Decision on Annual Report of The Union and its Organs Including The Specific Thematic Issues by The Heads of States, Champions

DECISION ON ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNION AND ITS ORGANS INCLUDING
THE SPECIFIC THEMATIC ISSUES BY THE HEADS OF STATES, CHAMPIONS

The Assembly,

1. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the report of the Union and its Organs including thematic issues by the Heads of State, Champions;

2. DECIDES to rationalize the inclusion of the Leaders' reports in the Assembly agenda by retaining only two or three items related to the theme of the year and based on current situation. The remaining reports should be included in the Annual Report of the Union and its Organs.

1. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF HIS MAJESTY LETSIE III, KING OF LESOTHO AND AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON NUTRITION AND BIENNIAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN LEADERS FOR NUTRITION (ALN) INITIATIVE

The Assembly,

3. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the report of the African Nutrition Champion His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom Lesotho, for the period 2019 to 2020 and the report on activities and progress African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative (2018 -2020) and their recommendations;

4. RECALLS African Union (AU) Decision on the appointment of an Africa Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom Lesotho (Assembly/AU/Dec.621(XXVIII) and the extension of the Championship to 2019 ((Assembly/AU/Dec.739(XXXII) and the Decision on the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative that endorsed the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) (Assembly/AU/Dec.681 (XXX);

5. COMMENDS the work of the Africa Nutrition Champion and the Africa Leaders for Nutrition Initiative in sustaining nutrition advocacy in the effort to ensure member states commit adequate financial resources to nutrition interventions;

6. NOTING WITH CONCERN that COVID-19 Pandemic has created major global health and economic shocks, with unprecedented impacts on people’s health, nutrition and livelihoods, URGES member states to take note of the recommendations of the Position paper entitled “Embedding Nutrition within the COVID-19 Response and Recovery” calling all African Member States to ensure the incorporation and promotion of nutrition smart interventions within COVID-19 response and recovery action plans;

7. REAFFIRMS the continued importance of nutrition especially child nutrition as a major pillar in socio-economic transformation of Africa and calls on all member states to continue prioritizing nutrition through the implementation of Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods and the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2015-2025);

8. ENDORSES to extend for another term (2022-2024) the mandate of His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho as the African Union Nutrition Champion to continue to rally member states towards the implementation of Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2015-2025) and the commitment of the Malabo Declaration on Nutrition Security for Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa to ending child hunger and bringing down stunting to 10% and underweight to 5% by 2025;

9. WELCOMES the progress made in the implementation of the Africa Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative, and URGES the Africa Leaders for Nutrition to continue to support dialogue with high-level political leaders at global and continental level to support and sustain the momentum gained on increasing nutrition investment;

10. CALLS UPON African Governments to play a leading role in multi-sectorial and multi-stake holder coordination and collaboration, by putting leadership for nutrition at the highest political level and for political leadership to facilitate the mobilization of domestic resources for nutrition, through close engagement with the ministries of finance

2. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF HIS MAJESTY MOHAMMED VI, KING OF MOROCCO AND AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON MIGRATION

The Assembly,

11. WELCOMES the Report presented by His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco and AU Champion on Migration;

12. CONGRATULATES His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, Champion of the African Union on Migration;

13. COMMENDS the work of the AU Champion on Migration and his initiatives to harness migration as a lever for community development in Africa, with the aim of establishing a responsible international partnership that promotes the safe and regular migration of people;

14. NOTES with concern the major impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migration in Africa, which has exacerbated the vulnerability of migrants;

15. REITERATES the need to generate better knowledge of the migration issue in Africa, for accurate qualitative and quantitative data on migration in order to inform and promote the harmonisation of efficient migration policies;

16. EXPRESSES its satisfaction at the official inauguration, on 18 December 2020, of the African Migration Observatory in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, which is expected to play a key role in the implementation of the recommendations of the African Agenda for Migration, presented at the 30th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, on 29 January 2018;

17. REQUESTS the AU Commission to expedite the recruitment process of the Observatory staff in accordance with its Decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 750 (XXXIII) of 10 February 2020;

3. DECISION ON THE PROGRESS REPORT, OF H.E. HON. UHURU KENYATTA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND CHAMPION OF THE AFRICAN LEADERS MALARIA ALLIANCE (ALMA)

The Assembly,

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the 2021 Africa Malaria Progress Report” submitted by H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance;

16. COMMENDS H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta for his vision, leadership and advocacy as Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance over the past two years, which has contributed significantly towards maintaining malaria high on Member States’ development agendas despite the challenges of COVID-19;

17. RECALLS its 2020 decision on the status of malaria in Africa (Doc. Assembly/AU/13(XXXIII)adopted at the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly, held in February 2020;

18. ALSO RECALLS that “sound health and well-being” are essential to achieving our aspiration for a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development under the Agenda 2063 of the African Union;

19. FURTHER RECALLS its commitments to reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 75% in all Member States by 2025, compared with 2015, and to eliminate malaria in all Member States by 2030 as outlined in the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030;

20. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on “Consolidating Gains and Accelerating Efforts to Control and Eliminate Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly Africa, by 2030” (A/RES/75/328) on 13 September 2021;

21. FURTHER TAKES NOTE of the World Health Organisation’s World Malaria Report 2021, which notes that 10 million malaria deaths were averted in Africa since 2000 and a record number of children are protected by seasonal malaria chemoprevention, but also that 602,000 Africans died from malaria in 2020, an increase of 68,000 (68% due to COVID-19 disruptions), and that 80% of deaths were children under the age of 5;

22. TAKES NOTE of the World Health Organisation’s approval of the first malaria vaccine, which provides an additional tool to help combat malaria, and the contributions of the Republics of Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana to the large-scale trials of this vaccine;

23. ALSO TAKES NOTE that the next replenishment of the Global Fund begins in 2022 and that its successful replenishment is necessary to sustaining essential malaria and broader health services;

24. COMMENDS Member States’ efforts to sustain essential malaria services and activities, including Insecticide Treated Nets, Indoor Residual Spraying, and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention campaigns, despite operational and financial challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;

25. ALSO COMMENDS the Regional Economic Communities for supporting cross- border collaboration and sub-regional efforts to control and eliminate malaria;

26. FURTHER COMMENDS the Youth leaders who contributed to the continental Youth Strategy to Combat Malaria and are mobilising national Youth movements across the continent;

27. COMMENDS the twenty-two Member States championing “Zero Malaria Starts with Me!” including the Republics of Malawi, Mali, and Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo which launched during 2021;

28. ALSO COMMENDS the fifteen Member states that have announced multisectoral councils and funds for domestic advocacy, action and resource mobilisation for the Fight Against Malaria, including Burkina Faso], the [Federal Republic of Nigeria], the United Republic of Tanzania, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the Republics of [Botswana], Cameroon, [Gabon], Kenya, Mozambique, [Namibia], [Rwanda], South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia;

29. FURTHER COMMENDS Burkina Faso, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Republics of Burundi, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia for publishing national scorecards for accountability and action to the ALMA Scorecard Hub, including for malaria; reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; and Neglected Tropical Diseases;

30. EXPRESSES CONCERN that many Member States are not on track to meet the continent’s target of eliminating malaria by 2030;

31. ALSO EXPRESSES CONCERN that significant financial gaps in national malaria strategic plans and the risk or reduced domestic funding for malaria, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, substantially increases the risk of a sustained resurgence in malaria cases and deaths;

32. FURTHER EXPRESSES CONCERN about the increasing prevalence of insecticide resistance and the threat of resistance to essential malaria medicines;

33. EXPRESSES CONCERN that disruptions to global supply chains increases the risk of stock-outs of life-saving commodities and a need to accelerate procurement timelines and undertake to implement innovative approaches, such as pooled procurement;

34. RECOGNISES that investments in combatting malaria, including for community health workers, disease surveillance, digitalisation and use of data, are a pathfinder for strengthening the overall health sector and pandemic preparedness and response;

35. REQUESTS the Commission, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and other development partners to sustain technical assistance, advocacy, and financing, including for the replenishment of the Global Fund and the implementation of “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” and “High Burden to High Impact”;

36. CALLS UPON Member States to:

1. Sustain essential malaria and health services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;

2. Mobilise additional domestic funding for malaria control and elimination, including through the establishment of multisectoral End Malaria Councils and Funds;

3. Invest in community health workers, digitalisation, and disease surveillance for malaria as a pathfinder for pandemic preparedness and response;

4. Implement “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” campaigns to help sustain malaria high on the national development agenda, engage and empower communities, and mobilise additional resources;

5. Improve the quality and sharing of malaria data, including through the dissemination and use of malaria scorecards so that all individuals are aware and empowered to act;

6. Participate in the replenishment of Global Fund, including by renewing commitments and engaging partners and the global community;

7. Continue strengthening cross-border coordination and collaboration through the Regional Economic Communities and related initiatives;

8. Accelerate the transition to next-generation malaria commodities to mitigate the impact of insecticide and drug resistance;

9. Increase capacity for local manufacturing of health commodities, including essential malaria commodities;

10. Mobilise Youth leaders to champion malaria control and elimination and contribute towards universal health coverage.

3. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF H.E. MR. ABDELMADJID TEBBOUNE, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLES’ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA AND CHAMPION ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM

The Assembly,

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION the report prepared by H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, in his capacity as Coordinator on the Fight against Terrorism and Violent Extremism, and COMMENDS the President for his excellent leadership;

16. ALSO WELCOMES the progress made in the exercise of his mandate as Coordinator on the Fight against Terrorism and Violent Extremism, and the proposals made in the letter of 31 August 2021, addressed to H.E. Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, then Chair of the African Union;

17. REQUESTS the Commission to finalize the second African Plan to Combat Terrorism, in line with the proposals contained in the Memorandum on the Pillars of Joint AU Action against the Scourge of Terrorism and Violent Extremism (Assembly/AU/17/5XXXII);

18. FURTHER REQUESTS the Commission to operationalize the African Special Fund for Combating Terrorism and to activate the Sub-Committee on Counter-Terrorism under the Peace and Security Council;

19. REAFFIRMS the need to establish as soon as possible an African list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, including foreign terrorist fighters, and to implement the African arrest warrant project;

20. WELCOMES the contribution and role played by the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) and the African Police Cooperation Mechanism (AFRIPOL) in the effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism and ENCOURAGES Member States to further strengthen their cooperation with these bodies.

3. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF H.E. MR. PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, CHAMPION OF THE AU INSTITUTIONAL REFORM

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the progress made on institutional reforms and challenges on the implementation of the outstanding reform priorities and COMMENDS H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda for his leadership;

16. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the progress in the implementation of the 0.2% levy on eligible imports, adopted in July 2016 as an important mechanism for leveraging the capacities of Member States’ treasuries to provide adequate and timely financing to the Union;

17. URGES Members States to accelerate implementation of the 0.2% levy on eligible imports, adopted in July 2016 with a view to reaching at least 35 Member States fully implementing the levy;

18. DECIDES to extend the deadline for submitting the outcome of the remaining reform priorities by one year to February 2023.

3. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF H.E. MR. PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, AU CHAMPION ON DOMESTIC HEALTH FINANCING

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the progress that has been made by AUDA-NEPAD in preparation of a Regional Health Financing Hub (RHFH) design and operational manual which lays out overall operational framework of the RHFH,

16. Mindful of Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.810(XXXIV) of 6-7 February 2021 on domestic health financing (ALM-lnvesting in health), which requested the Commission to speed up the implementation of Item 6(v) of the February 2019 ALM-lnvesting in Health Declaration, regarding working with partners to create regional platforms to support Member States to increase domestic health financing, by assigning responsibility for coordinating this mandate to AUDA- NEPAD;

17. Recalling Assembly/AU/Decision. 619 (XXVII), FURTHER TAKES NOTE of progress made in in the development of the Africa Scorecard on Domestic Financing for Health that will help with financial planning for the health sector and with monitoring performance against AU commitments;

18. WELCOMES the support to SADC and EAC regions to secure ministerial endorsements to operationalize the pilot Regional Health Financing Hubs and the plans to develop a Private Sector Engagement Framework and Monitoring and Evaluation Plan;

19. REQUESTS the AUDA-NEPAD and AUC to facilitate the piloting of the Health Financing Tracker in order to optimise its domestication and identification of final set of indicators;

20. URGES Member States and RECs to proactively support the rollout of the Health Financing Tracker in order ensure that the tracker is in line with country needs and contexts; and FURTHER URGES Member States and RECs to participate in the design and implementation activities of the Regional Health Financing Hub (RHFHs).

3. DECISION ON THE REPORT OF H.E. MR. NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO- ADDO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA AND AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON THE AU FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The Assembly,

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION the Report of the Champion for the Establishment of the African Union Financial Institutions, and COMMENDS H.E Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana for his leadership;

16. FURTHER DECIDES on the following:

1. Urges the Champion to work closely with the Presidents whose countries are hosting the African Central Bank (Nigeria), the African Monetary Fund (Cameroun) and the African Investment Bank (Libya) to advocate jointly for signature and ratification of the legal instruments establishing the African Monetary Fund and African Investment Bank; and, in the case of the African Central Bank, advocate jointly for rapid attainment of macroeconomic convergence to lead Africa towards Pan-African economic and monetary union.

2. Requests the African Union Commission to commission a technical study on the African Union Financial Institutions in the current economic and financial context of the Member States to address all the technical issues surrounding the establishment of the AUFIs. The issues to be covered in the technical study should include shareholding structure; optimal initial authorized levels of share capital; capital subscription formula; and, among others, the costs that Member States may incur as a result of setting up these institutions;

3. Decides that the Terms of Reference reflecting the scope and other dimensions of the study must be developed and shared with Member States to validate before the commencement of the study. The study should also answer to the questions posed by the Champion in his Report to the Assembly;

4. Further Decides that the Champion and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission reach out to the African private sector, the African Diaspora as well as the African pension, mutual and sovereign wealth funds to invite them to invest in the African Investment Bank in a model of strategic collaboration with African governments that should be mutually agreed upon.

5. Calls Upon all Member States to work with renewed zeal towards generating signature and ratification of the legal instruments of the African Monetary Fund and the African Investment Bank as well as attain consensus of levels of their initial capitalization so that an Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government solely dedicated to the establishment of the African Union Financial Institutions is convened before the end of 2024.

6. Requests the African Union Commission to work closely with the Association of African Central Banks to ensure that all the pending activities on the establishment of the African Monetary Institute are carried out before the end of the 2022 and the results of that engagement be part of the Champion's Report to the Assembly in 2023

7. Further requests the African Union Commission to enhance collaboration with the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) with strategic focus strengthening and scaling up the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) toward its transformation as the Pan African Stock Exchange (PASE) and conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding and also DECIDES that the results of that collaboration be part of the Champion's Report to the Assembly in 2023.

8. Further-more requests the African Union Commission to organize regular meetings chaired by the Ambassador of Ghana, representing the Champion, and with the participation of the Ambassadors host countries the African Central Bank (Nigeria), African Investment Bank (Libya), and African Monetary Fund Cameroon) to review periodically progress on establishing the African Union Financial Institutions and also DECIDES that the results of their work be part of Champion’s annual report to the Assembly beginning in 2023.

9. Calls Upon the African Export Import Bank, African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to provide appropriate technical support to the African Union Commission for the speedy operationalization of the African Union Financial Institutions.

10. Adopts the macroeconomic convergence criteria to allow for the monitoring of our path towards a common African currency and URGES Member States and Regional Economic Communities to apply them scrupulously.

11. Requests the African Union Commission to ensure that the agenda for the forthcoming EU-AU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, scheduled for 17^th- 18^th February 2022, includes the proposal that SDR allocation rights for Africa should be channeled through the African Development Bank and the Afreximbank, with particular reference to the SDR $100 billion that European nations committed to Africa at the Paris Summit in May 2021

15. STRESSES the importance of flanking measures to facilitate rapid establishment of the African Union Financial Institutions and to this end:

1. Calls upon all Member States to enhance domestic resource mobilization with a view to meeting the target of using 75-90% of domestic resources to implement Agenda 2063 projects and programmes and encourages them to submit status report to the Champion which will be incorporated in his Report to the Assembly in 2023 under the section on flanking measures.

2. Requests the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD to commission urgently an input action-oriented study focused on positioning African economies to attain and sustain 7-10% annual economic growth rates in the next ten to thirty years in line with the stipulations of the African Union Agenda 2063 and Calls upon the Champion to incorporate the findings and recommendations of that study in his Report to the Assembly in 2023 under the section on flanking measures.

15. REQUESTS the Champion to submit the next status report to the Assembly in 2023.

(viii) DECISION ON THE REPORT OF H.E. DR. ABIY AHMED, PRIME MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA AND CHAMPION ON CAADP BIENNIAL REVIEW

The Assembly,

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the third Biennial Review Report on the Implementation of the June 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, and the highlights of its findings on Accelerating CAADP Implementation for a Resilient African Food System and COMMENDS H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, champion on CAADP Biennal Review, for his leadership.

16. RECALLS the Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/ /Decl. 1 (XXIII) adopting the Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods in Africa and which also calls on the AU Commission and NPCA, in collaboration with partners to conduct, on a biennial basis, beginning from year 2017, Agricultural Review Process, and report on progress to the Assembly at its January 2018 Ordinary Session.

17. RECOGNISES the efforts of the African Union Commission and the AUDA- NEPAD in mobilizing key stakeholders and development partners to build partnership with Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to establish a mechanism for monitoring, evaluation and reporting, in a more aligned manner, on the progress made in implementing the commitments of the Malabo Declaration.

18. COMMENDS the positive response of Member States in conducting self­assessments, inclusive validation process and providing information for the preparation of the 3^rd biennial review report to the Assembly of the African Union on the progress made in implementing the commitments for agricultural transformation in Africa; while noting challenges faced by member states in collecting and compiling quality data to report progress on all goals and targets set in the Malabo Declaration.

19. CONCERNED about the fragility of African food systems as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks such as climate change, desert locust and fall army worm infestation that have resulted in an increase in hunger and malnutrition on the continent;

20. ALSO COMMENDS the African Union Commission and AUDA-NEPAD for leading the development of a continental common position presented to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit;

21. NOTES with satisfaction the enormous efforts invested by Member States in implementing the Assembly Declaration [Assembly/AU/ /Decl. 1 (XXIII) to accelerate achievements made in the Malabo Declaration; while recognizing that, for the insufficient performance shown by some member states in several cases to reach the common set goals, considerable effort and attention are still needed to rally ourselves to CAADP implementation by domesticating the Malabo commitments and outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit in our National and Regional Agriculture Investment Plans;

22. UNDERSCORES the necessity take further actions in accelerating the implementation of the Africa Agriculture transformation agenda within the CAADP framework by increasing investment finance for agriculture, strengthening institutional capacity for implementation, improving coordination mechanisms to achieve concrete results and impacts leading to shared prosperity and improved livelihoods for African citizens;

23. CALLS UPON all Member States of the African Union Commission, to mobilize adequate technical and financial resources in supporting agricultural data systems, monitoring and evaluation systems and strengthen mutual accountability structures to trigger evidence-based planning for agriculture transformation at all levels;

24. REQUESTS the African Union Commission to work closely with Member States, technical and financial development partners, the private sector and civil society to mobilize the required support to strengthen mutual accountability, agricultural data systems and knowledge management, institutionalize the biennial review mechanisms and the Africa Agriculture Transformation Scorecard to ensure peer learning and scaling up of the agriculture transformation agenda embedded in the Malabo Declaration.

9. REPORT OF H.E. MR. JULIUS MAADA BIO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE AU CHAMPION ON COMMITTEE OF TEN HEADS OF STATES AND GOVERNMENT ON THE REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (C10)

The Assembly,

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the High-Level meetings of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government, including the Ninth Ministerial Meeting held in Kampala, Uganda in January 2022 and high-level outreach with the P-5 and other stakeholders on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council;

16. ADOPTS the Twenty Second Report of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council, by His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Coordinator of the Committee of Ten while COMMENDING his leadership;

17. RECALLS previous decisions of the Assembly on the reform of the United Nations Security Council;

18. ACKNOWLEDGES WITH APPRECIATION the progress made by the Committee of Ten in promoting and canvassing support for the Common African Position as espoused in the Ezulwini Consensus and the 2005 Sirte Declaration on the United Nations Security Council Reform;

19. WELCOMES in that regard, the growing acceptance of the legitimacy of the Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council;

20. ENCOURAGES the Committee to continue holding its high-level and outreach meetings with a view to further intensify efforts aimed at promoting and canvassing the Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council;

21. REAFFIRMS that the Common African Position as espoused in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, shall continue to serve as the only viable option that reflects Africa’s legitimate right and aspiration to rectify, inter alia, the historical injustice endured by the Continent; as the only viable option for Africa’s full representation at the UN Security Council;

22. REITERATES that full representation of Africa in the United Nations Security Council means: i) Not less than two (2) Permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership including the right of veto; ii) Five (5) Non- permanent seats; iii) that the African Union reserves the right to select its representatives for election to the UN Security Council to act in its name and on its behalf;

23. ALSO REITERATES that even though Africa is opposed, in principle, to the veto, it is of the view that so long as it exists, and as a matter of common justice, it should be made available to all Permanent Members of the UN Security Council;

24. FURTHER REITERATES the firm commitment to preserve Africa’s unity and solidarity on all aspects of the United Nations Security Council reform process, including participation within and outside the Inter-governmental Negotiations, and to continue to speak cohesively with one voice in unity of purpose on all aspects of the reform process;

25. In that regard, REITERATES that African Union Member States in New York with dual membership, should withdraw such membership from all other interest groups, in order to further consolidate the common African position as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration;

26. REITERATES that given the wide-ranging divergences in views and positions of the respective interest groups vis-a-vis the inter-connectedness of the five key clusters as set out in Decision 62/557, engaging in a text-based negotiation, at this stage, without agreeing on the principles will not only be premature but counter-productive;

27. REQUESTS the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government to continue to intensify its engagement at the highest level with other interest and regional groups and key stakeholders, including the five Permanent members of the UN Security Council with a view to building on progress made in advancing, canvassing and promoting the Common African Position contained in the

Ezulwini consensus and Sirte Declaration on the Reform of United Nations Security Council;

15. FURTHER REQUESTS the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the reform of the United Nations Security Council to:

1. Ensure that all outcome documents emanating from the on-going Inter­governmental Negotiation process relating to the Common African Position fully reflect the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration in all respects,

2. Continue to implore other African countries to withdraw their membership from other interest groups to enhance the cohesiveness of the Common African Position and remove the impression of a divided Africa,

3. Reiterates the imperative and legitimacy of the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration;

4. All AU Member States should continue to defend, canvass and promote the Common African Position on all facets of the reform at every opportunity,

5. Reaffirms Africa’s position on the Veto and oppose the creation of a third category of membership of the Security Council, which is not in compliance with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,

6. All African Union Member States, to reflect in their respective National statements at the opening of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, a concise common language to promote and canvass the Common African Position, and to reiterate the call for a comprehensive Reform of the United Nations Security Council,

7. African Union Member States to include the issue of the United Nations Security Council Reform among their foreign policy priorities in their engagements with non-African partners, in particular, the need to correct without further delay, the historical injustice that the African continent continues to endure;

15. DIRECTS the Commission to make provision in the Commission’s proposed budget for the purpose of funding and facilitating the activities of the Committee of Ten on UN Reforms;

16. DECIDES that the Committee of Ten remains seized of its mandate until Africa achieves its objectives on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council, and REQUESTS the Committee to present a Report to the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

9. REPORT OF H.E. MR. DENIS SASSOU NGUESSO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO, AU CHAMPION AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE ON LIBYA

The Assembly

15. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the report of H.E. Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union High Level Committee on Libya;

16. WELCOMES the progress made towards restoring peace and stability in Libya since the establishment of the Berlin Process on 19 January 2020;

17. ALSO WELCOMES the efforts made at the continental and international levels to find a way out of the crisis in Libya;

18. FURTHER WELCOMES the international initiatives taken over the past two years, with a view to the successful completion of the electoral process, namely, the 2nd Berlin Conference on Libya, held on 23 June 2021, the Ministerial Meeting of Libya's Neighbouring Countries, held in Algiers on 30 and 31 August 2021, the Paris Conference on Libya, held on 12 November 2021;

19. RECALLS its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Libya;

20. FURTHER RECALLS its commitment to an inclusive political process led by Libyans and owned by Libyans;

21. INVITES the High Level Committee to continue its mandate and thus contribute, within the framework of the International Monitoring Committee, to the success of the presidential and legislative elections, initially scheduled for December, which have been postponed sine die;

22. WELCOMES the efforts made by His Excellency Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo, Chairperson of the African Union High Level Committee on Libya, in the search for a political solution to the crisis in Libya.

23. ENDORSES the proposal for a rapid renegotiation with the United Nations to structure a real collaboration on the Libyan Reconciliation file.

24. ALSO ENDORSES the proposal for the immediate relocation of the African Union Liaison Office, still based in Tunis, to Tripoli.

25. FURTHER ENDORSES the recommendation for a joint visit to Libya by the Chairperson of the High Level Committee and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission before the elections.

26. REQUESTS the Commission to make the necessary contacts for the detailed elaboration of the operationalization plan of the Reconciliation Conference.

9. REPORT OF THE CHAMPION OF THE AFRICAN HEADS OF STATES AND GOVERNMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE (CAHOSCC)

The Assembly,

102. ALSO EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to Excellencies coordinating the African Climate Commissions and Initiatives: - African Islands Climate Commission; the Congo Basin Climate Commission; the Sahel Climate Commission; the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) and Adaptation of African Agriculture Initiative (AAA) for their committed leadership in expediting the operationalization and scaling-up of these initiatives;

103. FURTHER EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to the African Group of Negotiators for representing the interests of Africa in the climate change negotiations and URGES the Group to continue to represent the interests of Africa and speak with one voice to advance the interest of African countries;

104. CONGRATULATES the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the successful outcome of COP26, and WELCOMES the Arab Republic of Egypt as the incoming president of COP27;

105. ALSO AKNOWLEDGES with appreciation the on-going preparations by the Arab Republic of Egypt on the operationalization of the Africa Adaptation Initiative Technical Support Unit, with the views of a successful completion of its operationalisation ahead of COP27;

106. REITERATES our pledge to fully support the Arab Republic of Egypt in the preparation of the African COP and facilitation of successful outcomes, and URGES development partners and the private sector to provide resources to facilitate an ambitious outcome of COP27 that promotes the implementation of climate actions and support sustainable development;

107. COMMITS to the multilateral process of addressing climate change, and the implementation of climate actions under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement to be guided by the prescribed principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances;

108. FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES the importance of science for effective climate action, and the findings of the international scientific bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and the Africa State of Climate Report which is co-produced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and African Regional Climate Centres with the support of the AU Commission, that highlighted that the African continent is facing unprecedented pressures owing to various extreme weather events and slow-onset events caused by climate change;

109. REITERATES our call to Parties under the UNFCCC to recognize the special needs and special circumstances of Africa in line with relevant previous decisions adopted by the COPs and reports of the 25^th and 26^th Session of the COP, and COMMITS to continuing to work with Parties and the incoming COP27 presidency to reaching a decision that launches a consideration of the special needs and special circumstances of African countries under the Paris Agreement;

110. AFFIRMS our commitment to implement the Paris Agreements with the aim of enhancing the implementation of the Convention, through balanced and ambitious actions on mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of national circumstance;

111. REAFFIRMS the importance of strengthening mitigation efforts to align with holding the increase in global temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre­industrial levels, and URGES developed country Parties to revisit and implement their mitigation targets under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);

112. APPLAUDES all African countries for having submitted ambitious targets under their NDCs and aim to implement their mitigation efforts, with the necessary international support, based on equity, in the context of sustainable development, national circumstances and efforts to eradicate poverty;

113. WELCOMES the launch to elaborate the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Glasgow-Sharm-el-Sheikh work programme at COP26, and URGES Parties to work on delivering a substantive milestone outcome at COP27 to contribute to the full and sustained operationalization of the GGA for an adequate adaptation response in the context of Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, including enhancing adaptation action and implementation, adaptation financing and assessment of progress towards achieving the goal in the first and subsequent Global Stocktakes;

114. EMPHASIZES the adverse impacts of climate and extreme weather events on people, nature, and infrastructure, particularly in Africa, and STRESSES the urgent need to scale up the provision of finance, capacity building and technology for enhancing adaptive capacity and building resilience;

115. REITERATES the concern underscored by the Glasgow Climate Pact of COP26 that registered the inadequacy of adaptation financing for responding to the worsening climate change impacts in developing countries, WELCOMES the agreement for developed country Parties to at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties from 2019 levels by 2025, and URGES developed country Parties to provide additional climate finance for adaptation before COP27; and to pursue it through international cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.;

116. URGES developed country Parties to provide new, additional and predictable climate finance for adaptation and for those developed country Parties that have made pledges to increase their provision of climate finance to support adaptation in developing country Parties in response to their growing needs, to fulfil their pledges at least prior to COP27;

117. EXPRESSES its disappointment regarding the unfulfilled pledges of the USD100 Billion Goal per annum by 2020 from developed to developing countries, whereas the resource needs have increased to address the worsening impacts of climate change; and URGES developed countries to deliver on their pledge, including significantly increasing climate finance; and STRESSES the importance of delivering the USD 100 billion as soon as possible for building trust and faith in the multilateral process of addressing climate change;

118. NOTES with concern the challenges and additional conditionalities faced by African countries in accessing climate finance, including by the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention,

119. WELCOMES the launch of deliberations on setting a new collective quantified mobilization goal prior to 2025 from a flow of USD 100 billion per year to take into account the needs and priorities of developing countries; and STRESSES that the consideration of the goal takes into account the reports of the UNFCCC that estimate the cumulative needs of developing country Parties to be up to USD 6 trillion until 2030, and REITERATES our call to developed country Parties to mobilizing jointly at least USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2030, of which 50% should be for mitigation and 50% for adaptation with a significant percentage provided on a of grant basis;

120. ALSO WELCOMES the recognition of the multiple forms and stages of Just Transitions by the Glasgow Climate Pact based on national circumstances and related COP26/CMA decisions, and EMPHASISES just transitions include the pathways to low emissions and climate resilient development, in the context of sustainable development and eradication of poverty, and on the basis of scaled- up climate finance for the transitions, including a guiding framework to support the process of making financial flows consistent with low emissions and climate- resilient development, and transfer of technology and capacity building for the creation of new and quality jobs;

121. RECOGNIZES the intrinsic relationship of climate change actions, responses, and the impacts on equitable access to sustainable development, and STRESSES the importance of ensuring adequate support for Africa sustainable pathways including through consideration of policies and ensuring that just transition financing is incorporated into approaches to align climate action with the goals of the Paris Agreement;

122. STRESSES that the measures taken to combat climate change, including unilateral measures, should not constitute discrimination or a restriction on exports from African countries, taking into consideration African trade initiatives and the African continental free trade zone, to enhance trade between African countries;

123. HIGHLIGHTS the important role of youth as acknowledged in the Glasgow Pact and invites Egypt as presidency of COP27 to engage with African stakeholders in particular youth representatives; and CALLS UPON countries to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral fora on climate change and that youth are part of member state delegations to these sessions at the multilateral, national and local levels;

124. ACKNOWLEDGES the need for additional support to the various climate Commissions and other African Climate Initiatives and REQUESTS the AU Commission to strengthen coordination of all the initiatives at continental level. RECOGNIZES the legal existence of the Congo Basin Climate Commission conferred through the signature by its members at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 29 April 2018, of the Protocol establishing it; SUPPORTS the request for accreditation of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, as a sub­regional organization, to the African Union, with all the effects that this implies;

125. WELCOMES the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan to guide, coordinate and support the Continent’s response to Climate Change for the period 2022-2032 and the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) (2021-2030); and hereby ADOPTS these strategies and action plans;

126. TAKES NOTE of the candidacy of His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, to be appointed to perform the role of Champion of Disaster Risk Management in Africa; and DECIDES to appoint His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique as a Champion of Disaster Risk Management in Africa,

127. CONCERNED by the exacerbated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that has severely impacted on the health, economy of the continent and increased indebtedness of African countries;

128. REAFFIRMS the commitment to continue the efforts to conserve, protect and enhance the resilience of our environment and natural resources as part of our determined efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and increase efforts to build a more sustainable and inclusive recovery including to future crises;

129. WELCOMES the African Green Stimulus Programme and the African Union Green Recovery Action Plan which are intended to support the Continent’s sustainable development recovery response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ADOPTS these initiatives to contribute towards Africa’s green recovery to the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

130. COMMENDS the work done and commitment of the African Union Commission, AMCEN, the AGN and Development Partners for their contribution in advancing Africa’s negotiation positions and Climate Change programmes.

9. REPORT OF H.E. MR. ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, FORMER PRESIDENT OF NIGER AND AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON THE CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA)

The Assembly,

102. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the Report of H.E. Mr. Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of the Republic of Niger and Champion of the AfCFTA , and its recommendations thereof on the progress achieved since the start of trading under the AfCFTA on 1 January 2021.

103. WELCOMES AND APPRECIATES the Report of the Champion to the 3^rd Mid- Year Coordination Meeting which assessed and reviewed the status of implementation of pertaining to Inter-Africa Trade and continental integration and DIRECTS the implementation of Decision Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XII) of July 2019 and submission of an updated reports to the next Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

104. ALSO NOTES of the upcoming 3rd Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF), to take place in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in 2023 and takes note of the proposed theme of the year for 2023 as “Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation” and DIRECTS the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUC to present the Concept Note to the relevant Sub-Committees and Policy Organs for consideration.

105. DIRECTS the AfCFTA Secretariat to intensify its collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank and African Developmental Bank as well as implement the AfCFTA Private Sector Engagement Plan.

106. RECOGNISES the critical importance of the role of the Assembly in advancing progress in the implementation of the AfCFTA and in the remainder of the AfCFTA negotiations and APPROVES the recommendation to convene a meeting dedicated to the AfCFTA.

(xiii) REPORT OF H.E. NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO- ADDO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN AFRICA,

The Assembly,

102. TAKES NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of the 2^nd report of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and AU Champion on Gender and Development issues in Africa;

103. ADOPTS the Kinshasa Declaration and Call for Action of the African Union Heads of State on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

104. DECIDES to institutionalize the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, with allocation of adequate and stable financial and human resources for the acceleration of the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in Africa.