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On 11 March 2014, the publication Political Parties in Africa through a Gender Lens was launched at an International IDEA side event on “Women’s Political Participation and Representation – Making Development Sustainable, Making Governance Responsive” at the United Nations Headquarters, during the 58

Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, is preparing for elections in February 2015 with Presidential and National Assembly elections on 14 February followed by state governorship and Houses of Assembly elections on 28 February. The 2015 elections will be administered by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) headed by Chairman Attahiru Muhammadu Jega starting with a nationwide voter registration process. Political party campaigns are set to begin in November 2014.

‘Tunisians agree that their new constitution is an advance, despite the imperfections. The people’s new democratic spirit is what will make Tunisia a success, and it will hopefully serve as an inspiration for the entire Arab region in times to come’.

^{Disclaimer: The views expressed in this analysis are the author’s and should in no way be construed to represent those of International IDEA, its Board and/or Council members.}

One of the persistent democratic deficits throughout the world is women’s lack of influence in politics. In relation to political parties in particular, the voice of women in decision-making remains insufficient, and, in some cases, is non-existent.

This report is based on the findings of a two-year project implemented by International IDEA, aimed at analysing the commitments of political parties to gender equality in 33 countries in Africa.

In early 2014 the Tanzanian Centre for Democracy (TCD) – an organization bringing together all political parties to promote multi-party democracy– completed an assessment of local democracy from a gender perspective using International IDEA’s State of Local Democracy (SoLD) assessment framework.

Most Tunisians agree that their new constitution is an advance, despite the imperfections. The people’s new democratic spirit is what will make Tunisia a success, and it will hopefully serve as an inspiration for the entire Arab region in times to come.

In recent years illicit transnational networks have increased their capacity to threaten the legitimacy of democratic institutions and political processes.

In recent years illicit transnational networks have increased their capacity to threaten the legitimacy of democratic institutions and political processes.

In the context of a protest movement that started in Tunisia in December 2010 and that spread throughout North Africa and West Asia, close to 200,000 Moroccans took to the streets in 53 cities to demand rapid change in their country.

On 10–12 July 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), convened a conference on the legal framework governing political parties and party financing.

International IDEA has been cooperating with the IEBC on the ERM Tool pilot project since November 2011. The project is funded by the Swedish Government. The Tool will be launched as a global public good in late 2013. 

Conducting a free and fair election is one of the most challenging endeavours for a democratic country. This is even more so when there has been substantial political reform, as in Kenya’s case after the contested election in 2007. 

In December 2010, the Tunisian people ignited a process of change that has impacted all of North Africa.

This paper examines Botswana’s regions and how they have addressed issues of governance and leadership, service delivery, development and democratic accountability. It focuses on the historical kingdoms that were converted into chiefdoms during the colonial era and later into districts after Botswana’s independence in 1966.

Local governance, decentralization and democracy are key components of the traditional Ghanaian institution of chieftaincy.

According to the Millennium Development Goals 2012 Report, the proportion of seats held by women in single or lower houses of national parliaments in North Africa rose from 3 per cent in 2000 to 11 per cent in 2012.

The Electoral Assistance Unit (EAU) implements the electoral assistance provided by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The EAU responds to the practical realities of West African states and takes pro-active measures to facilitate good practices within electoral management bodies in ECOWAS member states. The ultimate aim is to ensure the integrity of elections.

Africa has seen significant democratic development, economic growth and an overall decline in conflict in recent times. For example, there is an increasing number of countries that have recently managed to hold elections without violence, including Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Sierra Leone and South Africa.

For over two decades, since the start of the so-called second wave of democratization, many voices in the Arab world have been calling for the implementation of radical reforms to the systems, institutions, frameworks and practices of all levels of governance in the region.

Beginning in late 2010, from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and Jordan, countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have experienced individualized versions of what has come to be known as ‘The Arab Spring’.

In this context, moreover, these countries are now confronting their own versions of the multi-faceted, multi-layered democratic transition agenda.