What we aim for
The overall objective of the Regional Africa Programme (2017-2023) is to secure a demonstrable improvement in access to justice for all and implementation of human rights commitments in Africa.
This objective is framed by the premise that the key challenge for increased respect for human rights regionally is not primarily a lack of standards and institutions, but making existing standards and institutions work", says Chris Muthuri, Programme Officer for the Regional Africa Programme.
Our 'Theory of Change': How we believe that change happens
If the human rights capacity of key regional institutions and related duty-bearers is strengthened, and the abilities of other key regional actors able to influence and follow-up the work of such institutions enhanced – with linkages to the national level and cooperation between these stakeholders being improved thus maximising synergies – then development challenges, including of a cross-border nature, facing Africa can be dealt with more effectively, because human rights commitments in the region will be increasingly implemented, enhancing good governance and the rule of law.
How we work
We cooperate with key regional actors able to follow up and influence the implementation of human rights commitments in the region.
We also work directly with bodies of the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities, and related duty-bearers in the region, in the area of human rights. To make sure our work makes a difference, that we effectively implement our programme activities and that we learn, we continously monitor and evaluate programme processes.
Our implementing partners
Academic Network – generating research and resources, building capacity, and developing spaces for inter-sectoral dialogue.
African Court Coalition (ACC) – monitoring and strengthening implementation of decisions by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights and strengthening the complementary relationship between the Court and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) – increasing the ability of regional, primarily Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) and national bodies and organisations, primarily police services, in East Africa to promote human rights compliant policing.
East Africa Law Society (EALS) – increasing understanding of the East African Court of Justice and strengthening implementation of its decisions.
Equality Now – developing knowledge and skills among targeted institutions in gender equality and increasing access to objective information on women’s human rights and means and mechanisms for their implementation.
Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) – enhancing the ability of National Human Rights Institutes to influence human rights developments and follow-up on human rights commitment.
Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) – strengthening implementation of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice decisions and supporting implementation of the 10-Year Human Rights Action Plan.
The African Union and its organs including the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Regional Economic Communities and their organs including the East African Court of Justice, EAC Department of Peace and Security, and ECOWAS Community Court of Justice
Key Expected Outcomes
We strive to achieve enhanced cooperation and usage of mechanisms to further access to justice and implementation of human rights commitments in Africa. We also aim to make sure that targeted regional institutions and related duty bearers increasingly consider gender equality a core aspect in access to justice and human rights advancement. Improved human rights performance of targeted bodies of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and related duty bearers in the region are also expected outcomes of our activities.
The Regional Africa Programme Success Story
RWI has made great strides in implementing the Regional Africa Programme (RAP) since it began in 2017. Together with implementing partners: Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI); Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court Coalition/ACC); African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF); East Africa Law Society (EALS); Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU); Equality Now and the Academic Network, we have worked to ensure improvement in access to justice and implementation of human rights commitments across Africa.
Principles we are guided by
- Transparency through access to information for all stakeholders
- Participation of key programme partners for enhanced ownership
- Accountability for the effective implementation of human rights commitments
- Non-discrimination and (gender) equality in Programme processes and outcomes
- Knowledge production and dissemination towards regional discourse on human rights commitments
Regional Africa Programme Staff
Rakel Larsen
Rakel Larsen joined RWI in November 2020 as the Director of the Nairobi Office. She brings more than 15 years of work experience in refugee protection, displacement and human rights mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining the RWI, she worked for the Danish Refugee Council with humanitarian response and protection of refugees and other displaced persons in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.
Furthermore, she holds a Master’s in Law and a Master’s in African Studies (Human Rights and Development) from the University of Copenhagen.
Chris Muthuri
Deputy Director of the Nairobi Office.
Regional Africa Programme — Focal Point: African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACtHPR), ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation
Chris has over a decade’s experience working with several international, regional and local organisations across Africa. He has extensive experience in advocacy, programme management and fundraising having taken up leadership roles on several instances. Chris joined the Institute in October 2017 working on the Regional Africa Programme from RWI’s Nairobi office.
Mumbi Maina-Murimi
Damaris Seina
Regional Africa Programme. Focal Point: African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF), East African Community (EAC)
Damaris has worked at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute since 2015 as the Kenya Programme Officer and is responsible for planning, implementation and follow-up of cooperation projects in Kenya so as to achieve expected results.
Gilford Kimathi
Gilford Kimathi is a Senior Programme Officer at the Nairobi Office supporting the Regional Africa and Ethiopia programmes. He brings a decade of experience in programme management, where he has also contributed to research and human rights capacity development. Before joining RWI, Gilford worked five years with the Network for African National Human Rights Institutions, through which he has gained extensive experience with African human rights mechanisms and frameworks.
Eunice Ogolla
Eunice Ogolla is the Finance and Admin Officer at RWI Nairobi regional office and joined the Institute in February 2021. Prior to joining the institute she worked as an Accountant in the Humanitarian sector and supported Accounting across Africa. She has experience in Financial Reporting, Asset management, Treasury management, budgeting, taxation, Auditing and Internal Controls.
Eunice holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree(Accounting) from Strathmore University and is also an ACCA affiliate.
Nicholas Kioko
Nick Kioko is the Senior Finance and Admin Officer at RWI Nairobi regional office and joined the Institute in April 2020. Prior to joining the Institute, he worked as a Finance Manager in the humanitarian sector across the East African region. He has over 9 (nine) years of experience and expertise in top-level grant/donor and financial management, leadership, donor reporting and compliance, computerized financial management information systems, program administration, accounting, budgeting, auditing, internal controls, taxation and financial analysis. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics, Sociology and Psychology) from Kenyatta University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA- K).
Pasca Chesach
Pasca Chesach joins RWI as the Programme Associate Communications supporting the Regional Office in Nairobi in Programme Communications and Administration. Pasca has over 5 years in strategic communications and supporting programmes for International and local organizations in communications, most recently Christian Aid. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and is currently pursuing her Masters in Development Communication. With a background that spans multiple areas of communication, Pasca brings a wealth of experience in crafting impactful messages and engaging diverse audiences for effective communication.