Workshop: Political Parties - policy development & public outreach

Sunnyside Park Hotel, Johannesburg, 20 February 2006

Workshop objectives

The main objectives of this workshop are to provide political parties with

• an opportunity to share lessons of experience on best practices and challenges for democratic consolidation and good governance in the SADC region, and
• a platform to discuss and share their experiences with regard to public outreach programmes and inter-party relations so as to draw lessons on current programmes and develop good practices for the region.

About this project

EISA has implemented a project under the title Strengthening Political Parties for Sustainable Democratic Consolidation and Good Governance in the SADC Region between August 2005 and February 2006. With the generous financial support from the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NHCR) based in Olso, Norway, this project aimed at strengthening political parties in the SADC region so that they can play a meaningful role as effective actors for sustainable democratic governance.

The project is divided into two phases and consists of six components. The first phase began in June 2005 and is due to end in February 2006 before the planned regional dialogue. The second phase begins in March 2006 and ends in December 2006. Only two of the six components have been completed in the first phase, namely policy development and public outreach programmes and inter-party relations. For policy development and public outreach, extensive research work was undertaken covering four countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Zambia. In each of these countries four parties were selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. For inter-party relations, a pilot study was undertaken in Botswana and the report of the study is being completed. In due course, the study will culminate in a national dialogue forum involving political parties in Botswana.