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[http://www.trustafrica.org TrustAfrica] is an independent foundation that strives to secure the conditions for democracy and equitable development throughout the continent. Led by Africans, we convene dialogues, catalyze ideas, and provide grants and technical assistance to organizations working to advance these goals.

This wiki builds on a survey of more than 100 African regional organizations (AROs), civil society organizations (CSOs), research institutes, and think tanks initiated by TrustAfrica in 2007. The aim of the survey was to help identify opportunities and strategies for donor agencies—and especially private foundations—to consider in helping to strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of African regional organizations. It is the first time an audit of this kind has been conducted.

The survey focused on organizations with a continental or sub-continental mandate in five broad thematic areas: peace and security, human rights, environment, governance, and population. It also identified a number of cross-cutting organizations that work across themes. Two main types of organizations were surveyed: (1) treaty-based organizations (TBOs) or intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), which in the past constituted the main continental and regional actors, and (2) CSOs and networks, which now occupy center stage in advocating continentally on the themes of the survey.

The first phase of the survey, spanning February to April 2007, involved gathering data, including information on their track records and details of donor support for their work. The second phase entailed putting together a report—a draft of which was submitted at the end of May, peer reviewed, revised on the basis of feedback, and completed in October 2007.

Using the survey findings as an entry point, TrustAfrica convened a conference in April 2008 in Dakar to discuss wider issues of sustainability around existing and future support for AROs and CSOs. Participants included senior leaders of CSOs, think tanks, and research institutes; representatives of donor agencies (private foundations as well as bilateral and multilateral funders); and a cross-section of experts.

The purpose of this wiki is to make information about the organizations surveyed more widely available. By using the wiki format, we seek to present it in a way that enables it to be continuously updated by organizations themselves. (Please consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.)