Foundations unveil $20m fund to boost democracy in West Africa

Foundations unveil $20m fund to boost democracy in West Africa

The Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and Open Society Foundations have unveiled the West Africa Democracy Fund, a $20 million initiative aimed at bolstering democracy across West Africa.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the three-year fund is designed to address democratic challenges in the region and foster greater citizen engagement in political transitions.

The statement said, “The Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and Open Society Foundation have launched a $20 million West Africa Democracy Fund (WADF) to reimagine, renew and strengthen democracy across the region.

“The fund, targeted at supporting West African states currently facing various democratic challenges, will, over a period of three years, support activities to increase citizens’ engagement with democratic and political transitions in the respective countries.”

The President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, emphasised the collaborative nature of the initiative, saying, “I am grateful for the collaboration of our philanthropic, civil society, and government partners as we launch the West Africa Democracy Fund, which follows the lead of the people of West Africa as they work to strengthen the foundations of democracy and build a more resilient future.”

Walker highlighted the link between declining democracy and rising inequality in the region, stressing the need for simultaneous solutions.

“Greater citizen participation in democratic processes is needed to fully realise a peaceful, inclusive democracy that empowers citizens to build a society that is more just, and that contributes to greater prosperity and stable economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Nigeria Office of the MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, pointed to the challenges facing democratic movements in West Africa.

“In West Africa, the demand for democracy is not matched by the supply of democracy. Opposition to military rule has weakened across the continent, and citizens bear the brunt of abuses of power by ruling classes,” Shettima said.

He expressed hope that the new fund would help West Africans achieve their aspirations for democracy dividends and contribute to a more just, peaceful, and sustainable region.

The Managing Director of Programmes at the Open Society Foundations, Brian Kagoro, spotlighted the deeper cultural roots of democracy in the region, stating, “Democracy in West Africa is an ideal embedded in the traditions and cultures of the people. It is an aspiration ingrained in the vision of the young people.

“The fight for a more democratic West Africa is a fight for a West Africa that is free from imperial domination, neo-colonial political mortgaging, and external manipulation.”

According to the Regional Director of the Ford Foundation Office of West Africa (OWA), Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, the fund’s development involved extensive engagement with local stakeholders.

“The West Africa Democracy Fund is the result of deep engagement and listening across the region with local leaders and civil society organisations. Therefore, the solutions we seek through this Fund will be homegrown, rooted in the needs and aspirations of the people of the sub-region, and driven by the people themselves,” she said.

The statement furthered that WADF will provide grants to support activities aimed at promoting inclusive democracy, including multi-stakeholder dialogues and regional engagements with bodies like the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, as well as strengthening key state institutions such as the judiciary.