Amplifying Citizens’ Voices Through Technology – Matin Libre

The CivicTech Fund Africa was officially launched on Tuesday 30 November 2021 thanks to a webinar that mobilized civil society actors, African Union and European Union level officials and media professionals. An initiative led by the Project Africa Charter with the goal of amplifying the voice of citizens using civic technology.

The CivicTech Fund Africa aims to support democratic governance through innovative civic engagement. This, by promoting good democratic practices in electoral matters and good governance in Africa thanks to digital civic technologies. This is a project that encourages the use of civic technology to amplify the voice of citizens. From the presentation of the project during the webinar, it is found that it provides financial resources, through grants, as well as technical resources, through knowledge, to Civic Initiatives for Democracy, especially those led by underrepresented groups. The project opens spaces for collaboration between citizens, civic initiatives and decision-makers in the African Union at national, regional and continental levels with a focus on digital formats. Particular attention is given to the role and mandate of the African Governance Structure,” identify the initiators. Other approaches adopted under the project include civic technology scholarships, digital engagement, evidence creation, policy dialogue, and analysis of the African governance structure and civil society process. For Alban Bayasat, Senior Director for Policy and Programs at the European Union Mission to the African Union, this project bridges the gap between citizens and governments A challenge shared by the European Union which, according to its statements, stands with the African Union to promote good governance policies, in particular the African Charter on Democracy He said he was convinced that Good ideas stem from citizens, from society and from the fact that there are young people who want to participate and want to be heard.Whatever catalyst the European Union has launched this call to support initiatives likely to enhance civic participation in Africa The representative of the African Parliament welcomed the achievement of this project which aims to raise the voice of citizens that support and enhance governance and democracy in Africa.According to his statements, the project is an opportunity for Parliament African to engage in the dynamic of cooperation to change the situation; Using digital civic technologies to amplify the voices of marginalized citizens. He also expressed optimism about the impact of the project on the African continent. Before calling for a united Africa that speaks with one voice, he added, human rights can only be recognized in a democratic country, and the only way to fight human rights violations is to promote them. For Ambassador Seha Hammad, Head of the General Secretariat of the African Governance Structure, the African Union relies heavily on the participation and inclusion of civil society, invoking the shortcomings, regressions and negative trends of democracy that can be observed on the continent. He then said that he was pleased to see such an initiative aimed at enhancing citizen participation. On the other hand, he says he is concerned about the participation and commitment of Africans who do not have access to technology, to the digital tools used under the aforementioned project.

What is du CivicTech Funding Africa?

The new CivicTech Fund Africa will provide pioneers with access to seed grants, technology support and data, as well as policy and topic experts from the Charter Project Africa coalition. This alliance includes Africtives, Code for Africa (CfA), Gorée Institute, Democracy Works Foundation, European Center for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and European Partnership for Democracy (EPD). The fund will initially target innovators from 11 African Union member states (South Africa, Benin, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia). At a later stage, it will expand to support initiatives elsewhere on the continent. Civic technologies (or civic technology) are essential drivers of citizen participation. As such, digital tools make it easier for citizens to engage with those in power, and can help strengthen democratic processes and inclusive decision-making. Therefore, civil technologies can effectively contribute to promoting the values ​​and principles embodied in the African Charter. An initiative that is part of the vision of achieving an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, led by its citizens.” The objective of the draft charter is to stimulate citizen participation in the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).

Aziz Badro