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Examining Democracy, Governance, and Peacebuilding in Africa

From September 11-15, 2023, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Africa Program hosted the 2023 Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) Annual Conference, “Examining Democracy, Governance, and Peacebuilding in Africa.” Public sessions occurred on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Date & Time

Wednesday
Sep. 13, 2023
2:45am – 11:00am ET

Location

Pretoria, South Africa

Overview

Agenda

Watch the full playlist of sessions here.

Peacebuilding and democratic governance are interwoven, with stable institutions allowing for sustainable peace, and peace allowing actors to nurture the pillars of good governance. Elections in 2023 will test governance institutions and democratic transitions in over a dozen countries in Africa. Meanwhile, peacebuilding continues to be a focus of experts, practitioners, civil society members, local actors, and government officials in Africa and around the world. How do we develop resilient democracies and build sustainable peace across Africa? The growth of democracy and sustainable peace is complex and evolving, so is the discussion of the challenges, opportunities, and best practices. 

The 2023 Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) conference convened leaders from 22 African organizations working on peacebuilding, along with U.S. and African policymakers, practitioners, international stakeholders, and experts to examine the relationship between democracy, governance, and peacebuilding; the current and future challenges; and the crosscutting opportunities to strengthen both governance and peace in Africa. The conference sessions spanned a variety of critical topics, including democratic backsliding, citizen engagement, pathways and challenges to democratic transitions, shifting global trends in governance and peacebuilding, and more. The conference also discussed lessons learned and offered concrete recommendations and policy options for strengthening peacebuilding and governance in Africa.

Please click on the word “Agenda” above for full details of each public panel, including the list of speakers.

Public Sessions

University of Pretoria, Future Africa
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 0845-1700 SAST
  • Conference Address (0845-1000)

  • Examining Citizen Engagement and the State in Africa (1030-1200)

  • Challenges to Democratic Transitions and Consolidation (1330-1500)

  • Shifting Global Trends and the Future of Governance in Africa (1530-1700)

These sessions are available to watch in the playlist above.

Download the conference report


The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding: Centering African knowledge and agency is key to building and sustaining peace in Africa. The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) works with the Wilson Center’s Africa Program to attain the most appropriate, cohesive, and inclusive policy frameworks and approaches for achieving sustainable peace in Africa. Generously sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York since its establishment in 2011, the SVNP works to generate African knowledge to inform US and international peacebuilding policies on Africa; help build the next generation of African peacebuilders through its scholarship program; and create a pan-African network of African peacebuilding organizations, practitioners, and experts to collaborate and share knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned on peacebuilding in Africa.  

More information about the SVNP can be found here

Follow the Africa Program on Twitter @AfricaUpClose  and LinkedIn Africa Program 

Speakers

Sandry Africa Headshot

Sandy Africa

Director, Institute for Strategic and Political Affairs, University of Pretoria 
Annie Barbara Chikwanha Headshot

Annie Barbara Chikwanha

Associate Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg

Moderators

Oge Onubogu Headshot

Oge Onubogu

Director, Africa Program
Christopher Isike Headshot

Christopher Isike

Professor of African Politics and International Relations, Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States, President of the African Association of Political Science, University of Pretoria Department of Political Science
Edem Selormey Headshot

Edem Selormey

Director of Research and Knowledge Management, Center for Democratic Development (CDD) - Ghana
Juliet Were Headshot

Juliet Were

Deputy Executive Director, Women’s International Peace Centre (WIPC), Uganda

Panelists

Eugenia Kayitesi

Eugenia Kayitesi

Executive Director, Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR)-Rwanda
Chukwuemeka Eze

Chukwuemeka Eze

Executive Director, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)
Cyril Obi

Cyril Obi

Program Director, African Peacebuilding Network, Social Science Research Council
Jakkie Cilliers Headshot

Jakkie Cilliers

Head of the African Futures and Innovation Program, Institute for Security Studies
Nhlanhla Ngwenya Headshot

Nhlanhla Ngwenya

Managing Director, Public Engagement, Open Society Foundation
Tiseke Kasambala Headshot

Tiseke Kasambala

Director of Africa Programs, Freedom House
Kehinde Togun Headshot

Kehinde Togun

Managing Director, Public Engagement, Humanity United 
Eldred Masunungure headshot

Eldred Masunungure

Principal Investigator, Afrobarometer

Hosted By

Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more

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