Africa Governance Institute (AGI)

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Africa Governance Institute
Sotrac Mermoz n°32
Dakar Senegal

Tél. : + 221 338 698 353
Fax : + 221 338 606 528
Email: iag-agi@iag-agi.org
Website: http://www.iag-agi.org/spip/

Acting Director: Prof Adebayo Olukoshi
Program Coordinator: Maurice Enguéléguélé
Information systems officer: Thierry Sanzhie Bokally
Project Manager: Guilaine Thébault Diagne
Project Manager’s Assistant: Maty N’diaye Cissé
Administrative Assistant Intern: N’dèye Thiouny Samba

Description

Created by UNDP, the Africa Governance Institute (AGI) is envisioned as a center for high-level policy dialogue and, when necessary, advanced studies and training on governance in Africa. As such, it will be called upon to engage in advocacy for democratic and developmental governance in Africa; develop cutting-edge research and innovative training methods designed to find solutions to the most pressing governance issues identified in policy dialogue sessions; and establish an online documentation center on governance in Africa. In this way, the Institute will add value to what is already being done by the existing governance institutes, centers and networks in the continent, which will function as its nodal points.

Given the global nature of governance, the Institute will have to be multidisciplinary and multidimensional and capable of being a forum and a resource, as well as a mechanism for strengthening both the concept of democratic and developmental governance and governance institutions in Africa.

The AGI is being established as a center of excellence on governance in Africa. As such, the mission of the Institute will be as follows:

• To advance an African perspective on governance.
  
• To facilitate collaboration, co-ordination and networking among institutes, centers and networks in the field of governance in Africa.
  
• To analyze, document and disseminate knowledge on governance in Africa.
  
• To develop and reinforce capacity for governance in Africa.

To achieve its vision and mission, the AGI is called upon to carry out the following mandate:

• Promote high-level policy dialogue on governance in Africa.
  
• Undertake strategic and applied research on a few critical issues.
  
• Provide training of appropriate human resources, including leadership, and capacity building of institutions.
  
• Provide a forum for promoting information and knowledge based public policy and the exchange of experience.
  
• Develop mechanisms for supporting the African Union and its programs, including the APRM.
  
• Establish a depository for significant archival materials and a resource e-library on governance in Africa.

The areas of intervention of UNDP in Africa through AGI include improving access to justice, constitutional reform, human rights, decentralization of local governance, supporting parliaments and strengthening of legislatures, promoting transparency and accountability.

Track Record

AGI’s cutting edge in Africa has been its promotion of good governance. Now, there is a clear consensus that good governance and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin. Good governance is a sine qua non for development in Africa. It implies efficient and accountable institutions – political, judicial, administrative, economic, corporate – and entrenched rules that promote development, protect human rights, respect the rule of law, and ensure that people are free to participate in, and be heard on, decisions that affect their lives. Above all, good governance is a leadership issue, enshrining the effective, transparent, and accountable discharge of responsibilities within the framework of capable states.

Through its interdisciplinary research and intellectual dialogue on governance, the AGI provides a forum for linking ideas with public policy and for fostering fruitful contacts among governance experts, policymakers, civil society actors and business executives. Overall responsibility for the AGI, including its policies and its management, lies with the AGI Governing Board, which appoints the Executive Director and delegates to the latter the powers for the day-to-day management of the AGI.

Challenges

The major challenge that faces AGI’s work in Africa is the lack of effective checks and balances in some African countries which undermines good governance. These relate to the three arms of government, which should be clearly separated and operate independently, but be coordinated. Political parties, civil society, the media also serve as important checks and balances. Problems are particularly evident with regard to the Executive, especially in countries emerging from totalitarian rule, where parliaments tend to enact laws serving narrow factional interests rather than the common good.

While elected parliaments are generally mandated to provide oversight, propose and approve legislation, promote and protect government, as well as strengthen its institutions, in some cases, parliaments are either not elected, or are elected without a clearly defined mandate. Related to this, many parliaments lack the required autonomy and financial independence from the Executive. Human resources shortfalls, questions of legitimacy and other constraints affect the ability of many parliamentarians to perform basic functions of office, such as interrogating the national budget.

Opportunities

In line with the shared aspiration to develop an African-owned agenda for good governance, work is needed to strengthen existing regional institutional partnerships. The institute should coordinate knowledge sharing, the mobilization of human and material resources for agencies involved in governance projects on the continent. This includes research and policy institutes, national, regional and international organizations. Organizations such as ECA, ADB, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), the Development Policy Management Forum (DPMF), and the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern Africa (OSSREA) – all undertaking work related to African governance – should benefit from the institute, while the institute may also launch new creative initiatives on governance in Africa.