FES Democracy Hub Africa

Since 2025, the FES Botswana office serves as the FES Democracy Hub Africa. The Democracy Hub is the central focal point for Africa-wide continental approaches in the thematic area of youth work, political party dialogue and democratic development within the FES Africa Department. The tasks of the Democracy Hub include:

  • conceptualising and developing activities with a regional and continental approach in the thematic area of social democracy. Among these is the “Gaborone Democracy Lab” which hosts African democracy supporters and defenders from diverse backgrounds (civil society, academia, public policy, political parties) in order to foster dialogue and mutual understanding around global and continental democracy-related challenges and solutions;
  • serving as a FES focal point for the Africa-wide activities of the Progressive Alliance (PA), in close coordination with FES head office and exchange with FES offices in Africa with actual or potential PA member parties;
  • advising upon political party as well as youth-related activities in Africa;
  • be an active member of the advisory team on social democracy of the FES International Cooperation Division on behalf of the Africa Department, and implement activities in conjunction with the objectives of the advisory team

The Democracy Hub offers:

  • Timely updates and analyses on emerging trends and relevant developments regarding democracy development and enrichment in Africa
  • Regular information on youth- and political party-related activities and developments across the continent
  • Exchange and advice on political party dialogue and youth work (YLTPs)

The Gaborone Democracy Lab in partnership with Afrobarometer

The annual “Gaborone Democracy Lab” brings together African democracy supporters and defenders, as well as their counterparts from other parts of the world with decision-makers in order to foster dialogue and a common understanding of challenges to democracy in Africa and the world. Most importantly, to develop strategies and actions to address them. The purpose of the Gaborone Democracy Lab is to foster alliances among a diverse set of relevant democratic actors, and to create a space for honest exchange between them in a cooperative spirit towards safeguarding and consolidating democracy.

The general objectives are:

  • to find ways of mutual learning how to strengthen democratic institutions and its safeguarding mechanisms, particularly from African perspectives

  • to identify actions and access points to improve the delivery of public goods by democratic means

  • to build joint agency around reforming and democratizing international institutions geared towards the provision of public goods and social justice

The Gaborone Democracy Lab is organised in partnership with the Afrobarometer. For more information visit www.afrobarometer.org.

Gaborone Democracy Lab Updates

01.09.2025

What’s your vision for democracy? Let's redesign democracy together!


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Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Botswana Office

5261, Phuthadikoboway

Village

Gaborone

(+267) 395 2441
info.botswana@fes.de

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