The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) is a continental network comprising parliamentary journalists and communication officers from across Africa. APPN’s primary mission is to enhance access to parliamentary information, empowering citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable while fostering active civic participation in governance and legislative decision-making.
By working closely with journalists and communication officers, APPN seeks to ensure that parliamentary activities are transparent, accessible, and widely understood by citizens, thereby bridging the gap between legislative institutions and the public.
Background
Since May 2015, the Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) has engaged with parliamentary press personnel in Ghana and Sierra Leone. This experience revealed the need for a harmonized network to advocate for access to parliamentary information across the continent.
The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) was conceptualized to address this need and was actualized through partnerships with the Center for Human Rights (South Africa), Mzalendo Trust (Kenya), and under the auspices of the Pan-African Parliament.
Goal and Objectives
The APPN is committed to achieving the following:
- Establishing Press Galleries
Advocate for the creation of press galleries in all African parliaments to ensure structured and efficient media coverage of legislative proceedings.
- Capacity Building
Enhance the skills of media personnel to promote responsible and accurate reportage of parliamentary activities.
- Regional Collaboration
Foster the creation of functional regional associations of parliamentary press to strengthen cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
- Resource Mobilization
Assist member press galleries in accessing funding to pursue objectives aligned with APPN’s mission.
- Press Freedom Advocacy
Support the defense and promotion of press freedom and journalists’ rights across Africa, while documenting lessons learned to guide future initiatives for advancing parliamentary openness.
Through these efforts, APPN aims to create a more informed, engaged, and empowered citizenry, contributing to stronger democratic practices across the continent.