As recent elections in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cote d’Ivoire show, elections are a necessary, but not the only, condition for democracy. Days before the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe, this conference brought together civil society activists, and political analysts, along with representatives from the U.S. government and NGOs, to focus on strengthening democracy in Zimbabwe.

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The launch of CIMA’s newest report, South Africa’s Media 20 Years After Apartheid, and a discussion about the role of media development in democratic transitions in southern Africa. Panelists focused on the importance of media development in the region, the challenges of the past 20 years, and how to work for a more open and diverse media environment throughout the region.

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In her presentation Ms. Nadira Eshmatova focused on the challenges facing youth in Kyrgyzstan, as well as on how the country’s ongoing socio-political transition is shaping opportunities for youth activism. She suggested ways in which organizations working with youth can ensure that young people are actively involved in the reconciliation and democracy building processes in Kyrgyzstan. Ms. Eshmatova concluded by suggesting strategies to better engage Kyrgyz and Uzbek youth, especially in the south of Kyrgyzstan. Her presentation was followed by comments from Ms. Maria Lisitsyna.

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In his presentation, Abdulrazaq Alkali provided an overview of the state of youth activism in Nigeria today. He surveyed the steps being taken to; engage youth, identify barriers to their participation, and offer recommendations to increase their involvement in decision-making processes. His presentation was followed by comments by Dave Peterson.

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In his presentation, Frank Rusa Nyakaana explored the opportunities and challenges faced by Ugandan civil society groups in their struggle for political accountability. Mr. Rusa offered his perspectives on the way forward, as well as recommendations for international development practitioners, civil society, and the Ugandan government. His presentation was followed by comments by Eric Robinson.

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The Tunisia case study is the second lecture in a joint series on “The Role of Economics in Democratic Transitions” organized by the Legatum Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, Foreign Policy, and World Affairs that explores the link between economic reform and political transitions.

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In his presentation, Kwami Ahiabenu provided an overview of how new digital technologies, including online platforms, mobile apps, SMS, and social media, are being used to promote democratic governance and economic transparency in ECOWAS member states. He assessed relevant projects, identified gaps in project deployment, and offered recommendations for the effective use of technology to strengthen democratic governance in West Africa. His presentation was followed by comments by Larry Diamond.

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Panelists discussed the overall media landscape in Bahrain, examined the government's control of the media, and provided recommendations for improving the situation for independent media in Bahrain

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