Based on the well-known adage ‘think global act local,’ Change Africa Trust will seek to globalize local issues on human rights and democracy in each of the countries of East Africa. Change Africa will build a pervasive narrative for a more connected global or regional audience by connecting key players across the region and sharing experiences and challenges.

This is because the gathering momentum for economic globalization has also significantly impacted human rights and democracy during the last quarter of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century. Despite a seemingly wider spread of political democracy globally, there has also recently been a rise of nationalist and populist leaders who have propagated a less democratic or outright authoritarian trend globally (ref Freedom House). East Africa is not exempted from this trend.