Overview
The Africa PEMO Conference is an annual gathering of Parliamentary Engagement and Monitoring Organisations (PEMOs) from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The 5th edition, taking place in Pretoria, South Africa from 16–19 September 2025, will bring together over 40 PEMO representatives, legislators, development practitioners, regional bodies, and media to reflect on democratic progress and renew strategies for effective engagement between legislatures and civil society.
Hosted by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), the hybrid conference will feature plenary sessions, thematic discussions, and learning briefs under the theme: “Back on Track: Renewing the Dialogue Between the Legislatures and Civil Society.” Participants from Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa, including members of the Pan-African Parliament, SADC-PF, EALA, and ECOWAS Parliament, will engage in multilingual, solution-focused dialogue in English, French, and Portuguese.
Programme
Day Zero - Travel & Arrival
Travel & Arrival
Arrival & Registration
Welcome Dinner (Meet & Greet)
Day One - Getting the Conversation Going
Welcome & Purpose: The Important Place of Parliament
Keynote Address: ZA DIRCO Minister/DG – Our responsibilities in times of unparalleled crisis
Session 1.1 – Engaging the PAP
Welcome: Secretary/President of PAP African Union
The role of civil society in responding to regional and continental challenges – extreme weather, insecurity & conflict, changing world of work
Session 1.2: PAP CSO Forum – Engaging the AU
Masharuriano: Lessons learnt from engaging the AU & PAP
Lunch
Theme: Engaging the Region
Session 1.3: Regional Structures Speak
Panel: EA | WA | SA | OGP – The importance of the partnership between Civil Society & Government
Session 1.4 – World Café: Mashauriano – talking to each other in Africa
Day Two - Engaging Parliament
12:30 – 13:30
14:00 – 15:30
15:45 – 17:00
Recap from Previous Day
Theme: Engaging Our National Parliaments
Session 2.1 – The Challenge of Open Parliaments
Panel: 3 Case studies – OP | EA | SA | WA
Session 2.2 – Thematic Parallel Sessions:
Theme1 | Theme2 | Theme3 | Theme4
AI & Governance | Mobilising & Responding in shifting geopolitical context | Elections & Change | Climate Change / Intersectional Mobilisation / Labour Mobility
Lunch
Theme: Institutional Arrangements
Session 2.3 – APMON Institutional Arrangements
W Africa | Sn Africa | E Africa
Session 2.4 – Thematic Parallel Sessions:
Theme5 | Theme6 | Theme7 | Theme8
Regional security dynamics / media freedom / leveraging CSO expertise / The Youth Dividend / Parliamentary Oversight
Conference Dinner (including Launch of Open Parliament Index 2024)
Day Three - Monitoring Parliament
12:30 – 13:30
14:00 – 15:30
15:45 – 17:00
Theme: Monitoring Parliaments
Session 3.1: Monitoring Parliament
Tips & Tricks
Session 3.2: Efficiencies of Parliaments:
What #OPI2024 tells us
Lunch
Theme: Way Forward
Session 3.3: APMON AGM
Session 3.4: Conference Resolutions & Closing Plenary
DEPARTURE
Conference Resources
Concept Paper
See the concept paper for detailed information about the conference objectives and framework
Contact
About APMON and PMG
The Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (APMON) is a network of non-governmental organisations and coalitions of civil society organisations that monitor the work of and/or regularly engage national, subnational and regional parliaments across Africa.
The Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) is an independent information service established in 1995 to provide public access to the work of South Africa’s parliamentary committees, the engine room of legislative oversight. As the only source of this comprehensive information, PMG plays a vital role in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic engagement in the legislative process.