International Donors and Democracy Promotion in Africa: Insights from the Activities of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Nigeria

Abstract

Since returning to civil rule in 1999, Nigeria has enjoyed international support and assistance directed at strengthening the capacity of its democratic institutions to deliver on their core mandate thereby aiding the sustenance and deepening of the nation’s democratic process. International financial assistance and technical supports to stakeholders in Nigeria democratic project have been delivered through international development institutions and agencies of which the United Kingdom, Department for International Development DFID remains important. While studies have assessed the contributions of international development assistance to democratic promotion in Africa, there has not been much engagement with the work of particular international development agencies as case studies. Given this context, this article examines the contribution of DFID to the strengthening of democratic institutions and deepening of the democratic process in Nigeria through the agency funding of programmes and projects that are directed at enhancing the capacity of democratic institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the nation’s democratic project.