Africa unveils a new Governance body

Africa has a new continental body, the African Governance Institute (AGI), which will advance pan-African perspectives on governance through analysis, dialogue, knowledge sharing and capacity strengthening. Based in Dakar, Senegal, plans for the new Institute have been on the ‘drawing board’ since 2003, during which an extensive consultation process emerging from discussions between the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU) and the Regional Director for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was conducted.

The AGI’s programme of action was officially launched at an inaugural workshop attended by representatives of the public and private sectors, civil society leaders, academics and government experts, held in Dakar on 3-4 November 2009. The workshop addressed the theme: “Rethinking governance in Africa”, and sought to highlight and discuss critical governance challenges facing Africa at the present, and some possible strategies to help stakeholders to practically engage with these issues. The workshop also provided a clear orientation for the future work of the Institute in the three areas of democracy and human rights; economic and social transformations; and conflict prevention, peace and security.

In a brief interview with the Weekly Compass, AGI interim Director, Prof. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja explained that the main ‘added-value’ of the Institute is “to institutionalise African reflection on governance in Africa […] because we think that it is important that the people who live the realities of African societies and African states are better placed to understand what is going on and to propose solutions for a better future.” He announced that AIG will convene a series of Conferences in 2010, including one with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on democracy and human rights, “...to make this added-value a reality.” He also highlighted AGI’s aim to play a major role in identifying African scholars and African experts who can come to the table to discuss issues with European partners “... to see how better both we in Africa and Europeans can work together for a better future for Africa in economic, political and other fields.”

On 24 November, the AGI and ECDPM signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership, which aims to enhance both organisations’ work in supporting the African Governance Architecture and enhancing the dialogue strategies and development support of Africa’s European partners.

View the 5-minute video interview with Prof. Nzongola-Ntalaja

Visit the AGI website / Découvrez le site Web de l’IAG

Photo ECDPM : 24 November 2009, the AGI (Mr Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja) and ECDPM (Mr Geert Laporte) are signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership, which aims to enhance both organisations’ work in supporting the African Governance Architecture and enhancing the dialogue strategies and development support of Africa’s European partners.