Home - African Politicojuridity Institute (API)

The Problem

Decades of donor-driven “governance” programmes have failed because they measure symptoms, corruption, poor service delivery, without addressing the deeper cause: politicojuridity, the capture of institutions by political culture.

The Solution

API is the first African-owned institute dedicated to diagnosing and reversing politicojuridity. We combine cutting-edge research with strategic action to restore legitimacy and trust in governance.

Our Mission & Vision

Our Mission:<br /> To measure politicojuridity, design strategies for reform, and mobilise people to demand change.<br /> Our Vision:<br /> An Africa where institutions, not individuals, are the foundation of governance.

Hero Statement:

Africa’s problem is not the absence of laws, but the capture of institutions by political expediency. Constitutions are rewritten, parliaments turned into rubber stamps, and anticorruption bodies used as political weapons.

Resources

API Concept Note (PDF).

API Red Carpet Prospectus (PDF)

Short Brief: What is Politicojuridity?

Politicojuridity and the African Governance Index (academic paper – preprint).

What We Do at the African Politicojuridity Institute (API)

Africa’s governance challenges are not the result of weak laws or empty constitutions — they stem from politicojuridity: the capture of institutions by political culture. At API, we are building the tools, strategies, and movements to reverse this crisis.

Here are the six pillars of our work:

Governance Diagnostics

We measure politicojuridity through the African Governance Index (AGI), offering country-level assessments that reveal how political culture strengthens or undermines institutions.

Policy Research

API produces rigorous research, policy briefs, and flagship reports on governance, anti-corruption, and institutional reform — bridging theory and practice.

Strategic Advisory

Drawing on The African Strategist framework, we design actionable strategies to help governments, NGOs, and partners strengthen institutions, reduce capture, and build legitimacy.

Capacity Building

We deliver training for civil servants, parliamentarians, youth, and civil society leaders, equipping them with tools to foster accountability and resilience.

Advocacy Campaigns

API partners with citizens, faith groups, unions, and grassroots movements to mobilise public demand for governance reform and institutional trust.

Collaborative Projects

We co-create pilots and comparative studies with universities, think tanks, and donor agencies, scaling AGI across Africa and embedding local ownership

The African Governance Index (AGI)

The African Governance Index (AGI) is API’s flagship tool. Unlike other indices, it measures not outcomes but causes: the extent to which political culture interferes with legal and institutional frameworks.

Download the Concept Note