For a just, inclusive, and sustainable Africa — where environmental rights are protected in law and in practice.
ERA is a continent-wide coalition of 55+ organizations, defenders, and partners working to win a binding regional environmental rights framework for Africa.
What We're Building
Three Pillars of Environmental Democracy
ERA exists to turn environmental rights from a promise into a law — one that guarantees access, participation, and justice for every community on the continent.
Access to Information
Communities have the right to know what's happening to their land, water, and air. Transparency is not a privilege — it's a right.
Public Participation
The people affected by a decision get a seat at the table where it's made. Decisions cannot be imposed on communities without their meaningful involvement.
Access to Justice
When rights are violated, there's a real, enforceable path to remedy. Accountability must go beyond voluntary commitments.
The three pillars of environmental democracy under Principle 10 — currently existing in fragments. ERA is building the framework that makes them binding.
How We Work
Two engines. One movement.
ERA runs on Regional Anchors, who coordinate the movement across Africa's five sub-regions, and Working Groups, who drive the research, advocacy, drafting, and defender-protection work that makes the campaign move.
Regional Anchors
5 designated organizations coordinating across West, North, East, Central, and Southern Africa — staying tightly linked to the Secretariat and the coalition's priorities.
Working Groups
Specialized groups covering Technical Drafting, Case Studies, Communications, Outreach & Advocacy, Resource Mobilization, and Defenders Emergency, Solidarity & Response.
The Secretariat
Hosted by Green Advocates International in Liberia — leading day-to-day coordination and implementation for the coalition.
From the Field
Latest from ERA
Confronting Africa's Extractive Injustices
Inside the 5th Continental Forum on Extractive Industries in Dakar, where the question on the table was simple: will Africa finally benefit from its own resources?
By Peter Quaqua, Head of Secretariat
Read the StoryBuilding a Binding Regional Agreement
ERA advances a legal instrument guaranteeing access to information, participation, and justice — holding both states and corporations accountable.
Learn MoreProtecting Those Who Protect the Land
Environmental defenders are facing arrest, intimidation, and violence. ERA coordinates rapid response and solidarity across the continent.
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The Global Rush for Critical Minerals — and What It Means for Africa
As demand for cobalt, lithium, and rare earths intensifies, African communities ask: will the green transition repeat the patterns of the extractive past?
Explore Resources →Moving from Voluntary to Binding
Voluntary CSR commitments have proven insufficient. ERA's campaign pushes for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence across supply chains.
Learn MoreA Continental Network of Anchors
West, North, East, Central, and Southern Africa — each sub-region has a designated anchor organization coordinating ERA's campaign on the ground.
Explore Regions
Environmental Defenders Under Threat
Across Africa, people protecting land, water, and forests face criminalization, intimidation, and violence. ERA coordinates solidarity and rapid-response support.
See the CampaignWhen Rights Are Violated, There Must Be Remedy
ERA's campaign pushes for enforceable accountability — real legal pathways for communities whose environmental rights have been breached.
See Campaigns55+ Organizations. One Movement.
ERA brings together civil society organizations, defenders, and international partners from across all five African sub-regions.
Join the MovementWe acknowledge the support of the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations towards the development and campaign of ERA. However, views and opinions expressed on this website are those of ERA and do not necessarily reflect the official position of our donors.
