Centre for Democracy and Development
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| Abbreviation | CDD |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1997 |
| Type | Think tank |
| Purpose | Democracy, human rights |
| Website | http://www.cddwestafrica.org/ |
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) is a non-governmental organisation which aims to promote the values of democracy, peace and human rights in Africa, particularly in the West African sub-region.
The CDD was founded in 1997 in London at a time when Nigeria was under military rule. Its first activity was to organize a round table discussion on the democratic future of Nigeria. One of the founding members was Biko Agozino, a Nigerian criminologist known for his books exploring impact of colonization on the way in which racial and ethnic minorities are treated by justice systems worldwide. The Center has become a resource for policy-oriented scholarship on subjects such as introducing and improving democratic processes, improving economic governance, safety and development throughout Africa.
The CDD website says the organization wishes to "serve as the ultimate catalyst in the transformation of the West African sub-continent into an integrated, economically vibrant and democratically governed community that assures holistic security to the population and is capable of permanent peaceful conflict management". The CDD mission is described as "To be the prime catalyst and facilitator for strategic analysis and capacity building for sustainable democracy and development in West Africa."
CDD has offices in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, and an international office in London. The center conducts research on democratization and good governance, and also trains groups and individuals who are promoting democracy and development in the region. In collaboration with the Kituo Cha Katiba (East African Centre for Constitutional Development) the CDD has run a capacity building project funded by the Ford Foundation. The project sponsors East African Women Lawyers for Graduate Masters Programs, particularly those who want to use the law as an instrument of social change.
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