The Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and Open Society Foundation have launched a US$20million West Africa Democracy Fund (WADF) to reimagine, renew and strengthen democracy across the region.
The fund, targetted at supporting West African states currently facing various democratic challenges, will over a period of three years support activities to increase citizens’ engagement with democratic and political transitions in the respective countries.
Darren Walker, President-Ford Foundation stated: “I am grateful for the collaboration of our philanthropic, civil society and government partners as we launch the West Africa Democracy Fund, which follows the lead of the people of West Africa as they work to strengthen the foundations of democracy and build a more resilient future.
“Research has shown the inextricable link between an increasing decline of democracy across West Africa and rising inequality, therefore these issues must be addressed simultaneously.
Greater citizen participation in democratic processes is needed to fully realise a peaceful, inclusive democracy that empowers citizens to build a society that is more just – and contributes to greater prosperity and a stable economy.
“As an organisation focused on the advancement of social justice, Ford Foundation is matching our commitment with action through this Fund – which we envision will propel our collective efforts at expanding democratic and civic spaces for citizens’ voices to be included in defining the norms for their countries’ governance,” Walker added.
“In West Africa, the demand for democracy is not matched by the supply of democracy. Opposition to military rule has weakened across the continent and citizens bear the brunt of abuses of power by ruling classes,” said Dr. Kole Shettima, Director-Nigeria Office, MacArthur Foundation.
“The new Democracy Fund will support realisation of West Africans’ aspirations for ‘democracy dividends’ and a more just, verdant and peaceful world.”
Brian Kagoro, Managing Director-Programmes, Open Society Foundations, stated: “Democracy in West Africa is an ideal embedded in the traditions and cultures of the people. It is an aspiration ingrained in the vision of young people.
“The fight for a more democratic West Africa is a fight for a West Africa that is free from imperial domination, neo-colonial political mortgaging and external manipulation.
“True democracy in West Africa requires governments that are accountable to their citizens and systems that deliver equitable outcomes for all. The democracy fund provides an opportunity to leverage current momentum for democratic advancement in the region.”
According to Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Regional Director-Ford Foundation Office of West Africa (OWA): “It is important to emphasise that the West Africa Democracy Fund is results from deep engagement and listening across the region with local leaders and Civil Society Organisations.
Therefore, the solutions we seek through this Fund will be homegrown, rooted in needs and aspirations of the sub-region’s people and driven by the people themselves,” she concluded.
Through grantmaking to national consortia, the fund will support activities that promote a more inclusive approach to democracy: including multi-stakeholder dialogues; regional engagements with the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union; joint learning and the strengthening of key state institutions, including the judiciary. Luminate is focusing its contributions on supporting tech accountability efforts.
