The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance was adopted by the African Union Commission in January 2007. At Idasa, we view the Charter as marking a milestone in the AU’s initiative to promote various and important elements critical to the realisation of healthy democracies on the continent.

In support of this movement, Idasa in partnership with the African Democracy Forum (ADF) launched a project to build constituencies of support for the Charter in a number of African countries, namely: Botswana, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and South Africa.

Key Activities include:
•    Mapping exercises in the all of the countries
•    Project Launch Workshop: 45 individuals representing approximately 35 civil-society organisations from 15 countries gathered at Idasa, where the focus was on developing country and continental strategies to realise the project objectives.
•    Gala Dinner: Idasa/ ADF also hosted a gala dinner, inviting ambassadors from Donor Countries as well as African States to talk about the charter.  
•    Country Workshops: money to implement in-country strategy workshops was provided to partners. In some cases, we seek to link on-going projects with the promotion of the Charter as this can lend greater weight to both initiatives.
•    Presentation to the African NGO Forum in the Gambia.
•    South-South Learning exchange, in conjunction with the Carter Centre, on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Inter-American Democracy Charter.
•    Public Dialogue on the Promotion of African Charters and Protocols to enhance shared values and Women’s Participation in Governance, held in Pretoria.
•    African Charter website, which highlights activities undertaken by country partners and others on the Charter, news and provides a central location for founding documents and other relevant charter information.  
•    MP, CSO stakeholder meeting, in March 2011 project country partners will participate in a 2 day reunion to assess what the project has done so far and develop strategies for the way forward, MP’s from the various countries will then join to exchange ideas and build connections for the way forward.

www.aucharter.org