DECISION ON THE PROGRESS REPORT ON THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF
AFRICA CDC
The Executive Council,
1. WELCOMES the Commission report on operationalization of Africa CDC and ENDORSES its recommendations;
2. RECALLS Assembly Decision/AU/Dec.554 (XXIV) adopted at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Assembly of the Union decided to establish the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC);
3. ALSO RECALLS the Executive Council Decisions EX.CL/Dec.1106(XXXVII) and EX.CL/Dec.1110(XXXVI 11) which REQUESTED and INSTRUCTED the African Union Commission to: “prepare a report, including a road map and Framework of Operations, outlining the financial, legal and structural implications to fully operationalize the Africa CDC in line with its Statute, for submission to the Council through the AU Policy Organs”;
4. REITERATES its determination to strengthen the capacity and capability of Africa CDC, at both its Secretariat and Regional Collaborating Centers, for better preparedness and response to health emergencies and disease threats including the COVID-19 pandemic;
5. RECOGNIZES that a strong and autonomous Africa CDC is key to protecting Africa’s health, security, economic, and development agenda; and the urgency to fully operationalize Africa CDC;
6. FURTHER RECALLS its Decision EX.CL/Dec.970(XXXI) and CALLS FOR the implementation of 0.5% of the annual operational budget of the Union be allocated to Africa CDC as reserve funds for preparedness and response activities; and its Decision EX.CL/Dec.1106(XXXVII), for the budget of Africa CDC to be carried over to the subsequent calendar year.
7. RECALLS its Decision EX.CL/Dec.1130(XXXIX) of October 2021 and DIRECTS the Commission to submit the proposed amendments and recommendations together with the legal, financial and structural implications for consideration by the relevant Policy Organs via the competent Sub-Committees and STCs;
8. DIRECTS the Commission to put in place all necessary measures to expedite the full operationalization of Africa CDC, in line with the relevant decisions of the Policy Organs, including the completion of the implementation of the Phase I Taskforce recommendations provided there are no legal, structural and financial implications and report to the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in June/July 2022;
9. REQUESTS for delegation of the Assembly authority to the Executive Council to consider and approve the amendments at its next Session,
10. DECIDES to remain seized on the matter.