DECISION ON THE REPORTS OF THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
(STCs) AND OTHER MINISTERIAL MEETINGS
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Reports of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) and other Ministerial Meetings;
2. RECALLS Decision EX.CL/Dec. 1032(XXXIV), adopted at the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2019, regarding the moratorium on the creation of new bodies and offices;
3. STRESSES that the following Decisions should not bear any financial, legal and structural implications to the AU and FURTHER CALLS UPON the STCs and all technical ministerial councils and meetings to refrain from adopting any structures or budgets that were not considered by the AU policy Organs through the due process.
4. REQUESTS that all STCs adopt their Reports at the end of their meetings.
I. THE 3RD ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON TRANSPORT, TRANSCONTINENTAL AND INTERREGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ENERGY (STC-TTIIE), 28-30 JUNE 2021
5. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy (STC-TTIIE) held from 28th to 30th June 2021;
6. COMMENDS the Ministers responsible for Transport and Energy for the successful holding 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy (STC- TTIIE) and achieving notable outcomes for the development of the Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy in Africa.
In the Transport Sector
7. URGES all remaining Member States to join the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM);
8. REQUESTS the AUC to work together with the Bureau of the STC-TTIIE to convene an extraordinary meeting of the STC-TTIIE by 31st March 2022 to consider the draft YD/SAATM Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the YD draft guidelines for negotiation of air service agreements with third countries and regions;
9. ADOPTS SAATM policy and regulatory instruments including YD Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the recommendations on reduction of air transport cost and the revised Windhoek aviation security and facilitation targets;
10. COMMENDS AUC/IED close collaboration with Africa CDC in COVID-19 recovery efforts and calls for harmonization of public health requirements and credentials across the continent;
11. ENCOURAGES Member States to update information on AU trusted travel platform;
12. TAKES NOTE of the assessment report of the African Action Plan of the Decade 2011-2020 of Road Safety and adopt the African Road Safety Action plan of the Decade 2021-2030 of Road safety and the Concept note towards the creation of the African Road Safety Observatory (ARSO);
13. REQUESTS the AUC in collaboration with the Africa Transport Policy Programme (SSATP), UNECA civil society, private sector and all relevant institutions to take all appropriate measures towards the implementation and monitoring of the African Road Safety Action plan of the Decade 2021-2030 of Road Safety;
14. ADOPTS technical specifications of the African Railway network as well as its norms and standards and the roadmap towards the development of the African common market of railway;
15. REQUESTS AUC in collaboration with AfreximBank, AfDB, RECs, UNECA and other relevant stakeholders to develop the African Common Market of Railway and to promote inter-african collaboration and exchange of expertise in railway cars manufacturing and maintenance;
16. CALLS on Member States to accelerate the implementation of the road safety charter;
17. REQUESTS AUC to expedite arrangements to establish ARSO in accordance with the criteria for hosting the AU Organs adopted through EX.CL/Dec.229(VII) of July 2005;
18. TAKES NOTE and WELCOMES the proposal by the Kingdom of Morocco to host the African Road Safety Observatory (ARSO);
In the Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure
19. CALLS UPON Member States, Regional Economic Communities multilateral financial institutions and partners to support the implementation of the second Priority Action Plan of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA PAP II);
20. ADOPTS the Financing Strategy for PIDA PAPII and urge Members States to increase financial commitment for infrastructure development especially for infrastructure project preparation;
21. WELCOMES the newly developed SDM PIDA Quality Label (PQL) for excellence in Early-Stage Project Preparation and encourage adoption and application across the regions and the infrastructure sub-sectors as Africa’s standard for early-stage appraisal of infrastructure project;
22. TAKES NOTE of the work of the PIDA PAP II Task Force and recommendation to extend its mandate and DIRECTS the PIDA Steering Committee to consider the continuity and/or role of the Task Force going forward.
In the Energy Sector
23. REQUESTS the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD in collaboration with all relevant Pan African Continental and Regional Institutions to take appropriate steps towards full implementation of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and the Continental Power System Master Plan (CMP) including establishment of their respective Strategic Governance and Institutional structures;
24. ALSO REQUESTS the UNECA in collaboration with the AUC, regional and continental organizations, the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) and other partners to determine the feasibility of the establishment of an African School of Regulation to build capacity and enhance good regulatory practices across the continent;
25. FURTHER REQUESTS the AUC and the Africa Energy Commission (AFREC) to mobilise resources for implementing programmes that will accelerate green energy investments for increased energy access and climate ambition including, among others: (i) wind and solar energy development; (ii) mini-grid market expansion; (iii) Oil and natural gas market expansion, and (iv) clean cooking fuels and technologies;
26. REQUESTS the AFREC to provide necessary support to the Member States to establish National Energy Information Systems while ensuring their sustainability and call on the Member States to adopt the data collection tools/questionnaires developed by AFREC;
27. ALSO REQUESTS the AUC to conduct a feasibility study on the potential for production and trade of green hydrogen in Africa and its economic, social and political implications for the continent;
28. FURTHER REQUESTS the AFREC/AUC, the AfDB, regional and continental organizations, and development partners to mobilize the necessary financial and technical resources to implement the African Energy Transition, the African Efficiency and the Energy Sector Capacity Building Programmes;
29. REQUESTS the AUC and AfDB to facilitate an inclusive working group that will coordinate ongoing, prioritised Africa-focused activities that are aligned with the COP26 Green Grids Initiative (GGI), with the objective of accelerating access to technical assistance and financing resources, in support of scaling up renewable energy generation through continental and regional grid capacity investments and related initiatives;
30. ALSO REQUESTS AFREC/AUC to fast track the recruitment of the staff in the new approved AFREC structure and call on Member States that have not ratified the AFREC Convention to do so;
31. ACKNOWLEDGES the health, environmental and socio-economic benefits of clean fuels and recommend that Member States adopt the AFRI Fuels Specifications Roadmap;
32. ADOPTS an Action Plan for 2021-2023 to guide implementation of the priorities agreed upon;
33. ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES and COMMENDS all multilateral financial institutions and development partners including the AfDB, KfW, the World Bank, the EU and GIZ for their support to various AU projects and programmes;
34. COMMENDS the spirit of openness and cordiality that prevailed in the deliberations of the meeting.
II. THE 4th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON COMMUNICATION AND ICT (STC-CICT), 25-27 OCTOBER 2021
The Executive Council:
35. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and Information &Communication Technologies (STC-CICT-4) held by videoconferencing from 25 to 27 October 2021 and the 2021 Declaration;
36. COMMENDS the Ministers responsible for Communication, Information and Communication Technology and Postal Services for the successful holding of the Fourth meeting of their Specialized Technical Committee (STC) and achieving
notable outcomes for the development of the Communication, Information and Communication Technology and Postal Services sectors in Africa;
37. ENDORSES the AU Interoperability Framework for Digital ID and the AU Data Policy Framework following feedback received from Member States
38. REQUESTS:
> The AUC to:
1. Pursue the development of the following digital strategies, policy frameworks and projects:
(i) AU Digital Education Strategy and Implementation Plan, AU Digital Education and Implementation Plan AU Digital Agriculture Strategy and Implementation plan, E-commerce strategy and Continental Al Strategy;
(ii) a Continental Cybersecurity Strategy;
(iii) Continental Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy;
(iv) Digital Transformation of the Postal Sector in Africa;
(v) Continental Strategy to enhance Harmonization of Digital Policy, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks to support the establishment of Africa’s Digital Single Market;
(vi) DTS Implementation Architecture and M&E Framework and
(vii) Re-design of the Pan African e-Network to deliver e-health and e- education services;
(viii) Continental Al strategy;
(ix) Statistics on digital connectivity and e-readiness of African countries;
2. Ensure that the Brand & Communication Style Guide and the Communication Policies and Procedures are instituted within the organization and the organs and institutions of the African Union;
3. Allocate realistic financial resources to capacitate the ICD to enable it to better and effectively communicate to various stakeholders and audiences on different media platforms in a strategic and consistent manner;
4. Implement Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.1069 (XXXV) of July 2019 that all AU activities relating to communications shall be managed by the of Information and Communication Directorate.
> AUDA-NEPAD to:
(i) Expedite the implementation of the PIDA -PAP2 projects on ICT and work towards the development of the necessary policies and regulations to facilitate cross borders connectivity and regional integration;
(ii) Expand in collaboration with the GFCE and other stakeholders the cybersecurity assessments and capacity building to all AU Member States and to work with Member States to design country-specific action plans for cybersecurity and cyber-resilience;
(iii) Expand the PIDA Job Creation Toolkit to cover all ICT sub-sectors, train Member States on its usage and undertake detailed analysis of the job potential of PIDA and other significant ICT projects on the continent;
(iv) In line with the PIDA-PAP 2 Integrated Corridor Approach, incorporate ICTs, Digitalisation and Cybersecurity in the implementation of Agenda 2063 flagship projects such as the African Integrated High Speed Rail Network, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the African Continental Free Trade Area, The Free Movement of people as well as continental initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM);
> Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) to:
Put in place and implement, in coordination with the AUC, a systematic and coordinated digital transformation program to ensure that African posts are up-to-date;
> African Telecommunication Union (ATU) to:
Put in place and implement, in coordination with the AUC, programmes and initiatives to facilitate a harmonized and optimum use of radio spectrum across the continent to effectively contribute to close the digital connectivity gap in Africa
39. CALLS UPON the African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and other Development Partners to support the implementation of this decision.
III. THE 6th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON JUSTICE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS, 22-24 SEPTEMBER 2021
The Executive Council,
40. TAKES NOTE of the Report and recommendations of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs held via video-conference from 23 -27 November 2020 and 22-24 September 2021.
41. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the draft revised SRR, the proposals of the Commission and the recommendations of the PRC therein, and DECIDES to postpone consideration of the draft revised SRR to the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council pending submission of an independent report by the Chairperson of the Commission on the conditions of service and remuneration of African Union staff;
42. FURTHER TAKES NOTE of the following Draft Legal Instruments and DECIDES to recommend the same to the Assembly for consideration and adoption:
a) Proposed amendment of Article 22(1) of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption;
b) Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security.
c) Proposed amendments to the Statute of the African Union Commission on International Law.
43. APPROVES the following Draft Legal Instruments:
a) Draft Rules of Procedure of the Ministerial Committee on Implementation of Agenda 2063; and
b) Draft Model Law on Protection of Cultural Property and heritage
IV. THE 4th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT (ARDWE), 13-17 DECEMBER 2021
The Executive Council,
44. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Fourth Specialized Technical Committee meeting on Agriculture, Rural Development Water and Environment held on 13-16 December 2021 and ENDORSES the recommendations therein;
45. COMMENDS the Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment for the successful holding of the 4th STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment;
46. COMMENDS the African Union Commission for the establishment of the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and Early Action Situation Room for Disaster Risk Reduction and WELCOMES its official launch by Hon. M-Sayed el- Quseir, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chair of the 4th STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment.
47. ENDORSES the 3rd Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review Report for submission to the 35th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government in February 2022;
48. ALSO ENDORSES the following frameworks, guidelines and strategies to accelerate agricultural transformation Rural Development, Water and Environmental management:
i. The CAADP Business Plan 2022-2025
ii. The Food Safety Strategy for Africa
iii. The Plant Health Strategy for Africa
iv. The Strategy for Managing Invasive Species in Africa
v. The Continental Guidelines On the Use of Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture
vi. The Guidelines for The Harmonisation of Seed Regulatory Frameworks in Africa
vii. The African Agribusiness Youth Strategy
viii. The Investment Guidelines for Youth in Agri-Food Systems in Africa
ix. The AU Land Governance Strategy
x. The Guidelines for Securing Pastoralism and Preventing Conflict in Africa: Secure, Peaceful and Sustainable Pastoralism
xi. The African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032)
xii. the Africa Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action and its Delivery Programme 2022-2030
xiii. the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Framework;
xiv. the Africa Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG)
49. ADOPTS the Revised Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) (2021-2030) which provides strategic direction on the development and application of weather and climate services in Africa;
50. FURTHER ADOPTS the reports from the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) on the 17th, 8th Special Session, and first part of the 18th Session held in October 2019, 30 November-1 December 2020 and September 2021 respectively;
51. ENDORSES the convening of the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit II in 2022- 2023 and; development of the Soils Initiative for Africa and an African Fertiliser and Soil Health Action Plan;
52. REQUESTS the Commission to submit a proposal with financial, legal and structural implications, to the relevant PRC Sub-Committees to establish a Sub- Committee on Agriculture, Food security, Nutrition and Rural development to oversee the implementation of the programs in agriculture, food security, nutrition and rural development;
53. ALSO REQUESTS the Commission to submit a proposal for the establishment of the AU Food Safety Agency to the relevant PRC Sub-Committees within the framework of the current AU reforms detailing structural, legal and financial implications;
54. ENDORSES the proposal to establish the ALPC as a Specialised Technical Office of the AU and CALLS UPON the AUC, UNECA and AFDB to provide technical, human, financial, and operational support to the interim ALPC pending its formal establishment by the AU Policy Organs for a defined duration, minimum of two years and maximum of five years, after following the due process detailing the financial, legal and structural implications;
55. FURTHER ENDORSES the creation of a continental civilian capacity for disaster preparedness and response which will draw from individual African Member States’ capacities to provide timely assistance to disaster stricken countries and DIRECTS the AUC Commission to organize a meeting of national services of AU Member States in charge of civil defense and response to disasters, which will aim at agreeing on modalities, including financial, legal and structural implications, to establish the civilian capacity;
56. ENCOURAGES Member States and RECs to take into consideration the endorsed continental Strategies, frameworks and guidelines and URGES partners to support the Member States, RECs and the Commission to implement these frameworks.
V. THE 4™ ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON FINANCE, MONETARY AFFAIRS, ECONOMIC PLANNING AND INTEGRATION AND THE 2nd EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON FINANCE, 17 DECEMBER 2021
The Executive Council,
57. TAKES NOTE of the Reports and the Declarations of the fourth (4th) Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, May 2021 and the second (2nd) Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration held in December 2021;
58. COMMENDS the STC on the deliberating on the critical theme of Developing Integrated and Complementary Value Chains for sustainable recovery and Reinforcing operationalization of the AfCFTA as the continent grapples with the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
59. ADOPTS the Reports and the Declarations of the 4th ordinary session of the STC and the 2nd Extraordinary session of the STC;
60. ALSO ADOPTS the establishment of a Continental Platform on African Tax Issues to improve Domestic Resources Mobilization and fight against IFFs on the continent and requested the Commission and the stakeholders involved to commence preparation of annual Sub-Committee meetings; ENCOURAGES the Member States to utilize the Sub-Committee in discussing and agreeing on a common approach when negotiating for taxing rights and issues with the international community; and REQUESTS the AUC, the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration in providing the required technical assistance to Member States to improve DRM and fight against IFFs;
61. ADOPTS the Statutes of the AIMEC and REQUESTS the AUC to finalise the structure and the budget of the AIMEC, working with the PRC and following due process.
62. ALSO ADOPTS the statutes of STATAFRIC and PANSTAT; ENDORSES the Terms of reference of the establishment of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Sub-Committee and REQUESTS the AUC to fast track the operationalization of the Sub-Committee of the CRVS;
63. FURTHER ADOPTS the Policy Framework on APRM support to Member States on Credit Rating Agencies and request the APRM and AUC to implement the support mechanisms of the Policy Framework to assist Member States to improve their credit ratings;
64. REQUESTS that the final version of the draft African Principles and Guidelines on Corporate Governance, which incorporates comments should be submitted to Member States by 4 February 2022 to enable Member States at least a month before the 5th STC for our consideration and endorsement;
65. ALSO REQUESTS the APRM in collaboration with AUC to resubmit the proposal for the AU annual theme, “improving access to global capital for accelerated transformative economic growth,” to the Ministerial Committee on Agenda 2063, which is mandated to consider AU annual themes;
66. ADOPTS the ‘Strategic, Business and Operational Framework for an African Diaspora Finance Corporation’ as the framework for the African Union legacy project on diaspora investment after consideration by the relevant PRC Subcommittees;
67. FURTHER REQUESTS the AUC to undertake a feasibility study on the establishment of the African Diaspora Finance Corporation (ADFC) that will cover business operations, investment planning and criteria, and the application and administration of ADFC funds;
68. COMMENDS the AUC, the ATAF and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for producing the 2021 Report on Revenue Statistics in Africa, an annual publication, which provides accurate, complete and reliable statistics on public revenues for tax policy development; and
69. ENCOURAGES Member States who are not part of the Revenue statistics initiative to join, as it contributes to improving domestic resource mobilisation as set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
70. WELCOMES with appreciation the launch of the Smart Finance and Digital Banking for MSMEs initiative which will provide access to affordable financial products and services at the grassroots level across the continent; and
71. ALSO ENCOURAGES the AU Commission and the AeTrade Group to promote and facilitate digital and financial inclusion in collaboration with the public and private sector, development finance institutions in Africa as well as relevant international organisations and ENDORSES the Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the AeTrade Group's objectives to implement digital capacity building initiatives including the Sokokuu platform as an enabler for SMES, women and youth to access regional, continental and global markets;
72. CONGRATULATES H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for his appointment as the Chairman of the Board of the AeTrade Group and the foundation laid during the past three years under his leadership as the Patron.
73. REITERATES our support for the replenishment of US $93 billion to the World Bank International Development Association (IDA20) and commit to continue advocating for two thirds of the funds to be dedicated to Africa.
VI. THE 3RD ORDINARY SESSION OF THE STC ON TRADE, INDUSTRY AND MINERALS
The Executive Council,
74. WELCOMES the convening of the 3rd Meeting of the STC on Trade, Industry and Minerals held virtually on 3rd September, 2021.
75. TAKES NOTE of the Report and Declaration of the 3rd Meeting of the STC on Trade, Industry and Minerals and the outcomes contained therein, as annexed.
76. DIRECTS the Commission in collaboration with relevant AU bodies and stakeholders to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the Report and Declaration.
77. ALSO DIRECTS that the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) of the African Union Commission be renamed as “the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), its Directorate of Industry Mining and Entrepreneurship(IME) to:
“DIRECTORATE OF INDUSTRY, MINERALS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TOURISM (IMET)” and its Division of Industry Mining and Innovation to DIVISION OF INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND MINERALS in line with Assembly Decision No. Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1-4(XI) of November 2018 on Institutional Reform.
78. FURTHER DIRECTS that the STC on Trade Industry and Minerals be renamed as the STC on Trade, Tourism Industry and Minerals in line with Assembly Decision No. Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1-4(XI) of November 2018 on Institutional Reform and that the STC amends its Rules of Procedure to include the new portfolios on Tourism, Oil and Gas.
79. ENDORSES the African Union Commodity Strategy, and Action Plan, Agenda 2063 Flagship Project under the 10 years’ implementation Plan the Africa Quality Policy, the Business Plan of the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC) and the African Minerals and Energy Resources Classification Framework and Management System and the Pan African Reporting Code (AMREC-PARC).