and institutional provisions and the amount of media coverage and discussion on the AGA, the ACDEG and its relevance to people’s priorities. In addition to influencing public opinion, this initiative aims to engage over 82,000 young men and women in shows of support for campaigns and advocacy to implement the ACDEG. The action will increase the coordination and capacity of CSOs especially youth and women’s organizations to advocate for the ratification, domestication and implementation of the ACDEG and ultimately all AGA by AU member states and demand greater accountability from AU institutions and governments. CSOs will also be able to engage more effectively with African regional institutions, including SADC, EAC, ECOWAS and the AU Commission on Political Affairs.

 The efforts of PANAF project are in tandem with strategic objective three of ActionAid’s strategy V (2018-2022) that focuses on strengthening citizens’ actions to deepen democracy and hold the State, corporations and political leaders accountable for social justice.  The project further recognizes the fact that young people need to be empowered to take up the space of leadership and influence own future, the project thus offers spaces for young people’s active involvement and participation in shaping and directing all the efforts.

To realize the above objectives the project devised a number of mechanisms and approaches that will ensure that results are realized and these include;  Capacity building for young people, media Champions and CSOs, Community score card and perceptions about the governance in the country and the African governance Architecture, identification, documentation of critical governance issues and joint advocacy with other CSOs, community mobilization and engagement with local leaders,  use of media for sensitization, university debates, and  social media for youth participation and involvement in decision making. 

The project also employs a multi-stake holder approach in most of her activities to ensure that there; efficiency, and effectiveness in the realization of her core objectives and results.

With financial support from European Union, the project is expected to last for 36 months and will be closing on the 31st of March 2020.

 For further enquiries the about the PANAF project contact; Atukwatse Primus Bahiigi, the AGA Coordinator on; primus.bahiigi@actionaid.org,  Mobile; 0773-113524 /0701-446608