The African Governance and Rule of Law Initiative aims to promote the rule of law and human rights in African governments and beyond. This objective is pursued to be achieved through legal advocacy and legal interventions targeted at preventing, minimizing or reversing the negative impact on the rule of law and human rights of national government approaches, policies and practices.

The Initiative aims to attain and propagate a concerted and balanced African approach to transparency and rule of law which takes into account particular national situations. It addresses core challenges such as developing a judicial system, law enforcement, modernization of commercial legislation and the accountability of national administrations which are shared among various African countries.

Further, the Governance and Rule of Law Initiative seeks to develop and implement processes which support the rule of law as well as governance initiatives and approaches that strengthen and improve the rule of law. In doing so, PATROL will establish a link between experience within the business sector and other social organizations in achieving transparency and rule of law in African Governments in a way which has not been done before.

PATROL aims through this programme to promote activities that enhance good governance and human rights in Africa. The inspiring conviction is that good governance is achieved under a democratic political system in which the actions of all stakeholders contribute to the good of society.

The aim of the project is to facilitate sustainable development in African nations through promoting good governance and respect for human rights. Sustainable development is more likely to occur when government institutions are efficient, accountable and transparent.

An institution is ‘transparent’ when its activities are open to public examination. This means that someone outside of the institution, who has no vested interest in hiding inefficient or corrupt practices, can be appointed to check administrative and financial procedures.

This ensures that the public interest is properly served. An institution is ‘accountable’ when it has to justify its expenditure and its decisions to an independent person or organization appointed to represent the public interest. It demonstrates its accountability through the provision of financial and administrative reports.

The Initiative targets to empower African human rights leaders—in civil society as well as in government ministries, parliament and in the media—to become better advocates for human rights and promotion of good governance.

The PATROL proposes a basket of initiatives designed to consolidate Africa’s budding human rights community into a strong, broad-based advocacy coalition pressing to the various hold African governments accountable for the state of Africans civil and political liberties. The initiatives will be designed and synchronized to be mutually enhancing and reinforcing.

PATROL recognizes that limited access to information about the Transparency and Rule of Law is a major obstacle to the realization of accountable, transparent and democratic governance in Africa.

The aim of this programme is to extend the knowledge of Transparency and Rule of Law issues in Africa. This shall be achieved through research and wide circulation of information about the Transparency and Rule of Law and participatory governance in Africa.

PATROL shall commission and publish publications and communications on Transparency and Rule of Law as well as important jurisprudence and documents on the area.