[AU-Monitor] Short info note on the AFRODAD, AFRIMAP AND OXFAM Conference on National Preparation for the African Union Summits

[Firoze Manji]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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