Democracy in Africa today faces many challenges: increasing political inequality, the decline of widespread political participation, voter incompetence, the increasing power of non-majoritarian organisations and institutions on the domestic and global stages, the rise of regional and global problems requiring multilateral collective action, the growing need for specialised expertise in an increasingly complex public policy environment, and the existence of often radical forms of social, political, and moral pluralism all combine to exert significant pressure on existing democratic regimes.

Elections and institutions are also compromised. At AU Watch we provide meaningful opportunities for citizens to communicate their concerns to decision-makers and thereby effectively track the will of the people. Our media and outreach programs encourage more citizens to participate in the decision-making processes of the AU and the state.

We Coordinate Civil Society

a.) Strengthening and coordinating the capacity of CSOs for effective engagement with the AU, its organs and institutions.

b.) Thematically – we work with local organizations, networks and coalitions within the broad themes as identified by our members. These are:

i) Regional Integration

ii) Gender Equality and Women’s Rights

iii) Peace and Security

iv) Economic Justice

v) Democracy, Governance and Human Rights

We focus on the AU

 Our work focuses on the African Union, it’s organs and institutions including the following:

• The Heads of States and Governments Assembly
• The Executive Council
• The Permanent Representatives Council
• The Peace and Security Council
• The African Union Commission
• The Pan African Parliament
• The Economic Cultural and Social Council
• The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
• The African Court on the Human and People’s Rights
• The African Peer Review Mechanism
• The African Union African Board on Corruption
• The African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
• The NEPAD Agency