Watch the Regional Symposium opening keynote addresses

Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) hosted The Southern Africa Regional Symposium, a significant initiative to address critical challenges in advancing democratic governance and electoral integrity in the region.

Watch the opening session here:

DWF Regional Symposium Opening key note remarks

This gathering focused on the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and normative frameworks, particularly those outlined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), in promoting democratic values.

Watch the keynote addresses and sessions from Days two and three

Day two: DWF Regional Symposium

Day three: DFW Regional Symposium

The symposium sought to fulfil the following objectives:

To raise awareness and share knowledge on the AU Charter and SADC norms on advancing democratic governance and electoral integrity
To facilitate systematic peer to peer learning on the use of civic technologies in advancing the democratic governance and electoral integrity
To identify mechanisms for effective advocacy and engagement between civil society, political actors and AGA members including SADC, in the promotion of democracy and good governance in the region.

Held from 12 – 14 March 2024 in Johannesburg, this regional symposium was organised under the auspices of the Charter Project Africa, funded by the European Union, and the USAID-funded programme called Political Parties for Resilient and Inclusive Democracies in Southern Africa.

Lerato Maloka

Lerato Maloka is Corporate Communications Specialist with over 14 years of expertise in 360 communications, specialising in strategic communication, digital media, stakeholder management and project management. Certified in Digital Marketing and Research, she is currently pursuing her BCom Degree in Corporate Communications while leading the strategic communications of various programmes in several African countries. She has agency, Public Relations and Content Development experience. During her tenure as PR Manager, she has conceptualized captivating digital media campaigns and bespoke events, building solid relationships with key stakeholders, media, and content creators. Passionate about leveraging digital technology to amplify citizen voices, Lerato also advocates for people living with mental disabilities, human and climate justice.