In July 2010 representatives of six African countries – Benin, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Guinea, Morocco and Mauritania, attended a special course aimed at supporting establishing a school of politics in Africa.

 

Program Goals

• To transfer to participants the unique experience of the Bulgarian School of Politics with training representatives of different political parties and civic organizations in tolerance, pluralism and informed debate,
• To support establishing a school of politics in one or a group of several African countries, which could encourage development of consensus thinking, leadership and skills for effective government among African politicians, parliamentarians, representatives of civil society and media.
• To provide opportunities to Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian School of Politics in particular, to share their experience with transferring these values and skills.

Participants and Selection Criteria

The participants in the Program were eight representatives of political parties, administrative bodies, civic organizations and media from different African countries. Selection of participants was made by the Organisation Internacionale De La Francophonie. All participants were students of the 5^th Summer University for Democracy at the Council of Europe, in which the sixteen schools of political sciences from the Network at the Council of Europe also took part.

Main Activities of the Program

• Special presentations how the Bulgarian School of Politics works – of the team, of the small group moderators, of the Class 2010 of the National Program, as well as of the School Alumni.
• Meetings with Bulgarian politicians – president Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, Svetoslav Malinov – member of the European Parliament, and the members of parliament Monika Panayotova, Yuliana Koleva and Mihail Nikolovski.
• Meetings with experts from Bulgarian institutions – Administration of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Discussions with professors from the New Bulgarian University
• Meetings with the directors of IFAG, CREFECO and the French Cultural Institute in Sofia
• Dinner with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Sofia Her Excellency Sheila Camerer.
• Interview with a Bulgarian media

Certificates

Upon successful completion of the Program, participants received certificates from the Bulgarian School of Politics.

Funding  

The Program was financed by the Organisation Internacionale De La Francophonie.