Annual Reports
Message from the Executive Director
The Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) is founded on the principle that citizens must be permanently vigilant over the conduct of public affairs - whether government appears to be functioning well or not. Our mission is to enable that vigilance. Central to this effort is strengthening the civil society anti-corruption and good governance coalition.
This annual report is AfriCOG's first and covers our programme activities from July 2007 to December 2008. The defining event of the 2007-2008 period was the violence and destruction that followed the December 2007 General Elections. Despite the poll crisis and consequent shifts in the political, legal and social environment, AfriCOG's approach, which seeks to address the structural causes of Kenya's ongoing governance crisis was validated and significant work in its regular programme areas was undertaken, some of which is detailed in this report. Looking forward, AfriCOG will continue to pursue its strategic priorities.
Among these is a focus on economic governance and the protection of the public interest in the regulatory sector. Public financial accountability will continue to be promoted, beginning with an analysis of the Controller and Auditor General's reports on the Electoral Commission of Kenya. The post-election crisis exposed a weakness in civil society's capacity to provide strategic analysis, develop credible scenarios and possible mitigating responses. AfriCOG intends to help build up this capacity.
Further, AfriCOG's partnership with the media will be strengthened through a competitive investigative journalism fellowship.
We thank all those who have contributed to the success of AfriCOG in 2007 and 2008, particularly our Board of Directors, staff, associates and funding partners.
