Call for Book Contributions: Civil Society and Democratic Resilience in Africa: Building Trust, Legitimacy, and Citizen Ownership of Electoral Governance
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The African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) is pleased to announce the official launch of a Call for Contributions for our upcoming landmark edited book: "Civil Society and Democratic Resilience in Africa: Building Trust, Legitimacy, and Citizen Ownership of Electoral Governance."
Since Africa's return to multiparty politics, domestic and international Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have become foundational to electoral integrity. Their voter education campaigns, observation missions, and post-election reports serve as critical metrics for measuring democratic credibility worldwide.
Aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and ECOSOCC’s “Reimagining a Just and Resilient Democracy in Africa” initiative, this volume seeks to bring the principles of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG) out of high-level policy spaces and straight into grassroots communities.
Book Structure & Key Themes
We invite strategic, analytical, and field-driven abstracts organized around the following six thematic sections:
- Section 1: Normative and Legal Foundations (AU Constitutive Act, ACDEG Articles 12 & 27, and AU Guidelines)
- Section 2: CSOs Across the Electoral Cycle (Evaluating CSO authority beyond polling day observation)
- Section 3: Innovation, Technology and Emerging Challenges (AI, deepfakes, disinformation, and digital parallel vote tabulation)
- Section 4: Inclusion, Participation and Democratic Culture (The representation of women, youth, PWDs, and marginalized groups)
- Section 5: Comparative Country and Regional Case Studies (Comparative insights from ECOWAS, SADC, EAC, ECCAS, and IGAD)
- Section 6: Future Directions for Electoral Governance in Africa (Addressing democratic backsliding, military coups, and citizen trust)
Why Contribute?
Authors selected for this volume will:
- Shape continental discourse on democracy and governance.
- Gain visibility across AU institutions and Member States.
- Contribute to a bilingual publication (English & French) distributed continent‑wide.
- Join a network of leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
- Influence grassroots awareness and institutional resilience through AU‑ECOSOCC platforms.
Submission Logistics
- Submission Format: Extended Abstracts (300–500 words) accompanied by a brief author biography (150 words).
- Languages: Submissions and final publications are accepted in both English and French.
- Abstract Submission Deadline: November 15, 2026.
Submission Contacts:
Please email your Abstracts directly to:
- Bright Sefah: sefahb@africanunion.org
- Abraham Asha: Abrahamah@Africanunion.org
- Copy (CC): Dr. Eyole Monono: monono@yahoo.com/ MononoE@Africanunion.org
Project Timeline Milestones
- 🗓️ July 2026: Launch of the Call for Contributions
- 🗓️ November 15, 2026: Deadline for Extended Abstract Submissions
- 🗓️ December 15, 2026: Notification of Accepted Abstracts
- 🗓️ January 15, 2027: Submission of Draft Chapters
- 🗓️ February 2027: Online Authors' Review Workshop
- 🗓️ April 10, 2027: Submission of Final Chapters
- 🗓️ June 2027: Official Book Publication
Take Action Now
Submit your abstract today and be part of a definitive text that amplifies civil society’s impact, strengthens continental unity, and enhances institutional resilience across African Union Member States.
