Short info note on the AFRODAD, AFRIMAP AND OXFAM Conference on National Prep for AU Summits

Short info note on the AFRODAD, AFRIMAP AND OXFAM Conference
on National Preparation for the African Union Summits
by Irungu Houghton and Desire Assogbavi

Between 20-25 participants drawn from policy advocacy coalitions and organisations working on the African Union attended a conference held on the 10-11th November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Joined by staff from the AU Commission and five African Embassies they offered comments on the preliminary findings and recommendations of research into how African Governments, the AU Commission and CSOs prepared for the January and July 2006 Summits. The research will be released during the AU Heads of Summit in Addis Ababa, January 2007. It seeks to understand the processes and linkages between national and continental decision-making processes related to the six-monthly African Union summits and related ministerial meetings.

1. Finalisation and publication of the report
The report will be edited and translated in full (French and English) with the Executive Summaries in Portuguese and Arabic by January 2007. Organisations will be invited to sign onto the report and append their logos. Simultaneous launches are being contemplated in several African capitals prior to the Addis Ababa launch during the Summit.
Lead for sending out Conference report: Desire Assogabvi, Oxfam, Addis Email:
Lead for finalising research report: Bronwen Manby, Afrimap, London Email:
Lead for signing on and organising launches: Irng Houghton, Oxfam, Nairobi Email:

2. Review of Working Methods and the Rules of Procedure
Issue:
While the AUC has galvanised greater assertiveness on common positions, standards and peer review within Africa, the transformation of AUC as an institution remains unconsolidated. With the Continental Union Proposal and the re-engineering of the African Union Commission by member-states, the review of working methods and rules of procedure provide an important opportunity to build sufficient accountability and ownership of the AU/specialised organs to citizens of Africa.
Lead: Ibrahima Kane, Interrights, Dakar/London Email: Pape Sy
Chidi Odinkalu, OSIWA, Abuja Email:

3. Classification and dissemination of documents
Issue:
It is not clear what is the status of documents in the AU. Is the time come for a Freedom of Information Policy? Most FOI policies enshrine three principles 1) right of access and to request information 2) automatic disclosure of core working documents and proceeding reports with limited exceptions and 3) access to decision-making. By doing this, we can generate clearer and more constructive dialogue and coordination between states and the Commission around development, peace and security. The perception of the OAU as a club of dictators will fall away and leave behind a new public image of transparency and responsiveness to Africa’s citizens.
Lead: Maty Diaw, FEMNET, Nairobi Email:

4. Review of the AUC Strategic Plan 2004-7 and formulation of new Strategic Plan
Issue:
The 2004-7 Strategic Plan was passed with little engagement from CSOs. It comes to an end next year and the newly elected commission will develop a future plan. It is important that clusters of CSOs prepare to engage the AU on the review of the existing plan and the priorities for the next four years.
Lead: Desire Assogbavi, Oxfam, Addis Email:

5. Finalisation of the criteria for observer status
Issue:
A fairly bruising discussion of the application of the Lions Club during the Khartoum Summit revealed intolerance for non-state actors formal participation in the Summits. With ECOSOCC not fully operational and international NGOs not eligible for ECOSOCC participation, it is critical that the criteria for observer status be reviewed and finalised
Lead:

6. Finalisation of the interim status of ECOSOCC
Issue:
Fairly dysfunctional national and continental ECOSOCC structures and weak CSO assertiveness around the policy agenda of the African Union Summits and its ministerials create the necessity for more energy around ensuring that the finalisation phase of the interim stage is managed transparently and democratically.
Lead: Vitalis Meja, AFRODAD, Harare Email:

7. Continental Union and the election of new Commission
Issue:
Ambitious proposal by the Committee of Seven seems set to pit West and North Africa against Southern Africa on the lines of the 1964 OAU debate of rapid unification versus gradual federation of states. This will be a primary issue of focus for the Heads of States Summit and possibly be the legacy of outgoing Chairperson and Commissioners.
Lead: Chris Landsberg, Centre for Policy Studies, Johannesburg Email:

8. Support for CSO Coordination around the AU Summit, January 2007
Issue:
CSO engagement tends to be scattered and not well coordinated. Banjul saw greater consultations but Addis is an opportunity to improve on this. The Summit runs as follows;
22-23 13th Ordinary Session of the PRC
25-26 10th Ordinary Session of the Exec Council
29-30 8th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly
It was proposed that we should try to coordinate as much as possible our planning processes, working spaces, accommodation and consultation during the Summit.
Lead: Desire Assogbavi, Oxfam, Addis Email:

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