Promoting democracy rooted in African realities, initiatives and knowledge and on the principles of equality and human rights

In an African context marked by democratic crises, structural inequalities and growing distrust of imported institutional models, this project endeavours to address a critical issue: the lack of democratic concepts and practices genuinely rooted in local realities. It proposes a renewal of democratic thinking and practices that is based on endogenous knowledge, community dynamics and citizen-led innovation, one that links research, action and advocacy.

To meet the challenge, this project will document and promote local democratic innovations by funding multidisciplinary research, conducting stakeholder mapping and sharing results on digital platforms (podcasts, debates, publications). It will also stimulate collaborative action research by involving communities as co-researchers, training them in field methods and co-constructing knowledge for inclusive governance. The project will analyze and transform gender relations by supporting feminist research, mapping power dynamics and reinforcing the transformation of women's social power into political power. The project will develop contextualized indicators and will protect defenders of democracy by creating suitable analysis tools.

The project's community-based approach sets it apart. It will integrate the expertise of researchers with that of citizens, leveraging a range of methodologies to share knowledge, including online courses, themed residencies, training programs, participatory theatre, local meetings and radio broadcasts in local languages. It will also systematically articulate issues of democracy and social and ecological justice. Drawing on sub-regional laboratories and strong partnerships, the project aims to transform the communities' social power into effective political power, thus contributing to a renewed, inclusive and resilient African democracy.