Political Parties
Participate in APPI by engaging in policy clusters, summits, country dialogues, and leadership academies. Political Parties can apply to join the initiative through filling the APPI Application Form.
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African Political Parties Initiative
Building Africa’s Political Parties for Democratic and Economic Transformation
From the Ballot to GovernanceStrengthening Political Parties for Sustainable Development in Africa.
The continental context
Political Parties and the Future of Democratic Governance in Africa
Political parties remain among the most consequential institutions in modern political life. They organise democratic competition, shape public debate, recruit political leadership, and provide the institutional foundations through which governments are formed and national policy is developed. The strength and maturity of political parties therefore play a decisive role in determining the quality of governance within democratic systems.
Across Africa, political parties operate within political environments that are evolving rapidly. Democratic expectations are rising, political participation is expanding, and citizens increasingly demand effective leadership, responsible governance, and credible public institutions. These changes place new pressures on political parties to strengthen their internal organisation, deepen their policy capacity, and cultivate leadership capable of responding to the complex challenges facing contemporary societies.
— About APPI
About the African Political Parties Initiative
— About APPI
About the African Political Parties Initiative
The African Political Parties Initiative has been established to support reflection, engagement, and cooperation among political actors across the continent as they confront these institutional questions. Operating under the Africa Governance Centre, the initiative brings together leaders of political parties, policymakers, and governance practitioners to engage in constructive conversations on the evolving role of political parties in Africa's democratic systems and economic transformation.
Establishment of the initiative
From launch to a continental platform of engagement
7 March 2025
Formal launch of the initiative
The African Political Parties Initiative was formally launched during a high-level gathering of political leaders and governance stakeholders convened under the auspices of the Africa Governance Centre. The keynote speech of the launch was delivered by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and leader of the National Democratic Congress. The occasion marked the establishment of a continental initiative designed to encourage engagement among political parties and to promote dialogue on the institutional development of political leadership across Africa.
12–14 August 2025
1st African Political Parties Summit
Following the launch of the initiative, the 1st African Political Parties Summit was convened, bringing together political leaders and governance practitioners from across 33 countries to examine the evolving role of political parties in Africa's democratic governance and economic transformation.
Summit outcome
Adoption of the Summit Communiqué
The summit marked the first major convening of the initiative and established the foundation for a continuing platform of engagement among political actors across the continent through the adoption of an official Summit Communiqué.
Initiative at a glance
- Initiative formally launched
- 7 March 2025
- 1st African Political Parties Summit
- 12–14 Aug 2025
- Countries represented at the first summit
- 33
- Official Summit Communiqué adopted
- 1
- 2nd Summit (APPS 2026)
- 5 November 2026
Accra, Ghana
Accra, Ghana
Heads of state, party leaders & delegations
Endorsed by participating parties
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Strategic pillars
Strategic Pillars of the Initiative
APPI's work is organised around a clear set of objectives and six strategic pillars that carry them into practice across the continent.
African Political Parties Summit (APPS)
The flagship convening of heads of state, party leaders, and political thinkers, held annually to shape collective agendas for political reform, policy innovation, and inter-party cooperation. The summit brings together leaders of political parties, heads of state who also lead political parties, policymakers, and governance experts to reflect on the changing role of political institutions in Africa's democratic systems.
Inclusive Leadership Platforms (Youth and Women Platforms)
Dedicated spaces to promote the full participation of youth, women, and marginalized groups in political decision-making and party leadership. The African Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS) advances the participation and leadership of women within political systems, while the African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF) creates a space for emerging political leaders to engage on political participation and the future of democratic governance.
Thematic Working Groups and Policy Clusters
Cross-party platforms dedicated to knowledge exchange, policy design, and institutional learning on key governance and development issues.
Political Academy for Transformative Leadership
A leadership and capacity development platform for young politicians, emerging leaders, and party executives, focused on values-based leadership and practical governance skills.
Country-Level Dialogues
Structured national engagements supporting political party development, reforms, and institutional capacity-building.
Continental Taskforce on Political Engagement for AfCFTA (CTPE-AfCFTA)
An initiative aligning political parties, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the private sector to drive political buy-in and accountability for regional trade and industrial transformation.
Why APPI matters
Why APPI Matters
Strengthening internal party governance and accountability
Bridging the gap between political leadership and policy delivery
Fostering cross-party collaboration on governance and economic transformation
Building the next generation of visionary, ethical political leaders
Promoting peace, dialogue, and democratic resilience across the continent
A response to deep institutional weaknesses
In many African countries, political parties have increasingly become disconnected from national development priorities and face deep institutional weaknesses. APPI responds to this challenge by strengthening governance, leadership and cross-party collaboration.
Through non-partisan, inclusive, and country-specific strategies, APPI aims to contribute to long-term institutional reform and regional political stability.
Global partnerships and networks
Learning and exchange
across regions
The African Political Parties Initiative in 2025 engaged with political party platforms in other regions of the world. Through such partnerships, the initiative contributes to broader international conversations on political leadership, democratic governance, and the institutional development of political parties.
The initiative maintains relationships with organisations such as the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL). These engagements facilitate exchanges among political leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean on questions relating to governance, democratic practice, transformation political party systems and economic transformation. With these partnerships, the initiative seeks to encourage learning across regions and to contribute to a deeper understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities confronting political parties in contemporary democratic systems and their role in developing their respective countries.
- Africa
- Asia
- Latin America & Caribbean
Africa Governance Centre
Institutional host
Africa Governance Centre
The African Political Parties Initiative operates under the Africa Governance Centre, a continental institution dedicated to advancing governance transformation and institutional development across Africa. Through the Centre's institutional partnerships, the initiative is able to convene political actors, facilitate dialogue among political leaders, and support engagement among political parties across the continent.
Get involved
Four pathways into the initiative
Partner with the APPI to reimagine political parties as vehicles for transformation in Africa.
Youth and Women in Politics
Apply to our leadership fellowship programmes, participate in the African Youth in Politics Forum and the African Women Political Leadership Summit, or contribute to working groups.
ApplyGovernments and Institutions
Collaborate with APPI through technical partnerships, institutional reform programmes to promote party development and democratic deepening.
Contact UsDevelopment Partners and Donors
Support APPI's institutional growth, capacity development programmes, and continental coordination efforts through funding, technical support, or joint programmatic initiatives.
Contact UsBuilding stronger political institutions through participation, partnership and dialogue.
Partner with the APPI to reimagine political parties as vehicles for transformation in Africa.
Participate • Partner • Contribute
Latest updates
News from across the initiative
01News · October 2026
African Political Parties Summit 2026 (APPS 2026) to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in late October 2026
Read update 02Country consultations under the CTPE-AfCFTA launched in selected African countries
03Fellowship applications open for the 2027 cohort of the Political Academy for Transformative Leadership
Quick access
Essential resources
Key APPI resources, platforms and points of engagement in one place.
01 / FrameworkDownload the APPI Framework02 / SummitRegister for the Summit03 / PublicationsExplore Publications and Toolkits04 / SecretariatContact the Secretariat05 / MembersAPPI Member Login
APPI Framework
Institutional Framework
Explore the principles, structures and strategic direction guiding the African Political Parties Initiative.
Download Framework