The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) is a development organization committed to promoting democracy, sustainable development and economic growth throughout Africa.  Founded in 1994, FDA is a Washington, DC-based, non-profit, 501(c)(3), non-governmental, non-partisan institution with offices in Miami, Florida.  In 1996, the Foundation was granted consultative status (special) as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). FDA is also registered with the US Agency for International Development as a Private Voluntary Organization (PVO).

THE MISSION

BACKGROUND

For more than two decades, democracy remains foreign to Africans. Africans, just like other human beings, are blessed with almost all the ingredients necessary to create an economically viable society. However, the absence of democracy has been known to foster policies that allow the suppression of total human development present in Africa.

Most Africans originally hail from a conservative environment. They are aesthetic, with a positive attitude toward religion, family, education, economic motivation, culture, achievement and social relationships. As with all people, they recognize the inevitability of change, but are cautious of the ravages of uncontrolled change. These known values are the bedrock of societal economic, political, social and spiritual cohesiveness. When this equilibrium is disturbed, the foundation for democracy will begin to erode, subsequently resulting in the various types of government existing in Africa today (ie. severely corrupt governments, military governments, and dictatorships).

THE FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

 FACT SHEET

The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA), is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed in 1994 with the sole mission to help integrate the African countries into the mainstream of the global economy. It does this by educating leaders in the concepts of democratic capitalism and by promoting this concept among the population at large, and by helping African people deal with the challenges arising from the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.

The Foundation for Democracy in Africa provides training and technical support for new generations of African leaders for the next millennium. One of the challenges facing Africa and friends of Africa today is our ability to evolve leaders in government, politics, business, industry and community affairs, who will embrace democratic values, free market concepts and a national perspective in fulfilling their responsibilities.

In 1996 the Foundation for Democracy in Africa was granted consultation status as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has since established itself as a membership organization with  links to other NGOs in Africa with similar interests and objectives.

The Foundation is located in the Washington, D.C., corridor -- and has chapters in various African countries, with a chapter recently established in Miami, Florida.   FDA organized the Inaugural International Symposium on Democracy Trade, Investment and Economic Development in Africa in cooperation with MiamiDade County in February 1998. The conference was attended by African cabinet members, ambassadors and parliamentarians as well as by U.S. congresspersons, mayors and other leaders.

In March 1999, the second annual U.S.-Africa Trade & Investment Conference was held in Miami, entitled "AFRICANDO, Gateway to Africa". The theme, "The Private Sector; the Engine that will drive sustainable economic growth in Africa"- enlisted 260 local Florida and U.S. companies who participated in the business matchmaking with indigenous African companies. The conference registered over 300 delegates and speakers. Of historical note, the first sister city seaport agreement between Miami-Dade County and an African seaport was signed (Port of Miami and Port of Dakar, Senegal).  Several representatives of Africa governments attended the conference including Ambassadors, Consul Generals, several business and community leaders and U.S. Government officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. House of Representatives.

The FDA has also formed the Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDA) as its think-tank arm. Seated in the Department of Continuing Education at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, and currently consolidating negotiations with Nova Southeastern University, the institute can provide certificate training in business, information sciences, politics, government, economics, international trade, etc.

The FDA and IDA plan to provide background information and issue analyses on topics of immediate concern in the public areas of African countries.  The objectives of this activity arc to facilitate informed discussions and provide leaders with the analyses they need to make informed decisions.

Trainees and participants arc selected from government, political organizations, educational institutions, community organizations and business associations.  The FDA's partner NGOs in African countries manage the selection process.

Through our training programs, conferences, seminars, and workshops, a new breed of leaders will be identified and supported. They will be assisted in providing the leadership that will advance the quality of economic political and environmental activities in their various countries.

THE INSTITUTE

The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, in pursuit of its objectives, has established the Institute for Democracy in Africa. The institute is responsible for the creation of innovative democratic approaches to solving the African socio-political and economic problems. This institute serves as the "think tank" arm of the foundation, responsible for conducting training, research and educating both the private and the public sector on various developments in Africa.

OBJECTIVES

The Foundation's objectives are:

• To create and/or develop affiliation with institutions known to have sound educational programs in democratic principles and ethics.
• To educate potential young leaders in Africa about the values of democracy and its impact on human development and about the interwoven relationship that exists between democracy, freedom and free enterprise.
• To develop programs that will mobilize potential young leaders (High School/ College Graduates) to participate in disseminating democratic principles throughout the continent of Africa.
• To seek, encourage, and support, credible and qualified democratic clubs and organizations to help the foundation in monitoring and enhancing democratic procedures during electoral politics.
• To encourage, solicit, and strongly support, programs and public policies and government action on matters of local, state, and national significance that will further strengthen and vertically integrate the basic principles of democracy in the continent of Africa.
• To seek total support from government, private and public entities from all democratic countries in the Western Hemisphere.
• To develop internship and recruiting programs that will foster the political education and political participation among the people of each country.
• To establish newsletters with timely information on each country that will address and educate the people about its current economic, social and political issues and changes.
• To identify and seek the help of an established network of experts to train young entrepreneurs how to implement economic policies that will encourage economic growth, job creation, and expanded opportunity for the people.
• To teach courses designed through the Foundation's leadership training program, to emphasize the significance and the continued expansion of freedom, democracy and free enterprise in Africa.

PROGRAM SITE

Washington, D.C., is the nation's capital and center of government and democracy in the United States. Developing program affiliations with the local universities like George Washington University, American University, Howard University and Virginia University, will offer students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the federal government of the United States functions via the three separate bodies of government, namely, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Major components of the Foundation's programs are conducted in and around the Washington, D.C., environs. A certificate of participation is awarded to each student upon completion of the training program.

TRAINING

The Institute for Democracy in Africa provides the necessary leadership to conduct, on a regular basis, training in the form of classroom lectures, seminars, and internships. Several curriculums have been developed with all the affiliated universities to create condensed courses in government, economics, human rights laws, and free market/ free enterprise systems. Attempts have been made to elucidate those factors that affect (promote or hinder) democratic capitalism in each African country. Factors such as intrinsic cultural values, endemic socio-economic reasons and religious beliefs, etc., are inherent in the Institute's training programs.

The research tools necessary for conducting studies are designed for each small area of each African country.

At the end of each period, all students will be familiar with the following training objectives.

• (a) Knowledge of how to conduct research.
• (b) A better understanding of the American democratic system.
• (c) A working knowledge of the free enterprise system and how to create a culturally based system.
• (d) Knowledge of the human rights laws and how to protect and implement such laws.
• (e) Knowledge of the importance of sharing ideas, experiences and newly gained knowledge with all local people in each African country.
• (f) The ability to conduct motivational and public speeches.

RESEARCH

Tremendous amounts of knowledge can be gained through research. In order to better utilize available human resources, the Institute constantly engages in conducting various types of research (eg. social, economic, medically related, demographic, or any other sponsored democratic development related research project.)

All scholars are encouraged to conduct research, and to share their gained knowledge of the system of democratic government, indigenous to their region or country.

Various areas of research have been identified relative to the Foundation's objectives. The cultural dynamics that affect the socio-political, economic factors and free enterprise in each immediate environment are also studied.

EDUCATION

Knowledge can only be obtained through education. A library of democracy has been established throughout university libraries and public libraries. All available literature on the history of democracy, democratic experiences and initiatives, etc., has been requested and made available to the general population.

Radio and television programs have been designed to help educate each regional population. Journals and newsletters are published quarterly and monthly, respectively.

SEMINARS

One of the most effective ways of disseminating knowledge is by conducting seminars. Seminars constitute an important learning component of the Foundation's programs. Regional and national conferences on newly identified socio-political and economic findings. Scholars are encouraged to present their research findings at the annual democracy conference. The abstracts and articles are published as an annual proceeding on democracy in Africa and will be registered with the Library of Congress.