Africa & West Asia

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Lowering the voting-age limit to increase youth participation in politics

Because the level of engagement in politics by youth remains lower than that of older generations, Africa’s youth bulge is leading to an emerging crisis of representation.

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The Africa and West Asia region is undergoing constant change. Some countries in the region are moving towards multi-party elections that are mostly free, fair and peaceful.

However, democracy faces several considerable challenges, and in some areas, problems are resurfacing after a period of improved conditions. Problems that concern the entire region include weak political institutions, the underrepresentation of women in political life and limited media freedom. 

What's Going On

Nov
27
2018
Credit: Pixabay

Credit: Pixabay

Event
Annual Democracy Forum (2018): Inclusive Democracy for Sustainable Development
Nov
21
2018
News Article
IGAD and International IDEA sign memorandum of understanding to promote peace and security
Nov
20
2018
Group photograph of the 2018 New Commissioners' Orientation participants held in Lilongwe in April 2018. Photo credit: Chris Sekani (HAAG Photo Graphics)

Group photograph of the 2018 New Commissioners' Orientation participants held in Lilongwe in April 2018. Photo credit: Chris Sekani (HAAG Photo Graphics)

Event
New Commissioners Orientation
Nov
07
2018
Ethiopia's first female Supreme Court President Meaza Ashenafi. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Ethiopia's first female Supreme Court President Meaza Ashenafi. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Commentary
Establishing confidence in the judiciary: Why Meaza Ashenafi should lead a process of judicial vetting
Nov
05
2018
publication
Financing of electoral processes: An investment for inclusive and sustainable democracy
Oct
10
2018
publication
Youth Participation in Political Processes

Databases & Tools

Database
Electoral System Design Database
About the Database   The Electoral System Design Database is comprised of various reviews of the electoral...
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Database
ICTs in Elections Database
Learn the global patterns of usage of ICTs in elections and the problems and challenges countries are facing today...
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Social Media Activity

 

Country & Regional Support

African Union Commission

Our office in Addis Ababa works closely with the African Union (AU).

We formalized our relationship with the AU Commission in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Accra, Ghana, on 30 June 2007 during the African Union Summit. We actively contributed to the development of the AU Charter as well as the establishment of the AU's electoral assistance programme, and the electoral assistance fund. International IDEA and the AU have also collaborated in areas such as the land and governance, gender, and in political party strengthening.

Tunisia

Our office in Tunis has provided assistance to the Tunisian effort to organize free and fair elections.

More specifically, we were was asked to comment on the draft electoral law while it was still at a confidential stage.  We equip societies by acknowledging respect for women’s political rights, supporting women in parliament and engaging electoral management bodies and citizens in the use of our tools and workshops.

Fostering national dialogue

We contribute to ongoing national dialogues surrounding democracy in the region.

We were invited to work with the national dialogue committee in Jordan, including on the development of a new electoral law, a new political parties law and some constitutional amendments in conjunction with the constitutional reform committee. Additionally, we broadened our number of contacts with the national dialogue committee in Morocco. Our representatives continue to provide support across the region for the constitutional building and revision processes.

Networks & Partners

African Union
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Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ANLAN)
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ATIDE Tunisia
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Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA)
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BRIDGE
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Democracy Reporting International
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Human Rights Watch
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Kvinna till Kvinna
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League of Arab States
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National Council of Human Rights (NCHR) Egypt
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Office of the Ombudsman of Malawi
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The African Union Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit
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The Swedish Institute in Alexandria
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UNDP
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University of Kwa Zulu Natal
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Windhoek City Council
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Contact Our Office

Ethiopia Office

Sar Bet Gebriel (around Greece Embassy)

Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City

Woreda 03, House No:812

P.O Box 20029, Code 1000

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

+251 113 710913/14
Adebayo Olukoshi
Regional Director
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Tunisia Office

7 Rue du Lac El Biban
Les Berges du Lac
1053 Tunis, Tunisia

+216 71 860 502
Pinkie Mekgwe
Senior Regional Adviser
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