The Wits Innovation Foundation for Democracy opens its doors for business
- Wits University
The Foundation looks to reshape discussions about democracy in Africa.
The Wits Innovation Foundation for Democracy has opened its new offices in the Es’ kia Mphahlele building.
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Lynn Morris opened the office space on the 5th floor of the building in a ceremony attended by the Ambassador of France to South Africa, David Martinon.
The Innovation Foundation for Democracy is the brainchild of Distinguished Professor Achille Mbembe, who in 2021 mentioned the possibility of establishing a Pan-African forum for democracy in a presentation at the Africa-France summit in Montpellier. In October 2023, Mbembe’s wish was realised when the Wits Innovation Foundation for Democracy was formed.
“A lot has happened since then,” said Morris at the opening of the new offices. “The Foundation has set up key sub-regional laboratories in Central-, West- and Mediterranean Africa, and by the end of this year, there will be three new sub-regional labs.”
The Foundation already has a footprint in 27 African countries.
The Foundation, which is neither a research centre nor an institute in the traditional sense, but a Pan-African non-profit organisation, works mainly in three areas, namely research and scholarship, education, and advocacy. Its aim is to advance research and education policy to sustain and enhance democracy in Africa.
“The Foundation draws from the theoretical and practical knowledge, which scholars, practitioners and experts from lots of different disciplines contribute to understand the unique challenges that face democracy on the continent,” said Morris.
It also provides financial support to several flagship projects throughout the continent annually, is engaged in collaborative projects with various institutions in South Africa and the rest of Africa and provides funding for doctoral and postdoctoral research.
Martinon said he was very impressed by the Foundation’s progress made in 18 months, especially in creating the sub-regions.
He said that since 2017, France, under the leadership of President Macron, has set to transform the nature of its relations with Africa, which has led to meaningful actions such as the restitution of African artefacts, among other, all aiming at redefining the relationship of uniting France and Africa.
“The opening of these premises are laying a groundwork for a brighter future,” said Martinon. “These premises are more than just offices. They symbolise the growth, the aspirations and the potential of the Foundation. They are a space where ideas will flourish, and where collaboration will thrive.”
Mbembe said that the Foundation was launched at a time where, throughout the world, democracy was in crisis.
“The reasons for the crisis are numerous. But part of the crisis stems probably from the fact that democracy has lost its own meaning and is in need of a refitting in contemporary conditions, which are characterised on the one hand by technological escalation, and on the other hand, by an impending ecological disaster – all of which force us to rethink the role of human agency, and the need to invent new institutions that can help to maintain our planet habitable.”
The Foundation hopes to create a space for deep thinking from the continent of what the future of democracy in Africa could and should look like.