1. Thought Process

To tackle the major issues of Governance which the African continent faces, our approach will be inductive rather than deductive: instead of starting with an agenda which is apparently constructed (according to exogenous concerns, media demands, effects of trends etc.), AGI will concentrate on substantial issues led by endogenous demand of African States, the African Union, Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations, African Civil Societies, Private Sector, Diaspora, Partners concerned by Developmental Governance in Africa.

The Challenge is then to put the emphasis on upstream intelligence; on diagnostics and pro-activity in order to propose operational solutions.

2. Methods

The methodological added-value of AGI consists on three (3) elements:

 Methodological pluralism combining: preliminary thinking to find orientations in innovative thinking on issues of the three-year programme; ground-level investigation to validate hypotheses and collecting best practice; sharing of experience; strengthening capacities of individuals and institutions; disseminating and diffusing relevant information on Developmental Governance in Africa.

 The operationality of the perspective. AGI aims, through its activities, to be a force for proposals for decision-makers at different levels of Governance in Africa (local, national, cross-border, regional, continental) as well as for partners in development. AGI also sees itself as a space for intermediation enabling concrete and not just theoretical solutions to emerge and share answers to Governance issues with which African States and Societies are confronted.

 Comparatism: AGI is a pan-African center for high-level thinking, which means that the guidelines of its action plan targets all the African Countries (Francophone, Anglophone, Lusophone, and Arabic).

3. Instruments

The main instruments used by AGI to achieve its objectives are:

 Mediation through political dialogue and advocacy
 Strategic and operational research
 Dissemination/Diffusion of relevant information through the Website; the Online Documentation Center and publications.