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From 1 to 2 December 2025, a high-level regional workshop on political party regulation took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, bringing together representatives of the Offices of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPPs) from Kenya, Malawi and Sierra Leone, alongside researchers, development partners and democracy-support organisations.

The meeting was organised by KIC and ENoP within the framework of the Projet WYDE Political Parties, and hosted by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) of Sierra Leone. It marked a key milestone in a broader comparative study examining political party regulation with a specific focus on women’s and youth inclusion across the three countries.

Validating Evidence, Sharing Practice

The workshop served as a formal platform to present, discuss and validate the findings of the country studies and the regional comparative analysis. Over two days, participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on legal frameworks, regulatory practices, and the real-life challenges faced by women and young people seeking meaningful participation within political parties.

Country presentations highlighted both progress and persistent gaps. While all three countries have established legal and institutional provisions to promote inclusion, discussions revealed a recurring disconnect between formal compliance and substantive empowerment—often shaped by economic barriers, internal party hierarchies, and entrenched social norms.

Regional Learning and Institutional Cooperation

Beyond national contexts, the workshop placed strong emphasis on regional cooperation among political party regulators. Participants explored the rationale, opportunities and challenges for establishing the Africa Association of Political Party Regulatory Authorities (AAPPRA)—a proposed continental platform for peer learning, harmonisation of standards, and institutional collaboration.

Discussions reflected broad consensus on the value of such an association as a means to strengthen regulatory capacity, support gender and youth inclusion, and enhance transparency and accountability within political party systems across Africa. Particular attention was given to practical next steps, governance models, and the importance of sustained political and institutional buy-in.

Looking Ahead

The Freetown workshop concluded with agreement on a refined roadmap for AAPPRA, alongside a shared set of recommendations to advance inclusive political party governance at both national and regional levels. The exchange reinforced the role of ORPPs not only as regulators, but also as key enablers of democratic participation.

As part of the WYDE Political Parties Project, this regional dialogue represents an important step towards strengthening cooperation, evidence-based policymaking, and long-term institutional frameworks that support women’s and youth participation in politics across Africa.

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