Decision on the Reports of the Sub-committees of the Permanent Representatives' Committee (PRC)

DECISION ON THE REPORTS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVES’ COMMITTEE (PRC)

The Executive Council,

1. TAKES NOTE of the PRC recommendations on the Reports of its Sub­committees, taking into account observations made by Member States;

I. THE JOINT SITTING OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON GENERAL SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION ON BUDGETARY, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS AND THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS OF THE F15

ON THE 2022 AFRICAN UNION SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

2. APPROVES a total supplementary budget of US$1,596,873 broken down below and entirely to be financed from the Reserves:

i) Provisional budget of US$375,000 for the Office of Director General so that it begins to operate while awaiting a resubmission of the proposal to be considered during the 2022 midyear budget review;

ii) US$343,554 to support the R10 activities;

iii) US$878,318.88 to cover salaries and activities of the Reforms Unit till 31st March 2023; and

iv) US$680,000 to be used for the recruitment of an independent African Consultancy Firm.

3. RECALLS Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.1074(XXXVI) para 64 in February 2020 and Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec. 1126(XXXIX) of October 2021 recommending to the Assembly that the structure and the staffing of the AfCFTA Secretariat should be done in two phases, namely:

i) First Phase be initial recruitment of the Secretary General, four (4) Directors and essential staff; and

ii) Second phase be the positions to be filled after adoption of a permanent structure and budget, reviewing the appropriate functions of the appointed Directors and their exact number

4. REQUESTS the AfCFTA in collaboration with the Commission’s department of Finance to reduce the 104 staff earmarked for recruitment in 2022 to the number that can feasibly be incorporated in the budget, and report its progress to the PRC;

5. APPROVES the 2021 operational balance of US$ 2.9 million for AfCFTA to be carried forward to 2022 to cover expenses of the phased staff recruitment.

II. JOINT SUB-COMMITTEE ON STRUCTURAL REFORMS AND THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON GENERAL SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION ON BUDGETARY, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

6. TAKES NOTE of the Briefing made by H.E the Deputy Chairperson regarding the progress made on the structural reforms;

7. RECALLS the Executive decision of EX.CL/Dec. 1097(XXXVII) deciding that the Staff Skills Audit and Competency Assessment shall be applied to all AUC staff;

8. ALSO RECALLS the Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec. 1126(XXXIX) which REQUESTED that such audit shall be performed over the same period for all Regular and Non-regular staff of the Commission excluding Elected, Political and Special Appointee Officials;

9. DIRECTS the Commission to present to the Policy Organs after the summit, an analysis and report on the outcome of the Skills Audit and Competency Assessment.

III. THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON AUDIT MATTERS

10. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the PRC Sub-Committee on Audit Matters and, ENDORSES the recommendations contained therein.

ON THE INTERNAL AUDIT SPECIAL REPORT ON REVIEW OF OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS OWED TO THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL AND THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

11. EXPRESSES concerns on the non-implementation of Executive Council decision reference number EX.CL/Dec. 1057 (XXXV) and DIRECTS AUC to put in place measures to expedite the implementation of Executive Council decisions with financial obligations owed to the Member States to ensure honoring them on time.

12. DIRECTS the AUC to ensure that Member States concerned with issues discussed by various PRC Sub-Committees are invited to such meetings for their inputs on required information in accordance with paragraph 5. 2 of the ToR of the Sub-Committee on Audit Matters.

13. DIRECTS the AUC to put in place effective systems for early verifications of troop claims and compensation of the military equipment deployed by the Member States so as to ensure that they are compensated and paid their dues well on time

14. CALLS UPON the AUC to address the issues raised in the audit reports and DIRECTS as follows: -

1.1. On the Obligations Owed to Senegal and its Deceased Citizens:

i) RECALLS the provisions of paragraph 22 of the EX.CL/Dec 1057 (XXXV) which instructs the Commission to verify and pay the debts due to Senegal before the end of December 2019

ii) REITERATES that, AU Commission should adequately engage Troop Contributing Countries on issues concerning their troops and payments owed to them should be paid timely,

iii) The AUC should ensure that employment contracts are clear on what is eligible to the staff on fixed and short term, including the separation packages,

iv) RECALLS paragraph 43.ix of the EXCL/Dec.1126(XXXIX) and Requests the AUC to pay the dues owed to the Late Caporal-Chef Mouhamadou Abdallah NDIAYE and Requests the Commission to immediately pay the indemnities due;

v) ALSO REQUESTS the AUC to pay any other military or civilian police who saved under any other AU Missions are paid accordingly without further delay.

vi) Additional information should be provided to the Subcommittee on the legality of AU paying the IPED staff arrears to avoid creating a wrong precedent as these occurred before the Institution was adopted by the AU,

vii) The AUC should calculate the entire outstanding debts to all staff and creditors of IPED and submit for the consideration of the PRC Subcommittee on Audit Matters to make recommendations to PRC by May 2022.

viii) The AUC should assist in following up the contribution areas from IPED Member States to enable the clearance of the outstanding obligations of the Institution.

ix) REQUESTS the AUC to pay without delay the compensation due to the Late Colonel Abdoul Selly NIANE and report back to the Subcommittee on the implementation of this decision in the next Ordinary Session of the Executive Council

x) The AUC should put in place mechanisms to ensure that once an organization is closed or/ and adopted into the AU Institutions, all staff arrears and other outstanding obligations are established, audited and timely cleared to avoid legal liabilities to the AU.

1.2. On Obligations Owed to the Republic of Uganda:

i) RECALLS paragraph 22 of the EX.CL/Dec 1057 (XXXV) and REITERATES that the AUC should prioritise and make payments to the Republic of Uganda without any further delay from budget savings or other sources where funds are available under AMISOM.

ii) DIRECTS the AUC to make payments to the Republic of Uganda by May 2022 and report back to the Sub-Committee on Audit Matters.

ON THE REPORT ON THE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF ALL DORMANT SPECIAL FUNDS

15. TAKES NOTE of the Report and CALLS UPON the AUC to ensure that the findings in the audit report are acted upon accordingly to enhance effective management of special funds and DIRECTS as follows:

i) The AU Commission should periodically report to the PRC and Executive Council on all special funds in line with relevant articles of the AU-FRR, these reports should include information on achievements and challenges of the funds;

ii) The AU Commission should enhance the institutional memory mechanisms by upgrading its digital systems such that all management reports including those on Special Funds and other Funds are maintained in central portals for ease of retrieval by authorized officials, and report back to subcommittee on the progress made in this regard;

iii) The AU Commission should ensure that audits are done at the closure of all projects so as to assess the achievement of objectives and verify the closing balances of the funds. Further audits should be done before the closure of the Dormant Funds in line with the AU rules and standard accounting practices.

16. APPROVES the closure of the following seven (7) dormant Special Funds in line with the AU Financial Rules and Regulations.

Description	Ledger Balances USD	Actual Bank Balances USD
Member States -High Level Panel & Ministerial	823,530.69	19,994.50
Work on Union Govt. Proposal	55,059.81	19,994.50
Solidarity fund (SF007)	3,189,907.43	19,994.50
Acquisition of Washington Office Premises	90,959.68	19,994.50
AFISMA Trust Fund	15,000,000.00	19,994.50
Horn of Africa Famine Relief Contributions	2,729,646.70	-
High Level Panel on Alternative Sources of Financing	209,350.00	19,994.50
Total	22,098,454.3 1	139,961.5

 

ON THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT (010) REPORT ON AUC BUDGET PERFORMANCE FOR 6 MONTHS - JANUARY TO JUNE 2021

17. TAKES NOTE of the Report and EXPRESSES concerns on the low rate of implantation of programmes and CALLS UPON AUC managers to ensure that implementation of programmes is enhanced.

18. RECALLS the Executive Council decisions reference numbers; EX.CL/Dec 815 (XXX); EX.CL/Dec.1031 (XXXIV) paragraph 11; 1057(XXXV) paragraph 39 (b & h); 1069(XXXV) paragraphs 10, 11, 12; EX.CL/Dec. 1071 (XXXV) paragraph 9; EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI) paragraph 40; and EX.CL/Dec. 1097(XXXVII) paragraph 18, and REITERATES that: - "

i) AUC should take the necessary measures to reinforce the existing mechanisms for the relevant Departments to regularly submit their reports in AMERT and improve the implementation rate of the programmes during the year failing which, the AUC management shall hold accountable, as appropriate, the personnel in relevant departments responsible for underperformance, in accordance with the SRR;

ii) Recalls paragraph 66(iii) of Decision EX.CL/Dec.1073 (XXXVI) and paragraph 39(b) of EX.CL/Dec. 1057(XXXV) that directed the release and allocation of budget to be in proportion with the performance in line with the AU Golden Rules on Budgeting and an average budget execution rate of the previous three years well as implementation rate of audit recommendations,

iii) A minimum rate of implementation threshold should also be set up and submitted for consideration by the Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial, and Administrative Matters, so as to prevent departments from making high budget proposals and align budget proposals based on the available capacity and human resources;

iv) Partners with low funding as compared to the pledges made should be engaged early during the budget year and strong commitments should be sought from Partners before programmes are put in budget proposals, so as to avoid budgets with funding gaps in line with Golden Rule number two (2),

The AUC should work on the AMERT system to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the system, and if AMERT is no longer fit for the purpose, finance should start using the project module in SAP for planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting projects performance, or look for any other suitable system.

v) The AUC should develop effective mechanisms on quarterly allocation of funds and not on the current system of equal share without considering cost and size of programmes to be implemented by departments.

19. RECALLS Executive Council decisions 1107(XXXVIII) and 1126(XXXIX) and DIRECTS the Commission to make an overall implementation report to the PRC on the implementation of the audit recommendations taken in 2021-2022 before the July 2022 session”.

20. ALSO RECALLS Executive Council decision 1126(XXXIX) and REQUESTS the AUC to submit to the budget session for the financial year 2023 next May / June, a prior review of the rate of implementation of the audit recommendations of the AUC and AU Organs, affirming that no budget proposals will be considered if not accompanied with audit execution rates.

21. REQUESTS the AUC to expedite the study on the challenges causing low budget execution rate and report to PRC before the June/July 2022 Executive Council Session.

22. RECALLS section I of the Executive Council decision reference number EX.CL/Dec 1057 (XXXV) on the Transitional Plan and DIRECTS the AUC to submit a request to Policy Organs on how effective it can implement the filling of the positions in the new structure at all levels so as not to hamper the work of some departments who need more staff at lower levels than at managerial levels.

23. ALSO DIRECTS the AUC to collaborate with the League of Arab States Secretariat to find alternative ways of having the work plan on Africa-Arab Partnership approved, in case of further delays in holding of Africa-Arab Summit.

24. FURTHER DIRECTS the AUC to provide the program implementation plan and draft plan of future programmes on AUPD-LAS for consideration of the Sub- Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial, and Administrative Matters by May 2022.

ON THE OIO REPORTS ON RESERVE FUND & SPECIAL FUNDS AND
MAINTENANCE & WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS

25. TAKES NOTE of the Report and CALLS UPON AUC to put in place effective systems in the prudent management of Reserve, General and other Special Funds in line with AU Financial Rules and Regulations, and further DIRECTS as follows:

i) The AUC should ensure that the 3% is transferred from AU Acquisition of Properties Fund to AU Maintenance Fund in line with the Executive Council Decision reference number Ex.Cl.877 (XXVII),

ii) The AUC should put in place effective mechanisms to ensure that the fund balances match with the related dedicated bank balances as per required effective financial management and in line with the relevant Executive Council Decision.,

Put in place effective systems of internal controls to ensure that posting errors are eliminated on transaction postings and that approvals are sought from the Chairperson and Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security before funds in Peace Fund are used.

iii) The AUC Leadership through the DCP should ensure management engagement in the meetings of the subcommittee with the level of Directors/Deputy Directors and Management responses are provided to all audit findings, the OIA should not submit any report without management responses for consideration by the Sub-Committee.,

iv) A special audit engagement should be conducted to look at the persistent challenge of missing vouchers including the whole filling and archiving system so as to establish the root cause of such gaps,

v) AUC management should ensure that monthly reconciliations on fund balances are done so as to reflect correct amounts.

vi) "Request the AUC to take, within the framework of the approved budget lines, the necessary measures for the improvement of digital documentation and archiving systems and expedite this project as a prerequisite for the traceability of internal control » so that the documents could be available on line whenever needed for audit reviews.

ON THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT (OIO) INVESTIGATION REPORT ON ECOSOCC MEMBERS

26. TAKES NOTE of the Report and EXPRESSES concerns on audit findings and CALLS UPON the ECOSOCC members to operate within the provisions of the AU Legal Norms.

27. EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN on the recurring nature of the violations and lack of actions by the ECOSOCC General Assembly against those alleged to have violated Legal norms of the Union.

28. TAKES NOTE of the Legal Brief submitted by the OLC on the legal basis for imposing sanctions against ECOSOCC members found in the report to have violated provisions of AU rules and regulations requiring professionalism, honesty, integrity and highest standard of conduct as members of ECOSOCC;

29. RECALLS the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec. 1115(XXXVIII) of February 2021, paragraph 3 (ii) which requested “The Commission to conduct an independent investigation by the relevant Department of the Commission into current and future alleged violations of the African Union Code of Ethics and Conduct by members of the ECOSOCC General Assembly, and to recommend appropriate sanctions through the Bureau of the Chairperson of the Commission and Assembly decision Assembly/AU/Dec.757(XXXIII) of February 2020 which directed the Commission “...to continue to take effective actions to address all acts of misconduct in the African Union, and to use his financial and administrative statutory oversight authority over all non-Policy Organs and Institutions of the Union, including the Pan-African Parliament, the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, and their elected officials."

30. DIRECTS the AUC Chairperson as follows: -

i) To ensure that any acts of ECOSOCC members in violation of AU Legal Norms which mislead the general public and expose the AU to legal, financial and reputational risks are cancelled by issuance of public notices from the Office of the Chairperson through the OLC;

ii) To expedite actions to prevent further damage on reputation and asset of the Union including; to immediately and indefinitely suspend individuals found to have committed misconducts or any breach of AU legal norms including the infringement of AU Intellectual Property Rights and act of forgery;

iii) To further communicate officially to their respective Member States to prevent the implicated individuals from participating in future activities of the Union;

iv) To report back to the next Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on the actions taken against individual ECOSOCC members who violated the AU Legal Norms, as well as the progress made in the review of ECOSOCC legal instruments;

v) To send an official communication to the Permanent Mission of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the actions of the two individual nationals who have illegally acted on behalf of ECOSOCC and request for the closure of the bank account opened in the name of ECOSOCC in contravention with the AU-FRR; and to further pursue legal actions to hold accountable in accordance with the national laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

vi) To review the recommendations of the investigation to ensure alignment with the results of the in depth study on ECOSOCC;

vii) To make official communications to Members States and the general public notifying them of the names of ECOSOCC members and other individuals who were illegally appointed to act on behalf of ECOSOCC so as to nullify their actions.

31. INSTRUCTS all Standing Committee members of ECOSOCC to respect the Rules of Procedure and recognize the current Presiding Officer as duly elected as the Political Head of ECOSOCC.

32. REAFFIRMS that the ECOSOCC Secretariat is the sole custodian of the stamps, letterheads and related seals of ECOSOCC, and DIRECTS that no ECOSOCC member including the Presiding Officer should be allowed to use and keep such official symbols of the Union.

33. ALSO DIRECTS all ECOSOCC members to exercise a highest degree of confidentiality in the discharge of their mandate and duties as directed in the oath of office, failing which they shall be held accountable.

34. RECALLS Executive Council EX/CL 924 (XXVI) of June 2015 on the establishment of ECOSOCC National Chapters and DIRECTS ECOSOCC to finalise the Framework on the National Chapters in Member States.

35. ALSO REAFFIRMS that ECOSOCC MOUs with Third Parties are initiated by the ECOSOCC Secretariat and vetted by the OLC and any MOU signed outside the required processes should be declared null and void.

36. WELCOMES the election of Mr. Denise Kodhe as the Presiding Officer of ECOSOCC. INSTRUCTS all members of ECOSOCC to be mindful of their legal obligation and recognize Presiding Officers, duly elected as the Political Head of ECOSOCC.

IV. SUB-COMMITTEE ON MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

A. On the Development of the AU Partnerships Strategy and Policy Framework

37. TAKES NOTE of the progress made towards the finalization of the AU Partnerships Strategy and Policy Framework;

38. REQUESTS the PRC, in close collaboration with the AU Commission, to ensure that the AU Partnerships Strategy and Policy Framework is finalized for submission to the Executive Council in June/July 2022.

B. AU - EU Partnership

39. EXPRESSES Appreciation to the Government and People of Rwanda for the successful holding of the 2nd AU - EU Ministerial Meeting held in Kigali, on 25 - 26 October 2021;

40. ENDORSES the Communique of the 2nd AU - EU Ministerial Meeting12;

41. REQUESTS the AU Commission in collaboration with the European Commission to operationalize the Ministerial Follow-up Committee for the AU-EU Partnership in consultation with member states from both sides, particularly through the subcommittee on multilateral cooperation from the AU side.

42. URGES the PRC in close collaboration with the Commission and the European Union to finalize the outcome documents for the 6th AU - EU Summit to be held physically on 17 - 18 February 2022, in Brussels, Belgium, and to ensure that the preparatory process of all the Statutory Meetings are inclusive;

43. RECALLS that participation in the upcoming 6th AU - EU Summit will be in accordance with Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February

2020, which: “REAFFIRMS the right of all All Member States to participate in Statutory Meetings, related to partnerships between the African Union/African Continent and another Continent or Regional Organization;

C. Africa - Arab Partnership

44. TAKES NOTE of the work undertaken by the AU with regard to the development of the AU priorities as well as the proposals of draft working documents for the 5th Africa - Arab Summit;

45. RECALLS Executive Council Decision No. EX.CL/Dec. 1126(XXXIX) of October

2021, which requested the PRC in close collaboration with the Commission, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and the host country of the 5th Africa-Arab Summit, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to agree on suitable dates in May 2022, for the holding of the 5th Africa-Arab Summit and its statutory preparatory Meetings, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, subject to the improvement in Public health conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;

46. RECALLS that participation in the upcoming 5th Africa Arab Summit will be in accordance with Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which: “REAFFIRMS the right of all AU Member States to participate in Statutory Meetings, related to partnerships between the African Union/African Continent and another Continent or Regional Organization.

D. Africa - Tiirkiye Partnership

47. EXPRESSES Appreciation to the Government and People of Tiirkiye for the Successful organization of the 3rd Africa - Tiirkiye Summit held in Istanbul, Tiirkiye, on 17-18 December 2021;

48. RECOMMENDS to the Assembly to endorse the Outcome documents of the 3rd Africa - Tiirkiye Summit including the “Africa-Tiirkiye Declaration” and the “Africa-Tiirkiye Partnership Joint Action Plan 2022-2026", which contains proposed actions to be implemented jointly by Tiirkiye, the African Union and its Member States;

49. TAKES NOTE on the proposed establishment of appropriate follow-up mechanisms to ensure a regular Monitoring and Evaluation of the Africa - Tiirkiye partnership agreed areas of cooperation, through a consultative process between the PRC, the African Diplomatic Corps in Ankara, the AU Commission and the Government of Ttirkiye;

50. FURTHER TAKES NOTE of the proposed dates for the holding of the Third Ministerial Review Conference of the Africa - Ttirkiye Partnership in Africa in 2024, and the Fourth Africa - Ttirkiye Partnership Summit also to be convened in Africa in 2026;

51. RECALLS Assembly Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which “REAFFIRMS the right of all AU Member States to participate in Statutory Meetings, related to partnerships between the African Union/African Continent and another Continent or Regional Organization”; and “DECIDES that African Union/African Continent shall be represented at the Statutory Meetings of partnership between the African Union/African Continent and a partner country by the Members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the Union, the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of AUDA-NEPAD and the Chairperson of the AU Commission”.

E. Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

52. TAKES NOTE of the virtual Meeting of the TICAD Co-Organisers, held on 6 November 2021, to discuss the TICAD Ministerial Meeting, preparations for the TICAD 8 Summit as well as Reporting on the Yokohama Plans of Actions 2019;

53. ENDORSES the dates of 26-27 March 2022, for the holding of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting through a complete virtual process and REQUEST the PRC to work in close collaboration with the Commission, Japan, the African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo and the other Co-Organizers to finalize the working documents for the Meeting;

54. ALSO ENDORSES the dates of 27 - 28 August 2022, for the holding of the TICAD 8 Summit in Tunisia, subject to the improvement in public health conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic;

55. RECALLS Assembly Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which “REAFFIRMS the right of all AU Member States to participate in Statutory Meetings, related to partnerships between the African Union/African Continent and another Continent or Regional Organization”; and “DECIDES that African Union/African Continent shall be represented at the Statutory Meetings of partnership between the African Union/African Continent and a partner country by the Members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the Union, the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of AUDA-NEPAD and the Chairperson of the AU Commission”.

F. Africa - Korea Partnership

56. ENDORSES the proposed date of 3 March 2022, for the holding of the 5th Korea- Africa Forum in Seoul, Korea, subject to the improvement in public health situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;

57. REQUESTS the PRC in close collaboration with the African Diplomatic Corps in Seoul, the Commission and Korea to finalise the outcome documents for the Meeting;

58. RECALLS Assembly Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which decided that: “African Union/African Continent shall be represented at the Statutory Meetings of partnership between the African Union/African Continent and a partner country by the Members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the Union, the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of AUDA-NEPAD and the Chairperson of the AU Commission”.

G. Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)

59. EXPRESSES Appreciation to the Government and the People of Senegal for the successful holding of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China - Africa Cooperation;

60. TAKES NOTE of the commitment made in the Dakar Declaration to hold the 9th FOCAC Ministerial Conference in the People’s Republic of China in 2024;

61. REQUESTS the African Diplomatic Corps in Beijing and the AU Representational Office in Beijing, in close collaboration with the Commission and China, to follow-up on the implementation of the FOCAC Dakar Action Plan 2022 - 2024.

62. RECALLS Assembly Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which “REAFFIRMS the right of all AU Member States to participate in Statutory Meetings, related to partnerships between the African Union/African Continent and another Continent or Regional Organization”; and “DECIDES that African Union/African Continent shall be represented at the Statutory Meetings of partnership between the African Union/African Continent and a partner country by the Members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the Union, the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of AUDA-NEPAD and the Chairperson of the AU Commission”.

H. Africa - India Partnership

63. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to undertake further consultations with India and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, with the view to making proposals on the dates on which the 4th Africa - India Summit can be held in 2023;

64. RECALLS Assembly Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII), of February 2020, which decided that: “African Union/African Continent shall be represented at the Statutory Meetings of partnership between the African Union/African Continent and a partner country by the Members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the Union, the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of AUDA-NEPAD and the Chairperson of the AU Commission”.

V. SUB-COMMITTEE ON AUDA-NEPAD

65. Recalling the vision of the founding members of NEPAD and the commitments made by AU Member States at the inception of NEPAD in Lusaka, Zambia, on 23 October 2001 to give them a fresh impetus and bring them into line with the current international context, notably through:

• Investment in African citizens through a meaningful and comprehensive human resources strategy;

• Increased investment in the information and communication technology sector, with a view to bridging the digital divide;

• Infrastructure development, including transport and energy; and

• Member States’ capacity building, particularly in the preparation of development projects;

66. Further recalling Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.635 (XXVIII) of the Twenty- Eighth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly held in January 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the reform of the AU which, among others, integrates NEPAD as an African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), aligned with agreed priorities and underpinned by an enhanced results-monitoring framework;

67. Recalling also Decision No. Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1 (XI) of the Eleventh Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly held in November 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which endorses the AUDA-NEPAD Terms of Reference and calls for the implementation of the roadmap on the clarification of the division of labour, as well as effective collaboration between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and the Regional Mechanisms;

68. Lastly, recalling the mandate given to AUDA-NEPAD by the previous decisions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU and the Statutes of AUDA-NEPAD, to undertake "the full range of resource mobilization” as well as that of coordinating and executing priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realization of Agenda 2063, including that of coordinating, facilitating and promoting cooperation with Africa's strategic stakeholders and partners to ensure effective resource mobilization,

The Council

69. TAKES NOTE of PRC recommendations relating to the NEPAD Programme;

70. WELCOMES the outstanding achievements of AUDA-NEPAD over the past 20 years and NOTES WITH SATISFACTION, in particular, the results obtained in the COVID-19 pandemic response;

71. REQUESTS the Commission and AUDA-NEPAD to take the necessary steps to strengthen their coordination in order to promote the synergy of efforts, the optimal use of resources and the facilitation of procedures for financing and implementing triangular cooperation projects (Partners/African Union/relevant Member States);

72. NOTES WITH CONCERN the budgetary challenges facing AUDA-NEPAD and in this regard:

i. REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD to accelerate steps for the operational establishment of the Development Fund by the end of 2023 including through the provision of a study on the financial and programmatic aspects of the fund for further discussion in the AU policy organs;

ii. ALSO REQUESTS AUDA-NEPAD, in conjunction with the relevant departments of the African Union Commission and other stakeholders, to work out a feasibility study and submit a proposal, for approval by the Council, on the establishment of a basket fund for unused funds from partners, to support the financing of NEPAD-related programmes;

iii. URGES Member States and international partners to increase their contributions to the AUDA-NEPAD budget to enable it to better deliver its mandate, particularly the effective implementation of development and cooperation projects with Member States of the African Union;

73. EXPRESSES SATISFACTION over the progress made in the implementation of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063 and, as such, RECALLS Decision 798 and REQUESTS the Commission to proceed with finalization of the framework documents of the Great Museum of Africa (GMA), including the Headquarters Agreement and the Statute which have already been validated by the GMA Advisory and Technical Committee.

i) RECOMMENDS to AUDA-NEPAD to strengthen its Communication Strategy in order to increase the visibility of its programmes among Member States and African citizens;

ii) PAYS ELOQUENT TRIBUTE to Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, for the outstanding work and exemplary leadership he demonstrated throughout his mandate.

VI. SUB-COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

74. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Activities of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance for the period of January to December 2021;

75. URGES the PRC, through its relevant Sub-Committees, to finalise and submit the AU Guidelines on Elections During COVID-19 and Other Public Health Emergencies; the African Union Strategic Plan on the Promotion and Protection of Human and Peoples’ Rights; and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) School Curriculum Strategy; to the Executive Council in June/July 2022;

76. DIRECTS that the PRC, through Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary Financial and Administrative Matters, to consider the allotment of a budget of USD $1.6 Million dollars per year for a period of three (3) years for the implementation of the African Union Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM) project;

77. FURTHER DIRECTS the PRC to continue its engagement with the AU Organs and Institutions with Human Rights and Governance mandate with a view to enhancing coordination and collaboration, especially in enhancing the synergy between the African Governance Architecture and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).