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BLOG
Commentary, opinion, and stories from across the SIVIO network on governance, civic life, and development in Africa.
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The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) 100 Days in Office: Tracking Government Actions/Inactions Against Electoral Promises in Botswana
The Umbrella for Democratic Change-led government celebrated 100 days in office on 12 February 2025. In the run-up to this anniversary, the Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolatlhe presented the country’s 2025/2026 budget proposals[1], which is also the first budget proposal by the new government. In this regard, this is a key policy pronouncement that speaks to the actions or inactions of the new government following their electoral promises. This article investigates the first 100 days of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) against 176 electoral promises drafted from their 2024 election manifesto. SIVIO Institute has developed the…
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POLL: Governance Challenges in Africa
Governance Challenges in Africa Governance challenges in Africa are multifaceted, with accountability being a central issue. Despite the occurrence of elections, many African democracies struggle to deliver transformative development, often resembling undemocratic regimes where elites prioritize personal gain over public service. The lack of accountability among public officials has led to stagnation in development, with legislative bodies frequently failing to oversee government actions due to political affiliations. This has resulted in widespread corruption and abuse of power, eroding public trust. To address these challenges, there is a pressing need for citizen-driven initiatives that demand transparency and hold leaders accountable, ensuring…
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The Big Bet for 2025: Revitalizing Accountability in African Democracies
Big Bet 2025: Revitalizing Accountability in African Democracies As we step into 2025, there is a palpable sense of anticipation for a brighter future across various facets of our lives, including the state of our democracies. The past year has been a mixed bag for African nations, with several countries undergoing elections that yielded new political dispensations including new administrations led by former opposition parties and in some instances governments of national unity. In some cases, the incumbent parties retained power. It was a year in which electoral democracy was tested (Mail & Guardian). The consensus around electoral democracy has…
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2024: The year democracy was tested in Africa
Originally posted on Mail & Guardian: https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2024-12-24-2024-the-year-democracy-was-tested-in-africa/ At the beginning of the year, Africa was scheduled to have presidential or general elections in 19 (35%) countries. A total of 180 million eligible voters were expected to make their mark. This was a test for democracy and institutional capacity to successfully provide oversight and ensure smooth transitions, given that since 2020 Africa has experienced seven coups. In 2020, there were military coups in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali. The following year, Chad’s army came to power. And in 2023 there were coups in Niger (July), Gabon (September) and a failed coup in Guinea-Bissau…
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Building a Concerted Movement of Youths and Women for Democracy and Development
Over the past 11 months, we have had the privilege of collaborating with 15 inspiring Zimbabwean leaders, dedicated to building robust advocacy organizations and empowering their movements. Our team has been diligently working to strengthen these movements through an intensive Policy Advocacy Lab process. Together, we have delved deep into the critical issue of access to education in Zimbabwe. Today, these passionate leaders are gathering in Harare to craft a powerful advocacy strategy that will drive meaningful change in this vital area.
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Whose Gig Economy is it anyway? – MozFest House Zambia
With the rise of fintech, new challenges like privacy, security, and equitable access are emerging. In this session of MozFest House Zambia, Belinda Chaora joins a panel to unpack these issues with the presenting sponsor, Visa. The panel cuts through the noise to address the real impact of financial technology. Listen to the session below to reimagine digital systems that empower everyone to thrive in today’s evolving labour market. You can read more about the work SIVIO Institute has done around digital financial inclusion below: Check out the Financial Inclusion Index, which compares the level of inclusion of Micro, Small…
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Our Team is part of the APN Assembly 2024
The APN Assembly serves as the flagship event of the APN, bringing together members, their partners, and field practitioners. Its purpose is to facilitate the sharing of experiences, new knowledge, and collective reflections on the development of Africa, while; we collectively promote the voice and action for African philanthropy. https://assembly.or.tz/ Our team is in Victoria Falls to attend the Assembly (4-8 November). Tendai Murisa delivered the opening remarks and welcome the delegates to the assembly. Shelly Satuku and Eddah Jowah, alogn with colleagues from Trust Africa, led a discussion based on their experiences of creating an enabling environment for philanthropy actors…
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Community Foundations of Zimbabwe Network
On the 4th of November 2024, we hosted the second face-to-face convening of Community Foundations of Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls. Out of the 12 organisations currently making up the network, 11 attended the meeting. The meeting started with understanding the perceptions of why attendees thought they had gathered. Attendees listed their expectations or what they thought were the objectives of the meeting. The following are their expectations: As SIVIO Institute, we pledged to support the network formation but not assume a leadership role even in the conversation. Our role would be to facilitate and allow a participatory approach to network…
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AJIS Volume 4 – Africa’s Quest for Inclusion: Trends and Patterns
African Journal of Inclusive Societies Launches Fourth Volume: “Africa’s Quest for Inclusion: Trends and Patterns” The African Journal of Inclusive Societies (AJIS) is proud to announce the release of its fourth volume, titled “Africa’s Quest for Inclusion: Trends and Patterns.” This latest edition delves into the multifaceted efforts and ongoing challenges faced by African nations in their pursuit of inclusive growth and development. The fourth volume of AJIS brings together a diverse array of scholarly articles, case studies, and research findings that explore the dynamic landscape of inclusion across the continent. From policy analysis to grassroots initiatives, the journal provides…
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Research Update: Data collection complete for CPE 2024 survey
SIVIO Institute has since the beginning conducted an annual survey of Zimbabwean Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations (CPE) of their government. Throughout October, the team of enumerators were busy around the country interviewing citizens from all ten provinces in Zimbabwe. The methodology has been consistent across the 5 years as the team employs a quota sampling method to ensure a representative sample of 1,200 respondents from the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. Each province contributed an equal number of respondents, with a balanced gender representation. To align with the national demographic distribution reported in the 2022 national census, we ensured that most…
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