November 17, 2017
Senegal: Building Community Support for Drug Users Using Mobile Cinemas
Waves of dialogue in West Africa on drug policy reform with the ultimate goal of decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal use have been making headway. Progress is… Read more »
November 08, 2017
Liberia: Nation's Season of Hope
Jay peered at me from the burglary proofed window of Lango Lippaye Public School. You could feel his excitement. It was a non-school day because of the elections. The adults were… Read more »
Guinea: Art Action Academy in Guinea (December) - Call for Application
OSIWA (Open Society Initiative for West Africa), C4AA (The Center for Artistic Activism) and Association Culturelle La Muse invite artists to apply to participate in a 5-day Art… Read more »
October 09, 2017
Liberia: Liberia's Elections - The Next Test for Democracy
Ravaged by a 14-year-old civil war and the Ebola epidemic, Liberia is presently reeling with election fever. The air is palpable with excitement as young people dance to music… Read more »
October 06, 2017
West Africa: The October 2017 Elections and the Future of Democracy in Liberia
On June 15, 2017 Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf observed that "The [October 10, 2017] elections will be a defining moment for Liberia." These upcoming elections will be an important… Read more »
October 02, 2017
West Africa: Developing Monitoring & Evaluation Processes That Foster Learning
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is an instrument that predominates in the development sector to ensure substantive planning, accountability of investments, and as a basis for… Read more »
September 28, 2017
Guinea: September 28th Massacre - 8th Commemoration, No Trial!
On September 28, Guineans will commemorate the 8thanniversary of the killings and rape that took place during a peaceful rally at the Conakry stadium. These atrocities, declared a… Read more »
September 20, 2017
West Africa: Osiwa, Osji and the International Development Research Centre Call for Proposal
Call for Research Proposals Read more »
September 19, 2017
West Africa: How to Make the Latest Investigation Into Military Violations Work
Nigeria's Federal Government recently inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to review compliance of the Nigerian Armed Forces with human rights obligations and rules of… Read more »
August 16, 2016
West Africa: Rethinking Drug Control Policy
June 26th marked the International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking. It gave us the opportunity to reevaluate Drug Policy in West Africa, where the current realities… Read more »
August 10, 2016
Guinea: Why Reconciliation Is Crucial
On June 29, 2016, the Provisional National Commission on Reconciliation (CPRN) co-chaired by Guinea's highest religious figures submitted its long awaited final report to President… Read more »
June 06, 2016
Ghana: 3rd West Africa Executive Course On Human Rights and Drug Policy [invitation to Apply]
The University of Ghana School of Law, in collaboration with the Open Society Global Drug Policy Program and Open Society Initiative for West Africa, is inviting applications from… Read more »
April 18, 2016
Liberia: Liberia's Land Authority Act - Deadlock Ends With Unanimous Support From Senate
On Wednesday April 13, 2016, Liberia's Senate gave its unanimous endorsement to the draft Bill to set up the Land Authority of Liberia (LAA). The Bill had been before the Senate… Read more »
March 03, 2016
West Africa: Benin 2016 - Bringing Salient Institutional Flaws to the Fore
Benin's Constitutional Court postponed the Presidential election scheduled for 28th February to 6th March 2016 due to the inability of the Liste Electorale Permanente… Read more »
February 10, 2016
West Africa: Niger Elections - Why We Must Pay Attention
General elections will be held in Niger on 21st February 2016. This is a significant moment for the country, which has faced years of unstable governments since gaining… Read more »
February 02, 2016
Sierra Leone: Abortion Debate Heats Up After President Acts on Bill
With high rates of infant and maternal mortality compounded by a high incidence of teenage pregnancy, it is hardly surprising that the abortion debate in Sierra Leone has recently… Read more »
February 01, 2016
West Africa: Appeals for Reform of Drug Policies
A recent news story cited Ghana's Deputy Superintendent of Police, David Selom Hukportie, as bemoaning the formidable challenges he faces trying to destroy marijuana farms across… Read more »
January 16, 2016
Nigeria: Civil Society - Staying True to Our Mission
Civil society groups have played a fundamental role in the development and promotion of democracy in Africa. In Nigeria their role in the fight against military dictatorship stands… Read more »
December 09, 2015
Liberia: #corruptionmustgo - Musicians Mobilize to Minimize Corruption in Liberia
As Liberia enters its second decade of peace, its music industry continues to gain popularity. Artists like Takun J have a national following and have leveraged this platform to… Read more »
September 08, 2015
West Africa: Term Limits in West Africa - Civil Society Organizations to Urge ECOWAS
The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) seeks to push the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take the step of adopting term limits at Community level. Read more »
July 10, 2015
West Africa: The New Stage for Global Drug Policy Reform
West Africa has a growing and worrying drug problem. Yet much of global drug policy has focused on reducing drug supply in South American countries like Colombia, and the heavy use… Read more »
July 09, 2015
West Africa: Fraternité Matin and Osiwa Executive Director Discuss the Foundation's Work in Cote d'Ivoire
Tell us about OSIWA. Its mission and vision; its strategic objectives and focus areas. Read more »
July 06, 2015
Africa: Why Tackling Illicit Financial Flows Offers Energy and Climate Opportunities for Africa
African governments lose billions of dollars in revenues each year through illicit financial flows. Dishonest companies use offshore accounts, trade mispricing and tax avoidance to… Read more »
July 03, 2015
Nigeria: 2015 Presidential Elections in Nigeria - Did We Really Make It? or Have We Only Just Begun?
The much talked about 2015 Presidential elections in Nigeria has now come and gone. General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), the candidate of the opposition All Progressive Peoples Congress… Read more »
Nigeria: Why the 2015 General Elections Reflect the Voice of the Ordinary Nigerian
The 2015 elections are now over. The ballot boxes have been put away, and the dust over the campaigning headquarters has now settled. Read more »