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Despite the wealth of knowledge and expertise on development from

Africa, civil society actors from Sub-Saharan Africa do not have enough opportunities to

influence the global development discourse. If civil society, think tanks and academics can build

stronger connections amongst themselves, they can substantially increase their impact on the

global debate and contribute to more inclusive and transparent discussions about development

priorities.

The African Civil Society Circle actively supports strengthening these connections. It invites civil

society organizations, think tanks and research institutes working across a range of development

issues to collaborate with their peers, exchange knowledge and strengthen their networks

across the continent. This takes a different and innovative approach to connecting African civil

society organizations, building lasting bridges between regional civil society groups and the

global development discourse.

To pilot the African Civil Society Circle, the initiative invites civil society organizations, think tanks and research institutes from Southern African nations to collaborate, share experiences and to develop positions on development challenges that concern Africa in general and the Southern

African region in particular. If subsequent funding is secured, this will be a stepping stone

towards the creation of a larger, continent-wide strategic community of practitioners, keen on

promoting more inclusive development cooperation on a national, regional and global level.

The network offers the opportunity for face-to-face meetings and regular virtual consultations

among the participating organizations and their broader civil society networks. It also supports

concrete activities around regional and global debates. The thematic focus of the initiative will

be driven by the participating organizations based on what they see as priority development

issues.

The African Civil Society Circle is generously funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and

facilitated with the help of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi). GPPi is an independent, non-profit think tank based in Berlin.