OSIWA Vision / Mission / Niche

Vision

OSIWA envisions a West African society where transparency and accountability in governance, basic freedoms and the empowerment of citizens prevail.

Mission

OSIWA is dedicated to supporting and advocating for initiatives that promote open society values in West Africa.

Niche

OSIWA’s principal niche is to build capacity and create space for participation for West African civil society and government institutions through support to catalytic and innovative initiatives, and to advocate for the core ideals of Open Society.

OSIWA is dedicated to supporting the creation of open societies in West Africa marked by functioning democracy, good governance, the rule of law, basic freedoms, and widespread civic participation. OSIWA believes that it best serves by sustaining catalytic and innovative initiatives that add value to the efforts of West Africa's civil society. OSIWA seeks to collaborate with advocacy groups, like-minded foundations, governments and donors. OSIWA further recognizes the importance of incorporating global developments in building open societies and seeks a greater commitment to the region by rich nations.

OSIWA serves the 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as Cameroon, Chad and Mauritania. The ECOWAS members are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Osiwa is based in Dakar, Senegal. The foundation maintains an office in Abuja, Nigeria which focuses on good governance and human rights programs, and coordinates OSIWA's programs in the country. The Foundation also runs an office in Monrovia, Liberia, working on Justice, Electoral and Constitutional Reforms, as well as coordinating OSIWA's programs on the ground.