Background and Overview
Sub-Saharan Africa has a population of over 700 million people, with more diversity in terms of ethnic, religious, economic, and political makeup than any other region in the world. Africa is host to a full range of political systems – including dictatorships, semi-authoritarian regimes, and electoral and emerging democracies. In those countries where democratic elections have taken place, progress has been made in developing many formal democratic institutions. Countries like Senegal, Ghana, Benin, and Mauritius have successfully negotiated a relatively smooth transition of power. Yet, in several African countries, key elements of thriving liberal democracies remain at a rudimentary level of development.
Newly elected governments are grappling with how to govern effectively, and civil society organizations
are still learning how to contribute to the policymaking process. Governments have been dominated by the
executive branch and remain so in many countries. Decentralization is bringing governance to the local level but is also adding another tier of government dependant on tax revenues from the struggling business
community. Central governments are passing legal and regulatory reforms that are driven more from their need to secure donor funding than from input provided by civil society groups. These problems and the lack of
government capacity to implement sound policies have created a growing sense of frustration with the
democratic process.
Think tanks and business associations can have a major impact in overcoming this frustration.
Specifically, they are the vehicles through which the business community can contribute to the policymaking
process, provide necessary training to business owners, and channel information to civil society as well as
policymakers. Despite many challenges, the business community in many African countries, through its
private, voluntary business associations and policy think tanks, is playing a growing role in engaging the
government in policy dialogue on economic reform issues of concern to the private sector. However, their
potential is inhibited due to a lack of funding, which can be attributed to the weakness of the private
sector. In sub-Saharan Africa, CIPE partners with local business associations, think tanks, and other
private sector organizations to advocate for necessary reforms to create an environment conducive to
doing business, to work towards the effective implementation and enforcement of existing rules and
regulations, and to increase business understanding of and compliance with those rules and regulations.
CIPE’s efforts are contributing to the process of democratic decision-making that builds a strong sense of
ownership in the rule of law governing economic activity.
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