Frequently Asked Questions
Active Citizenship
What is citizenship?
What is a citizen?
Why is active citizenship important in a democracy?
How can citizens participate in a democracy?
How can citizens impact on the law-making process in South Africa?
What is advocacy?
Economic Governance
What is a government budget?
Why is it important to monitor government budgets?
What kind of budget system does South Africa have?
How does the South African government budget work?
What is a budget cycle?
Who should be involved in a government budget process?
What tells you more about a government’s budget performance?
What are the characteristics of a sound government budget system?
What is fiscal transparency?
What is the financial relationship between national, provincial and local government in South Africa?
Elections & Electoral Systems
What is the Independent Electoral Commission?
Who is eligible to vote in South Africa?
What is a “free and fair” election?
HIV/AIDS
How does HIV/Aids impact on democracy in Southern Africa?
How do HIV and AIDS affect governance?
What is good governance in the context of HIV and AIDS?
What are the key HIV and AIDS and governance issues in southern Africa?
Is HIV/Aids a Human Rights issue?
Human Rights
What are some of the documents and instruments protecting Human Rights in Africa?
What are socio-economic; civil and political; cultural and environmental rights?
What are my rights?
What are children’s rights?
Is HIV/Aids a Human Rights issue?
What are human rights in the context of human migration?
What are some important issues related to migration in Southern Africa?
Peace Building & Dialogue
What is conflict?
What is peace building?
What is the difference between 1st ,2nd and 3rd track diplomacy?
What is the difference between mediation, negotiation and dialogue?
Political Governance
What are the fundamental principles of democratic governance?
What is SADC?
What is NEPAD?
What is the African Union?
What is the Pan African Parliament?
What are the different spheres of government (national, provincial, local) in South Africa?
What are the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the State?
What new legislation is being debated in parliament?
How does Parliament function in South Africa?
What are the functions of South Africa’ provincial legislatures?
What is the role of parliamentary committees in South Africa?
Programme Highlight:
School for Democracy

Idasa’s School for Democracy offers courses to citizens and citizen leaders in a variety of settings, including politicians, government officials and citizen professionals across Africa.  Idasa has recognised the importance of expanding the focus of its democracy education work to include the business community, including management, staff and workers at every level.

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Bookshelf:

Funding the Fight: Budgeting for HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries
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