The 2024 ECOSOCC Citizens Forum on Democracy and Institutional Resilience is a landmark event organized by the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), an organ of the African Union.
Held in the vibrant city of Accra, Ghana, from July 18 to 19, the forum brought together diverse stakeholders, particularly targeting civil society representatives from AU member states.
This year’s theme highlighted democracy and institutional resilience, focusing on discussions and strategies for the future of democracy and institutional resilience on the continent. Democracy Works Foundation participated as part of the Charter Project Africa consortium delegation led by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD).
The forum’s emotive opening ceremony featured thought-provoking and inspiring speeches from key figures, including former Mali Prime Minister H.E. Moussa Mara, in his capacity as a Member of Club de Madrid. In his keynote statement, H.E. Mara provided a powerful narrative on the strides Africa has made in democratic governance, the challenges faced today, and those that lie ahead. Praising civil society organizations (CSOs) for their resilience, he stated, “There is no democracy without a strong civil society and vibrant civic spaces that foster active citizen participation, which ensures that governments are held accountable.”
Notably, Ms. Souad Aden-Osman, Executive Director for the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), pertinently probed the delegates on the ongoing rhetoric: “We keep talking about African solutions to African problems. But how are we getting there?”
The two-day citizens’ forum included plenary and breakout sessions reflecting on the role of civil society in enhancing institutional resilience and the role of CSOs/ECOSOCC in building trust between people and institutions.
One significant session on promoting the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) through civic technology, moderated by Mr. Andrew Songa, Regional AU Engagement Lead at EPD, explored experiences and lessons from using civic technology to advance citizen participation. It examined the role of civil society in the digital age and how civic technology can be leveraged to create greater public engagement and advocacy. CSOs showcased their experiences using civic technology to amplify citizen voices in some of the African Union member states where the Charter Project Africa has been implemented since 2022.
Discussions were deeply rooted in the broader context of Africa’s democratic and institutional development. Speaking as a Founding Member of ECOSOCC and CoDA’s Board Member and Chair of the African Business Council, Dr. Amany Asfour, in a compelling the speech, asserted that real democracy is about education and financial independence, rooted in three pillars: strengthening the private sector, policy advocacy, and managing African resources by championing products made in Africa.
The plenary on the in-depth analysis of the state of democracy across Africa highlighted both the progress made and the persistent challenges faced by various nations in achieving inclusive and resilient democratic governance. Dr. Solomon Dersso of Amani Africa examined the symptoms defining our current state of democracy, which he said is marred by state capture, military interference in politics, citizen resistance to government decisions, and insecurity faced by the continent.
Unsurprisingly, discussions turned to the recent civic developments in Kenya and the role of youth (Gen Z) and their use of civic technology. Most agreed that technology has permeated daily life and cannot be viewed as a passing fad. There was consensus that more needs to be done from the top down to include young people in such spaces. Dr. Dersso concluded, “We need to celebrate the young people who have injected an energy of change in their countries. They must be celebrated for being the ultimate defenders and purveyors of democracy!”
On the pivotal role of civil society in enhancing institutional resilience, Ms. Margaret Mengo from Habitat for Humanity International stated, “We are not being intentional about building our own inclusive social capital. We are speaking of Gen Zs, yet they are not aptly represented in this room!” She emphasized that civic technology and data use should not be left only to Gen Z, highlighting the opportunity for inter-generational knowledge exchange and engagement. Most participants echoed these sentiments and conceded the need for more support for the continent’s large youth population, deliberating on ways this inclusive approach can be achieved.
One of the Charter Project Africa grantees, Ms. Catherine Kimambo of African Child Projects, moderated a vigorous session on strengthening the Regional Citizen’s Dialogue Programme (RCDP) for preventing and responding to Unconstitutional Changes of Governments (UCGs) in West Africa.
The 2024 ECOSOCC Citizens Forum provided a much-needed platform for not only dialogue with CSOs but for strategic planning on how the insights unpacked here will be consolidated into comprehensive, actionable steps.
Based on our lived experience on this continent, we can all agree that the time for rhetoric has passed – what we need now is concrete action and decisive political will!
