Regional Programs

Focus Areas

Recognizing the potential of African Union (AU) efforts to promote development, peace and security, and political and economic governance, OSIEA seeks to strengthen civil society participation in the union's work.

The following are some examples of recent Regional Program grants:

Africa Taking the Initiative on the Zimbabwe Crisis

In April 2008, over 100 representatives from all over Africa convened for a pan-African emergency consultation to discuss the post election crisis in Zimbabwe. Representatives of African civil society groups, the legal fraternity, trade unions, academia and other interested stakeholders engaged in reflective discussions on the impact of the 2008 Zimbabwe elections and the ensuing violations of rights. The meeting sought to catalyze stronger initiatives and interjections by the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and governments in the region. Organized by the East Africa Law Society (EALS), in conjunction with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and OSIEA, the Dar es Salaam meeting concluded with a strong Communiqué and resolutions that were presented to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete in his capacity as AU Chair. Following from that meeting, the bar associations from West, Southern and East Africa met to discuss regional strategic litigation efforts on Zimbabwe.

Shadow Reports on African Union Reporting Mechanisms

OSIEA and OSI's Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) collaborate with civil society groups in East Africa to seek implementation of African Union (AU) standards that promote democracy. In recent years, the AU has emphasized the need for accountable government, in particular through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and its peer review mechanism. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) requires governments to conduct a self-assessment governance report through a participatory process. The goal is to give citizens a greater voice on how their country is governed and foster democratic participation in Africa.

To complement this AU mechanism, AfriMAP and OSIEA produce systematic audits of government performance in three APRM areas—the justice sector, democracy and political participation, and effective public service delivery. These reports are written by researchers from the country and are finalized through discussions that mobilize a wide range of interested parties, including civil society, academia, government and donors. Reports are based on a standardized template continent-wide, allowing cross-country comparison and learning, encouraging debate, and highlighting best case practices.

Research on the three AfriMAP areas is underway in Kenya led by the Institute of Economic Affairs, the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Law, and the Institute of Development Studies.

Assessing the Kenyan experience with the APRM Process

In April 2007, AfriMAP and OSIEA launched a report that reviewed the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process in Kenya. The APRM Process in Kenya: A Pathway to a New State? provides the leading independent analysis of Kenya's experience and is a valuable resource on the newly created APRM process.

The report found that ordinary Kenyans have not felt a significant impact from the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process and called on the government to deliver a stronger programme of action. The report commended the Kenya government for being one of the first African countries to open itself to critical examination of its governance record and for complying with its reporting obligations. Strong support from the Minister of Planning and wide consultation around the country succeeded in giving voice to the demands of ordinary Kenyans for change. The report also highlighted key concerns, including that the review did not tackle the more challenging task of institutional reform vital to Kenya's democratic transition. Additionally, the national steering committee, set up in December 2005, drew heavily from government representatives appointed in a non consultative manner, thus limiting the engagement of other key stake holders.

Set up by the AU, the APRM process is intended to give citizens a greater voice on how the country is governed and thereby foster democratic participation in Africa. Kenya conducted its APRM process from February 2004 to March 2006.

Examining the Public Broadcasting Landscape in Kenya and Uganda

A major 12-country survey of public service broadcasting in Africa is being jointly hosted by AfriMAP and the Open Society Institute's Media Program, with support from OSIEA. The survey will examine issues of impartiality, independence, and quality in public service broadcasting to advocate for better regulation of the sector. Kenya and Uganda will be examined in addition to Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The report is anticipated in early 2009.

Connecting Youth Leaders Globally

Four East African leaders were selected to attend OSI's Youth Initiative global meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2008. The meeting provided a forum for young leaders to share their ideas and experiences in influencing public life and promoting open society ideals. Youth leaders from Conflict Resolution by Youth Uganda (CRY), Human Rights Network-Uganda (HURINET), Youth Agenda (Kenya) and Young Women's Leadership Institute represented East Africa.

How Can East Africans Strengthen the new African Court?

This March 2008 consultation brought together legal and human rights advocates to share information and exchange experiences between human rights advocates engaged in the African system of Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. This unique opportunity allowed the 80 participants to discuss ways in which the effectiveness of the recently created African Court could be strengthened and enhanced. The meeting drew comparative lessons from the experiences of the Inter-American system. The participants—including judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, commissioners from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and representatives from the East African Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda—discussed access to the recently created African Court, judicial independence, women's rights, the relationship between the court and the commission, and the role of civil society in accessing the court. The meeting was convened on behalf of the Coalition for an Effective African Court by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and the East African Law Society in collaboration with the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice.