Article written by
Caroline Vernaillen
Lead Global Policy & Advocacy
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Location
University of Botswana
Gabarone
Botswana
In 2026, the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy heads to Southern Africa for the first time.
We will meet in Gaborone, Botswana, at the University of Botswana, an institution founded through citizens’ collective contributions.
The Forum will examine constitutional reform, youth inclusion, democratic resilience, and the connections between democracy, natural resource governance, and climate change. We are especially looking forward to exploring Botswana’s Kgotla system—open community assemblies where residents and leaders deliberate and decide together—and to learning what this living indigenous tradition can contribute to modern participatory and direct democracy.
When? 7–10 October 2026, with an optional pre-programme on 6–7 October.
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