Africa PEMO Conference 2025: Renewing Dialogue Between Legislatures and Civil Society

The Africa Parliamentary Engagement and Monitoring Organizations (PEMO) Conference 2025, organized by the Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations Network (APMON) and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), is set to take place from 16 to 19 September 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Held under the theme: 'Getting Back on Track: Renewing the Dialogue Between the Legislatures and Civil Society,' this gathering will bring together parliamentary monitoring organizations (PEMOs), civil society leaders, national and regional parliaments, governance institutions, and development partners committed to fostering effective, transparent, and responsive legislative governance in Africa.

Why This Conference Matters

The Africa PEMO Conference 2025 will serve as a pivotal platform for:

·       Dialogue and mutual learning between civil society and legislatures.

·       Peer exchange on best practices to co-create solutions for democratic renewal.

·       Rebuilding trust between citizens and elected representatives by emphasizing openness and accountability.

At a broader level, the conference also carries important implications for Africa’s legislative landscape:

·       Renewed Engagement: This gathering offers a timely opportunity to strengthen and rebuild the relationship between parliaments and citizens.

·       Accountability Tools: The launch of the second Open Parliament Index (OPI) will provide a benchmark to assess and improve legislative transparency and accountability across Africa.

·       PAP’s Strategic Role: The participation of the Pan-African Parliament underscores a continental commitment to embedding open governance at regional, national, and local levels.

This conference is more than a convening; it marks a significant step forward in advancing democratic representation, strengthening accountability, and shaping a more open legislative culture across Africa.

Attendees will participate in plenary sessions, interactive panel discussions, and side events addressing current democratic challenges while exploring new opportunities for inclusive governance.

Invitation to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

An official invitation has been extended to the President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), its Members, parliamentary staff, and relevant committee representatives to engage in key events of the conference:

1. Opening Session (16 September, 08:00–12:30 SAST): “The Role of Civil Society in Responding to Regional and Continental Challenges: Extreme Weather, Insecurity and Conflict, and the Changing World of Work.” The session will be inaugurated with opening remarks by the President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira.

2. Official Visit to the PAP: Participants will have the opportunity to pay an official visit to the Pan-African Parliament.

3. Launch of the Second Open Parliament Index (OPI): On 18 September at 18:00, during the formal dinner, the second edition of the OPI will be launched, assessing the openness of 33 national parliaments across Africa.

About APMON

The Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations Network (APMON) is a coalition of civil society organizations that monitors and engages with parliaments at national, subnational, and regional levels across Africa. Its mission is to enhance parliamentary transparency, accountability, and citizen inclusion by promoting access to parliaments, developing performance evaluation tools, and facilitating peer learning among PEMOs.

APMON’s origins trace back to a 2015 survey by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), which mapped PMOs working in Africa and paved the way for the establishment of regional and continental platforms. Since its formal inception in 2022, APMON has hosted impactful regional conferences in Ghana (2015, 2021), Kenya (2023), and Uganda (2024), and has engaged parliaments across Africa to advance openness. The publication of the first Open Parliament Index (OPI) in 2022 marked a milestone, with the second edition scheduled for launch during the 2025 conference.

A Brief History

The network emerged from a 2015 survey by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD‑Ghana) which mapped PMO activity across the continent. This led to the formation of regional PEMO networks and, subsequently, the continental network now known as APMON.

APMON has since hosted four regional PEMO conferences:

·       West Africa (Ghana): Two gatherings in 2015 and 2021

·       Eastern Africa (Kenya and Uganda): Events in 2023 and 2024

Established officially in 2022, APMON has already undertaken impactful initiatives, including:

·       Collaboration with various parliaments and civil society organizations

·       The publication of the First Open Parliament Index (OPI) in 2022

·       The forthcoming Second OPI, scheduled for launch during this conference

Interested participants are kindly requested to submit their applications by contacting the Conference Host at lucas@pmg.org.za / admin@pmg.org.za, or the Conference Support Team at apmonafrica@gmail.com

Summary of Key Details

Event	Africa PEMO Conference (APMON Conference 2025)
Date	16–19 September 2025
Venue	Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Theme	Getting Back on Track: Renewing the Dialogue Between the Legislatures and Civil Society
Organizers	APMON & Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG)
Special Event	Launch of Second Open Parliament Index (OPI) on 18 September 2025, 18:00