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Grants >>
Africa Program Highlights
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There were some, however, of the usual setbacks, but courageous democrats continue to press on, working constantly to cultivate democracy. Elections in Togo after the death of Gnassingbe Eyadema were seriously flawed, but the demise of Africa's longest-surviving dictator opened the door for new possibilities. Zimbabwe held unfair elections, and repressive economic and social policies pushed the country into greater chaos, but opposition forces fought hard to preserve their political space. Leaders of a coup overthrowing the dictatorship in Mauritania pledged to hold democratic elections within two years. Despite attacks on the press and civil society and divisions in the new government, democrats and human rights activists in Somalia gained strength and confidence. NED's Africa program contributed to many of these positive developments, cultivating the prospects for democratic progress in the coming years. The Endowment's number one priority in Africa for 2005 remained the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 37 grants were awarded to civil society groups to support this enormous country's difficult transition to democracy and to strengthen the respect for human rights and national reconciliation. One NED grantee, Voix de l'Handicapée pour les Droits de l'Homme (VHDH), succeeded in introducing protections for handicapped and vulnerable people into the Congolese constitution. Grantees also brought international attention to the massive number of victims of rape in eastern Congo and provided them with legal assistance. NED's programs in Congo also trained election observers around the country, emphasized women's rights, and supported groups working in the neglected province of Maniema. Liberia was also a NED priority in Africa, where 17 grants supported the heroic efforts of civil society to promote democratic elections, human rights, transparency, freedom of the press, and peace. Groups such as the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE), the Zorzor District Women's Care (ZODWOCA), and the Center for Democracy and Elections covered the country with activities and educational materials promoting participation in the elections. The Liberia National Law Enforcement Association assisted in the reform of Liberia's various security forces, and the Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy campaigned for government accountability. Human Rights Watch Women and Children (HURWAWCHI) and the Rural Human Rights Activists (RHRAP) promoted human rights and community reconciliation. In Nigeria, NED grantees built on the democratic gains made in the two elections since the end of military rule, despite the political violence, corruption, and human rights abuses that continued to plague this West African giant. The Youngstars Foundation, Human Rights Monitor, and Centre for Information Technology promoted democratic values in neglected northern Nigeria. In the troubled southeast, the Imo Youth Network, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, Liberty Now, Eastern Center for Democratic Advancement, Institute of Human Rights, and Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) advocated for human rights, campaigned against political violence and corruption, and encouraged the participation of youth in democracy. In Sudan, peace negotiations between the north and the south finally concluded with the inauguration of a national unity government at the beginning of the year; however, this was clouded by the death of the new vice-president and former opposition leader John Garang, as well as the continuing violence in Darfur. NED programs labored to overcome these obstacles, promoting human rights, democratic ideas and culture, and community and national reconciliation. The Sudan Self-Help Foundation began democracy education courses in Darfur, while the National Center for Peace and Development conducted democracy training for political leaders in Khartoum. NED grantees such as Kwoto and the Sudan Inter-Religious Council promoted constructive dialogue between Sudan's Christian and Muslim communities. Although Somalia and Somaliland proceeded in different directions politically, the Endowment provided strategic support to democrats in both regions. In Somalia, which remained mired in anarchy, the Somali Journalists Union nevertheless held a national conference at which it became a formal trade union movement recognized by the International Federation of Journalists, and reinforced its courageous efforts to protect journalists and freedom of the press. NED supported human rights organizations in all corners of Somalia, including Mogadishu, Galkayo, Hiran, and Kismayo. In Somaliland, NED supported key civil society organizations such as Nagaad and the Consortium of Somaliland NGOs (COSONGO), which provided domestic observers in the historic legislative elections that have virtually completed Somaliland's democratic transition. Ethiopia's May legislative elections, though troubled by violence, nonetheless represented a potential breakthrough for the country. Ethiopia emerged as a new priority for NED in 2005, and both CIPE and ACILS conducted programs supporting the independent business and labor sectors, respectively, while discretionary grantees conducted electoral education programs. Amidst troubling elections, NED expanded its program in Zimbabwe to support human rights organizations, election monitoring groups, and independent media and research. With assistance to NDI, the Endowment responded rapidly to the sudden elections in Togo and the coup in Mauritania. The crisis in Côte d'Ivoire also attracted greater attention from NED, where IRI reinforced its support to civil society reconciliation efforts. The Endowment also supported various trans-border initiatives, such as the West African Human Rights Defenders Network and the East African Human Rights Defenders Network, to provide training opportunities for human rights NGOs and coalitions; a project to assist beleaguered journalists through Reporters Sans Frontieres; a project to train young human rights leaders through Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme; and a project to strengthen the internet capacity of the Africa Democracy Forum, a pan-African network of human rights and democracy activists. Widespread corruption has become a growing area of concern, and NED has responded with significant assistance to programs designed to tackle its pervasiveness. Initiatives have included a project by NDI to promote transparency and increase democratic oversight regarding extractive resources throughout the continent; a project by ACILS to support the efforts of oil sector trade unions to promote transparency in Angola and Nigeria; a project by the National Accountability Group in Sierra Leone to work with religious leaders to fight corruption; training conducted by the National Center for Peace and Development in Sudan to promote accountability, and a project by the Nigerian Center for Law and Social Action focusing on the problem of corruption in campaign finance. * Indicates Department of State Funding Beyond NED's Annual Appropriation |
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