The objective of the domain is to contribute to democracy and promotion of justice in the region.

This objective shall be attained by:

·         Strengthening formal democracy: supporting election processes and reforms; strengthening civil society and parliaments in  preparing, observing and monitoring elections; promoting local democracy, supporting dialogue among and within political parties.

·         Promoting democratic culture: enhancing civic education and human rights awareness; strengthening co-operation within society in the region in the fields of research, advocacy and training for governance; supporting access to justice for the poor with a focus on children’s and women’s rights; and supporting independent and professional media.

·         Responsive and accountable institutions at a central and local level: enhancing government and civil society capacities to monitor governance and its impact on poverty alleviation; promoting knowledge sharing and good practices of decentralisation.

Actual Projects:

The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA): ECEP

The overall objective of the project is to Enhance the Capacity of Election Practitioners such as Independent Electoral Commissions (IEC), SADC-ESN Electoral Support Network consisting of Civil Society Organisations, and political parties. In addition, ECEP wishes to promote independent and sustainable management and monitoring of elections in SADC region countries.

The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA): PEMMO

The overall objectives of the project are to entrench the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) through its use by civil society groups at both the domestic and regional levels and to assess elections from a clear and objective basis. These activities will become part of the ECEP Project.

The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA): APRM

This pilot project aims to allow for greater engagement between civil society and government networks in order to assess the country’s governance quality as part of the APRM process (African Peer Review Mechanism of NEPAD).

Centre for Social Accountability (CSA):

The overall goal of the Centre is to institutionalise the demand for social accountability in the Southern African region through the promotion and contextualized-application of the Public Sector Accountability Monitoring tools. Civil Society organisations and Universities will be the target groups adopting and applying this methodology.

Highway Africa News Agency (HANA)

HANA is an innovative virtual news agency aimed at enabling journalists from the continent to report on the unfolding stories of various information technologies and their role and impact on development to African audiences.

Institute for Democracy in South Africa (idasa): Regional Project on Decentralisation

This project aims at promoting and strengthening democracy and good governance in the SADC region with a specific focus on the decentralisation of fiscal, political, and administrative government functions at local levels.

Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN)

The SARPN’s goal is to contribute to the sustainable reduction of poverty through an effective pro-poor policy, strategy and practice in the SADC region. Its purpose is to expand debates on policies and decision-making processes that affect poverty across Southern Africa.

Centre for Conflict Resolution: Mediation and Training Services (CCR/MTS)

The overall goal is to contribute towards a just and sustainable peace in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland by promoting constructive, creative and co-operative approaches to the resolution of conflict and the reduction of violence. CCR’s Mediation and Training Service (MTS) Project can build on the vast experience gained in South Africa and can apply this to a regional level.

NEPAD e-Africa Commission

The long term goal of the contribution is for ultimate beneficiaries, such as schoolchildren and public services, private sector actors and individuals to effectively use the ICT network implemented under NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) in order to enhance their respective social or economic performances and improve their living conditions.

Governance projects under the South Africa Component are:

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry - Local Government Capacity Building through Knowledge Sharing in the ‘Masibambane’

The project aims to support local government capacity building in the water sector with a view to promote good governance and the democratic transformation of society. The water sector is the key entry point for the capacity building at local government level, as 60 – 70 % of the Municipality service delivery is in Water and Sanitation.

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) - Small Claims Court

The overall goal of the Small Claims Court project with the DoJ&CD is to allow free and fair access to justice for every South African Citizen and legal resident in South Africa by transforming and re-engineering the Small Claims Courts as well as passing the necessary legislative amendments.

National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Young Offenders NICRO - Young Offender Reintegration Programme

The overall goal of the Young Offender Reintegration Programme (Tough Enough Programme) is to contribute to the development and implementation of an offender reintegration strategy in South Africa. It aims at supporting ex-offenders to reintegrate into their communities.

For further information, please refer to the Fact Sheets.