Deepening Democratic Governance
Building Civil Society Capacity on The Ratification, Popularisation and Implementation Of The African Charter On Democracy, Elections And Governance And The ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol On Democracy And Good Governance In Nine ECOWAS Member States
Donor: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
Duration:
Coverage: Cote d’ Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Niger
As part of the organisation’s efforts towards deepening democracy in the region, this project was designed and implemented in 9 West African countries. The objective of the project was to popularise the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG) and the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance - two documents that define the basis for the practice of democracy in West Africa and the rest of Africa. The project was implemented in Cote d’ Ivoire and Senegal to ratify the charter, and also popularised in Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Niger. The project achieved the ratification of the charter in Côte d’ Ivoire. There was a strong assurance from the Senegalese government for the ratification of the charter. We continue to engage the Senegalese government to see that this is eventually done. The organisation is at the moment engaging the Open Society Initiative for West Africa who supported the initiative for a continuation of the project. The project is concluded.
Perspectives on West Africa Towards 2015
Donor: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
Duration: 2014-2015
Coverage: Nigeria, Niger, Guinea (Conakry), Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo.
This project was part of the organisation's West Africa work in the areas of governance and the challenges that democracy continues to face. The project, which focuses on seven countries, sought to understudy the trends and dynamics that were shaping the landscape of the various countries. These countries include
A comprehensive report from a well thought out methodology emanated from all the countries. The reports formed the basis for a multi-stakeholder engagement in all the countries. The reports provide the basis for further engagements and advocacy on the issues that were prevalent in all the countries before and during the elections. In Burkina Faso, for instance, the launch of the report paved the way for the continuous civil society dialogue that led to the eventual formation of an interim government and subsequent elections and the return to democratic governance in the country.
Key Drivers of Unconstitutional Changes of Government in West Africa
Donor: Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
Duration: 2013
Coverage: Nigeria
With the ever present of democratic reversals still hanging over the regions democratic governments this project was most timely. It was funded by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) through the African Peacebuilding Network (APN). The research project did a thorough analysis of the drivers of unconstitutional change in government in three studies commissioned by the Centre. The research brought to the fore a plethora of issues and how these can be curtailed so as to consolidate on the region’s democratic gains. The reports were launched and shared widely online and via other means by the organisation. The project was successfully completed.
Promoting Democratic Accountability in Burkina Faso
Donor: Open Society Initiative (OSIWA)
Duration: 2016
Coverage: Burkina Faso
This project was conceptualised to promote peaceful and issue-based election, and improve citizen participation in the electoral process in Burkina Faso. Three key activities were implemented during the project implementation. These include peace meetings with traditional rulers and party leaders, presidential debates, and radio programmes. The project has been concluded and currently followed by support to the Présimètre initiative.
Deepening Democracy in Burkina Faso through Support to Accountability Campaign
Donor: Open Society Initiative (OSIWA)
Duration: 2016
Coverage: Burkina Faso
In continuation of CDD-West Africa’s work to deepen democracy in Burkina Faso, it conceptualised this project to support partners in the country to launch a promise tracking initiative known as Présimètre. This was a civil society-led initiative that tracked the implementation of election pledges of President Kabore in the lead up to the 2015 Presidential election. To support this project, CDD-West Africa hosted weekly radio programmes, convened technical workshops on promise tracking to discuss required capacity for effective implementation of the project and high-level meeting on constitutional reform in West Africa. Additionally, CDD-West Africa supported local partners to mobilise citizens’ opinions about six key constitutional thematic issues as the country drafted an entirely new constitution. Citizens’ proposal – gathered through opinion poll – was used to engage the Constitution Review Committee, headed by Mr. Halidou Ouedraogo.
Baseline Study of Parliamentary Strengthening in Nigeria
Donor:
Duration:
Coverage: Nigeria
CDD was supported by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to undertake a baseline study of National Institute of Legislative study (NILS) Female parliamentarians in Nigeria and the office of the clerk. The consultancy services included research, meetings, data analysis and report writing. The baseline was conducted from June to August 2012 and a report was sent to the WFD after the final validation. As a follow up WFD is seeking to support analysis and monitoring of budgets from a gender perspective through CDD/NGBN.
NPPDS: #Buharimeter
Donor: Open Society Initiative (OSIWA)
Duration: 2015-2018
Coverage: Nigeria
This project aims at holding President Muhammadu Buhari, and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to election pledges/promises made in the lead up to the 2015 general election. The project, launched June 1, 2015, built on the tracking engagement of NPPDS and transit to monitoring implementation of over 200 election promises made. The project has a dedicated website, www.buharimeter.ng, and has gained popularity in both international and domestic media space. It concluded in August 2017.