AHEAD Africa
All about the project
AHEAD Africa is an EU co-funded project focusing on multiple facets of the electoral cycle.
A look back at 2024!
Objectives
Empower civil society across Africa, including citizen observers, in strengthening electoral systems & processes
Contribute to higher levels of electoral integrity in African Union member states
The underlying methodology of the Action is the AHEAD approach – Action for a Holistic Electoral Approach for Democracy – which emphasises that follow-up to election observation recommendations can be a key driver for more inclusive electoral systems, building public trust and preventing conflicts.
By focusing on ‘electoral follow-up’, civil society can effectively advocate for democratic accountability and play a significant role in fostering transparent and accountable electoral processes.
How will we achieve our objectives?
01
Strengthening the capacities of CSOs to collaborate in regional and continental networks on matters of democratic governance, particularly on election observation and follow-up.
02
Reinforcing the capacity of domestic citizen observer groups to meaningfully observe electoral and democratic processes.
03
Increasing the evidence base on the state of democratic governance and civic space in the African Union member states.
04
Reinvigorating spaces for dialogue, coordination and collaboration on electoral observation and follow-up, between CSOs, citizen observers and other stakeholders.
05
Launching, accelerating and upscaling civic initiatives on monitoring, observation, dialogue and/or advocacy, incorporating tested civic tech solutions as needed.
Who we are
Vision
A thriving democratic African continent of emancipated and accountability-driven participation.
Mission
Empowering and mobilising CSOs across Africa to champion fact-driven electoral accountability, transparency, and integrity.
Values
Empowerment
Fact-driven
Cooperation & engagement
Transparency & accountability
Collaboration
Our activities
Capacity-building & learning
Strengthening the capacities of CSOs on matters of democratic governance, particularly on election observation and follow-up.
Knowledge production & monitoring
Increasing the evidence base on the state of democratic governance and civic space in the African Union member states.
Collaboration & networking
Reinvigorating spaces for dialogue, coordination and collaboration on electoral observation and follow-up, between CSOs, citizen observers and other stakeholders.
Advocacy
Advocating for evidence-based electoral reforms at national, regional, and continental levels.
Why our logo
The African continent symbolises the project’s continental scope, representing a ballot to highlight the focus on elections.
The wider transparent semicircle represents the project’s continental scope, while the two transparent semicircles together represent ‘interconnection’, as all AHEAD Africa partners are networks.
The growing green line bordering the ballot box symbolises the innovative AHEAD approach, aiming to unite electoral support and democracy (represented by the red and blue elements, previously identified as disconnected.
The pie shape symbolises our activities at a national level.
The dots mimic parliamentary seats, with each dot representing one of the five African regions.
We’re making headlines
