In numerous countries throughout the African Continent and the African Diaspora, the lack of access to information and transparency at the local and national level has a negative impact on the ability of civil society to promote social justice and demand government accountability on a variety of issues.

In Latin America, Afro-descendants overwhelmingly lack political representation and most countries have still not mainstreamed tools to track the socio-economic status of Afro-descendants as compared to the general population. Moreover, there is a frequent lack of political will to obtain such information using culturally appropriate methods and to integrate Afro-descendants as protagonists in the design, implementation and evaluation of the process. There is also a need for public institutions that promote racial equality and increase access to opportunities.

Although mobilization efforts by countless Afro-descendant groups have been groundbreaking, policies designed to improve the conditions of Afro-descendants are often not created and, once created, are not implemented. TransAfrica Forum

More on TransAfrica Forum's Work on Supporting Economic Democracy:
•    Colombia's Law 70
•    Angolan Elections 2008
•    Haiti
•    Zimbabwe
•    Afro-Venezuelans
•    Afro-Venezuelans and Representation