We are delighted to share the highlights of our activities from the second quarter of 2023. This period has been highly productive as we continue our efforts to build a stronger democracy, foster transparency, and empower African youth through data and technology. Here’s a recap of our recent endeavours:

Joint Webinar with African Union Office of the Youth Envoy

On May 2nd, we had the privilege of organizing a successful joint webinar with the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy. The webinar, titled “Building a stronger Democracy: Youth, Technology, and Political Engagement in Africa,” featured Ms. Chido Mpemba, the Africa Union Youth Envoy. During the event, we presented insightful data on youth, technology, and political engagement in Africa using Afrobarometer round 9 survey data. Additionally, we showcased our AGP platform, a digital repository for African Union documents. The webinar facilitated valuable discussions and knowledge sharing.

Promoting Good Governance and Transparency

Our commitment to promoting good governance and transparency led us to actively participate in two crucial events during April 2023:

Anti-Corruption Seminar (April 17th-19th, 2023)

In partnership with Good Governance Africa (GGA) and African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E), we participated in the Anti-Corruption Seminar held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The seminar provided a platform to address the pressing issue of corruption in Africa. Our Project Leader, Nyasha Mpani, presented Afrobarometer data on African perceptions of corruption, revealing alarming trends. This data demonstrated the urgent need for accountability and transparency in combating corruption. Furthermore, fruitful discussions were held with Ms. Charity Hanene Chimunya from the African Union Board Against Corruption, exploring collaborative efforts in data-driven advocacy against corruption.

ECOSOCC Peace and Security Sectoral Cluster Committee (April 20th-22nd, 2023)

We actively participated in the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) Peace and Security Sectoral Cluster Committee meeting, where various African Union departments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) / Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) gathered to enhance collaboration on peace and security issues. Our engagement focused on sharing insights from Afrobarometer data and discussing the importance of institutionalized good governance in countering corruption. We also established collaborative partnerships with regional organisations such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Centre for Human Rights, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to address African peace and security challenges.

Other Engagements

In addition to the above, we were involved in several other impactful activities during the second quarter:

Southern African National Level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, Botswana

D4GA participated in a dialogue hosted by the Democracy Works Foundation in Botswana. During the event, Mpani delivered a presentation on the democratic landscape in Botswana, leveraging valuable insights from Afrobarometer data. Participants expressed concerns about government monitoring, indicating a need for a more open and conducive political environment.

Pan African Parliament (PAP) CSO Forum, Botswana

We participated in the first-ever PAP CSO Forum organized by the Center for Human Rights in Pretoria. The forum provided an opportunity for fruitful discussions with PAP representatives, including planning a future D4GA-PAP webinar to further our collective objectives.

Regional Workshop on Citizen Engagement in Democratic Governance, Senegal

Our Project Leader, Mpani Nyasha, attended a regional workshop in Dakar, Senegal, hosted by the Goree Institute. The workshop served as a platform for D4GA to showcase its tools, including the African Governance Platform (AGP) platform and the Online Data Analysis (ODA) tool. Through the workshop, we emphasized the importance of data-driven strategies and collaboration between civil society organizations and African Union organs to promote democratic governance. We also engaged in roundtable discussions with organizations such as ECOSOCC, Mission de l’UA pour le Mali et le Sahel, West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), AfricTivistes, and West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), exploring collaboration and integration opportunities. Notably, we are working towards incorporating D4GA’s advocacy manual and Afrobarometer’s online data analysis tool into AfricTivistes’ Massive Open Online Courses on Democracy and Elections.

Afrobarometer Partner Briefing, Johannesburg

On May 29, D4GA attended the Afrobarometer partner briefing on South Africa’s survey. This event marked the release of data on various topics, providing valuable insights into citizen perceptions. Our Project Leader had the privilege of delivering the opening remarks at this significant gathering.

Our engagement during the second quarter has been instrumental in advancing our mission. We remain dedicated to utilizing data and technology to promote good governance, transparency, and youth participation in Africa. The collaborations and partnerships we have established strengthen our collective efforts towards building a stronger democracy. As we get into the 3^rd quarter the D4GA has a number of activities lined up which will be communicated in due course.

Nyasha Mcbride Mpani (Project Leader for Data for Governance)