Empowering the next generation of African leaders with skills in financial and political accountability, democratic leadership and project management, to jointly push for better governance and more peaceful, inclusive and stable societies.
The Challenge
As the pressure is mounting on democracy, the rule of law and human rights globally, there is a need to protect and support democratic leadership worldwide. With 70% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa aged under 30, the continued support for good governance and democracy is highly dependent on the engagement of young people.
However, young people, particularly those from marginalized groups, are systematically underrepresented in public affairs, including in parliaments, political parties, and at the ballot boxes. Economic and educational barriers to young people’s participation are exacerbated by a lack of information about democratic processes and ways of becoming active citizens. It is, therefore, essential to engage the next generation of African leaders and empower them to promote accountable governance in their countries.
“Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation.”
Kofi Annan
Background
To address democratic challenges and promote youth participation in public affairs, the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) is leading the European Union-funded initiative “Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) Civic Engagement”.
As members of the EPD, the Kofi Annan Foundation, jointly with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the Oslo Center, are implementing part of the WYDE Civic Engagement initiative, “Accountability Hubs,” to improve the inclusion of young people in democracy and decision-making.
Given the renewed appeal of authoritarianism in many countries, including in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the importance of positive role models for young people, the Accountability Hubs project aims to identify and support young leaders to work together and devise innovative solutions to bring more accountability to democratic governance.
The Accountability Hubs
WYDE Civic Engagement Accountability Hubs brings together young leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa in a comprehensive training and networking program to enhance their skills in good governance and democratic leadership, financial and political accountability, project management and advocacy, and to develop their own projects (“pilot actions”) to put their ideas into practice in their countries and communities with dedicated seed grants.
Over the project period of 2022-2026, a total of 40 young leaders (between 20 and 35 years) experienced in working on accountability and youth empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa will be selected for this unique training opportunity through a competitive process.
The young leaders are brought together in ‘Accountability Hubs’ – in French and in English –to take part in a comprehensive training and mentoring program, consisting of both online and in-person activities. The training covers topics such as: leading for positive change; ethical leadership “the Kofi Annan Way”; financial oversight, anti-corruption; public debt management; gender-responsive budgeting; elections and political rights; efficient project management; advocacy and communications; and working with international partners.
Seed grants
Based on the training programme, WYDE Accountability Hubs members will be able to design their own projects (“pilot actions”) and apply for WYDE grants to put their ideas into practice.
The ideas will be developed as part of the training, which includes critical notions of project design, monitoring and evaluation and fundraising. By bringing their learnings and ideas back to their communities, the young leaders will be able to reach many other young people in their countries and communities and thereby contribute to strengthening their national democratic structures.
Members
WYDE 2024 | Anglophone Group
Amanda Chembezi
Botswana
Co-Founder of Girls for Girls Botswana; Senior Program Manager at the African Leadership Academy.
Anne Osamba
Kenya
Executive director at Uzalendo Afrika Initiative, Regional organiser Engagement and collaboration for East Africa at Africans rising movement.
Charles Nkonge
Uganda
Field Operations Officer at COGITO Uganda Limited.
Courteney Mukoyi
Zimbabwe
Founder and Director of Justice Code Foundation.
Darlington Marange
Zimbabwe
Public Interest Litigation Specialist at Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
Joseph Ndondi
Namibia
Executive Director at Social Enabled Education (SEE) Namibia.
Marwa Galaleldin
Sudan
Democratic Governance and Inclusive Development Specialist.
Melissa Juisi Simo
Cameroon
International Development Practitioner, West Africa Civil Society Institute.
Musa Carew
Sierra Leone
Team Lead at Peace Drive.
Rehemah Patricks
Malawi
Founder and Executive Director for Section 30.
WYDE 2024 | Groupe francophone
Leger Anselme Akossi
Côte d’Ivoire
Consultant Agent Communautaire.
Binta Sissoko
Mali
Auditrice en Master en sciences Juridiques et Politiques; Chercheur Junior de l’Institut Néerlandais pour la Démocratie Multipartite (NIMD Mali), Membre du comité de plaidoyer du Réseau des Jeunes Femmes Leaders des Partis Politiques et des Organisations de la Société de Civile du Mali.
Christelle Mardochée Medaho
Benin
Féministe Porte-parole à la Ligue Béninoise des Droits des femmes; Juriste consultante en Démocratie et Droits humains.
Diane Kore
Côte d’Ivoire
Activiste de la société civile sur la bonne gouvernance, Présidente de l’ONG Coeur de Soeurs.
Harouna Drabo
Burkina Faso
Analyste Désinformation & Gouvernance démocratique au Sahel.
Juliana Ratovoson
Madagascar
Consultante Internationale en Développement et Autonomisation de la Jeunesse- AUDA NEPAD; Ancienne Vice Ministre de la Jeunesse de Madagascar.
Mickael Mare
Burkina Faso
Co-fondateur Jeunesse d’Afrique pour la Refondation, la Démocratie et la Citoyenneté (JARDEC).
Nathalie Ndimubanzi
République démocratique du Congo
Cofondatrice et coordonnatrice nationale du Club Zaida Catalan pour la Paix et la Sécurité.
Nehemie Kotobiodjo
Benin
Membre du Parlement des Jeunes du Bénin, Activiste de la société civile sur la démocratie et la bonne gouvernance.
Zan Diarra
Mali
Directeur Exécutif et Artistique au sein de l’entreprise Infinitee Studios.
WYDE 2023 | Anglophone Group
Daisi Omokungbe
Nigeria
Daisi Omokungbe (34, Nigeria) is the Founder and Executive Director of PROMAD Foundation. An experienced civic-tech development leader, social accountability professional and project management consultant, Daisi has over 11 years of work experience in private and public sectors working in broadcast and digital media, public policy, youth engagement, public project tracking and evaluation, and using evidence-based strategies to bridge the gaps between citizens, community and the government open and participatory budgeting for sustainable development.
Gloria Albert
South Sudan
Gloria Albert (31, South Sudan) is Project Officer for the South Sudan Democratic Engagement, Monitoring and Observation Programme. She is active in good governance, accountability, legislation review and election monitoring.
Maulline Gragau
Ethiopia
Maulline Gragau (34, Ethiopia) is a Legal, Policy and Legislative Practitioner, Researcher, and Hybrid Consultant at PeaceX and other organisations. She is active in the field of legal practice, transformative governance, policy and legislative drafting, youth empowerment, election monitoring and environmental conservation.
Mealii Swazuri
Kenya
Mealii Swazuri (26, Kenya) is Project Management Practitioner for Majority Leader Kwale Youth Assembly. She is passionate about young women’s inclusion and participation in key government processes at the grassroots level.
Mumbiko King’ori
Kenya
Mumbiko King’ori (32, Kenya) is a youth opinion leader and former Kenyan presidential aspirant. He is a Research and Collaboration Consultant at the Kenya Disability Parliamentarians Association and a member of the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties Technical Working Group (KIPP TWG) by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). He is a youth, Person with Disability (PWD) and climate champion.
Nashiba Nakabira
Uganda
Nakabira Nashiba (31, Uganda) is a Senior Programs Specialist at the African Youth Development Link, Youth Coalition for Electoral Democracy Coordinator, and active in the field of governance, youth participation and peace-building.
Ossei Owusu Prince
Ghana
Ossei Owusu Prince (31, Ghana) is an expert in youth leadership and empowerment and currently holds a position at the Youth Leadership Parliament. He has vast experience in providing training for young people in leadership, development, and empowerment.
Petrider Paul
Tanzania
Petrider Paul (29, Tanzania) is a member of the board of the Imara Leadership Initiative, and an advocate of gender equality and youth leadership.
Raymundo Chifundo Magangani
Malawi
Raymundo Chifundo Magangani (31, Malawi) is a passionate advocate for promoting youth participation in politics and governance in Malawi and the African continent. He is the founder of the Malawian National Youth in Politics, a civil organization that prepares young Malawian leaders for front-line politics. Through his organization, he has been actively involved in creating platforms for young people to engage in political activities.
Victor Kirui
Kenya
Victor Kirui (24, Kenya) serves as the Secretary-General of the National Youth League of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD-Kenya) Party, where he works to mobilize and empower young people to participate in civic and political activities, advocate for their rights, and engage in community development initiatives in Kenya. Through his leadership, he aims to create a platform for young people to influence policy decisions and contribute to the development of their communities.
WYDE 2023 | Groupe francophone
Estelle Djanato
Benin
Estelle Kouèssiba DJANATO, (31, Benin) Spécialiste Genre Paix et Sécurité, Chercheure Associée au Civic Academic for Africa’s Future (CiAAF), active dans les domaines de la démocratie, Paix et Sécurité avec un regard sur le rôle de la jeunesse sur toutes ces questions qui touchent au développement.
Essossiname Tagnami
Togo
Essossiname TAGNAMI, (34, Togo) Écrivain-Poète, Chercheur en droit public, Directeur Exécutif Adjoint de la Clinique d’Expertise Juridique et Sociale, Spécialiste en Gouvernance démocratique-Paix- Sécurité, Expert en protection de l’enfance et justice juvenile, Actif dans le domaine de l’éducation citoyenne.
Fanta Coumba Karembe
Mali
Fanta Coumba KAREMBE, (34, Mali) Présidente du Réseau des Jeunes Femmes Leaders des Partis Politiques et des Organisations de la Société Civile, engagée pour l’émergence des filles et des femmes, leur participation à la vie de la nation et la promotion de leurs droits.
Héritier N. Mumbere Sivihwa
République Démocratique du Congo
Héritier Mumbere Sivihwa, (28, République Démocratique du Congo) est expert en peacebuilding et gouvernance inclusive, Directeur Exécutif de l’organisation JAMAA Grands Lacs, active dans le domaine de la paix et la bonne gouvernance au sein de la sous-région des Grands Lacs. Il est initiateur du programme de l’Université citoyenne en RDC pour l’engagement citoyen et la participation sociopolitique des jeunes et des femmes. Ce programme sert également de cadre de capacitation et d’appui au Networking des acteurs engagés de la société civile congolaise.
Ismaël Compaoré
Burkina Faso
Ismaël Compaoré (35, Burkina Faso) est assistant de recherche, doctorant en Science Politique à l’Université Thomas SANKARA. Il co-coordonne le réseau de recherche « Media, Security Crises and Youth in West Africa ». Il intervient également dans la communication et la production audiovisuelle. Ismaël Compaoré s’intéresse aux questions de sécurité, de vigilantisme, de droits humains, de démocratie et de bonne gouvernance.
Ismaila Yalcouye
Mali
Ismaila YALCOUYE, (34, Mali) Jeune acteur de la société civile malienne dans le domaine de la lutte contre la corruption et la gestion de l’intégrité, consultant formateur. Membre fondateur de la communauté de pratique en matière de lutte contre la corruption CPLC MALI.
Souwaiba Ibrahim
Niger
Souwaiba IBRAHIM, (32, Niger) Juriste Experte en cybercriminalité et cybersécurité ; consultante sur les questions de Gouvernance Démocratique et Sécuritaire au Sahel ; Présidente de la Ligue Nigérienne des Droits des Femmes.
Sylvain Langue
Tchad
Sylvain LANGUE, (26, Tchad) Ingénieur en Eau et Environnement ; Coordonnateur du réseau des jeunes et ambassadeurs des objectifs de développement durable(ODD) au Tchad ; Facilitateur/Animateur des ODD au sein de ODD Living Labs/ N’Djamena.
Tiana Harimiora Randrianarison
Madagascar
Tiana Harimiora, (29, Madagascar) Spécialiste nationale en Finances publiques pour les enfants avec UNICEF Madagascar, active dans les domaines de finances publiques et de gouvernance.
Zipporah Dulcie Ndione
Sénégal
Zipporah NDIONE, (32, Sénégal) Juriste / Consultante, Féministe, Présidente du Réseau Ouest Africain des Jeunes Femmes Leaders-Sénégal (ROAJELF/SENEGAL)
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