"An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its people,  and representing a dynamic force in the global arena."



 
EDITOR'S NOTES

This user-friendly adaptation of the Seven Pillars of Aspirations  and 20 Goals of the African Union Agenda 2063 is a replication of information from the first Five Ten Years Implementation Strategy. 

You can click on the link for  a Summarized Table of the Seven Pillars of Aspirations:   http://conta.cc/2kmOLUf

For the average citizen, we serialize each Aspiration and Goal(s) to help readers understand the specific significance and what they may be interested in.  Goals under the same Pillar of Aspiration are in the same series.

The indicative strategies at national, regional, and continental levels (as applicable)  are Key Performance Indicators that express what all AU Member States should achieve and when.  They are the quantifiable and outcome-based to measure how the Member States and Regions on track to meet the Goals. All Member States and the Regions are expected to have harmonized standards of measurements.

The Goals  do not list specific programs that are constantly developed, adopted by all African Union Member States, and adapted in their Member States, including in local communities. 

For example, the Gender and Development Initiative for Africa was launched in 2017 and Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youths was the African Union Theme of the Year in 2017. 

Lastly, the abbreviation without explanation may not be familiar to the reader. This is clarified by writing out the full name.

Evelyn Joe
EDITOR
ASPIRATION 6 OF AGENDA 2063    

 An Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential of the African People, particularly its Women
and Youth and caring for children.
 
 The goals under this aspiration are numbered as goals 17 and 18 in the results framework .
 
Goal 17  

 Full Gender Equality in All Spheres of Life
 
  
Priority Area (1)
2023 Target

Key Process Actions/Milestones Towards 2023 on AU Framework(s)

 
Women Empowerment



National
1. Equal economic rights for women, including the rights to own and inherit property, sign a contract, save, register and manage a business and own and operate a bank account by 2025.

2. At least 20% of rural women have access to and control productive assets, including land and grants, credit, inputs, financial service and information.

3. At least 30% of all elected officials at local, regional and national levels are Women as well as in judicial institutions.

4. At least 25% of annual public procurement at national and sub-national levels are awarded to Women.

5. Increase gender parity in decision making positions at all levels to at least 50-50 between Women and Men.

6. Solemn Declaration Index (SDI) developed by Gender Is My Agenda - GIMAG and ECA on Gender is computed bi-annually and used in making policy/resource allocation decisions.

Continental

1. Increase gender parity in decision making positions at all levels in pan African organizations to at least 50- 50 between women and men.

2. High Level Panel on Women Empowerment operational by 2016
Fund for African Women is operational by 2017.
 
National

1. AU/REC Aligned Gender Policy is domesticated from 2017.

RECs

1. Consultation with Member States on AU/RECs aligned Gender Policies Continental is completed in 2016.

Continental

1. Framework Document and Action
Plan for Harmonization of RECs and AU Gender Policy is developed followed by Consultations with RECs on Harmonization of Gender Policies in 2015.  

Editor's notes: 
ECA - Economic Commission for Africa.

 
Indicative Strategies


To achieve the above targets, the following indicative strategies have to be considered:

National

National
1. Promote policies and programmes that will improve gender equality and Women's empowerment in 7 areas of intervention-economic, social and political participation, education and skills, training, science and ICT, health and governance.

2. Promote gender responsive budgeting.

3. Enact laws on Gender Equality and Representation.

4. Establish Gender and Equality Institutions.

5. Create gender data base on wealth and income distribution.

6. Domesticate and fully implement the convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

7. Domesticate and fully implement the Protocol of the Rights of Women in Africa as contained in the  African Charter of Human and Peoples Right and the AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality.

8. Develop / promote polices that will enhance access to and control of productive assets (including financing by women and the youth.

9. Develop/implement programmes for tracking progress towards parity by Women with respect to access to productive assets/skills, participation in all levels of governance and advancement in positions within the public and private sectors.

10. Fully implement the Beijing Plan of Action (1995).

11. Fully harmonize national and regional gender policies, Women and development policies with the AU Gender Policy.

12. Develop /implement policies for faster progression of Women towards gender parity in all spheres of decision making/positions.

13. Establish funds dedicated to supporting the empowerment of Women and Youth.

Continental
1. Develop/implement policy guidelines for the setting up of High Level Panel on the Empowerment of Women and implementation of the recommendations.

2. Develop/ coordinate frameworks for the setting up of a Continental Gender Observatory.
 
3. Promote the setting up of a Gender Center of Excellence in AUC/NEPAD.

4. Put in place an Africa Gender Parity Index and use it for tracking progress towards gender parity in Africa.


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ASPIRATION 6 OF AGENDA 2063    
     
 An Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential of the African People, particularly its Women
and Youth and caring for children.

Goal 17  

 Full Gender Equality in All Spheres of Life
 

 
Priority Area (2)
2023 Target

Key Process Actions/Milestones Towards 2023 on AU Framework(s)


Violence & Discrimination against Women and Girls
 



National

1. Reduce 2013 levels of violence against women and Girls by at least 20%.

2. End all harmful social norms and customary practices against women and girls (e.g. FGM, Child marriages) and those that promote violence and discrimination against women and girls.

3. Eliminate all barriers to quality education, health and social services for Women and Girls by 2020.

4. End all forms of political, legal or administrative discrimination against Women and Girls by 2023.

5. Reduce by 50% all harmful social norms and customary practices against Women and Girls and those that promote violence and discrimination.

Continental

6. Fully implement Executive Council Decision on Gender Parity in the African Union by 2020.
 


The Process targets for national, regional and continental are the same as those under priority Area 1 under Goal 15. This means the execution of the processes for priority areas 1 and 2 under goal 15 will be done interactively/simultaneously .

The process focus will be on Gender Related Violence and Discrimination as contained in AU Gender Policy.



Indicative Strategies
To achieve the above targets, the following indicative strategies have to be considered:

National
 
1. Implement the convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
 
2. Enact Laws against violence and discrimination against women, girls and children.

3. Develop / implement national strategy for the promotion of the rights of women, youth, children, the vulnerable, the marginalized, the physically challenged.

3. Ensure that education systems provide the young generation with quality education that imparts key generic competencies, skills and attitudes that lead to a culture of lifelong learning and  entrepreneurship.

Continental
 
1. Conduct comparative research between countries that have made progress in the elimination / reduction of all forms of violence against Women and Girls.

2. Develop strategies to protect and assist Women and Girls on conflict situations including prosecution of perpetrators.
 

EDITOR'S NOTES - ADDITIONS
RELATED DECLARATIONS AND PROGRAMS

ADDED BY EDITOR.

RELATED DECLARATIONS AND PROGRAMS
AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality.
http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/ex-cl-729-xxi-e.pdf


AU Gender Policy 
http://www.un.org/en/africa/osaa/pdf/au/gender_policy_2009.pdf


 GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR AFRICA



 


ASPIRATION 6 OF AGENDA 2063   
     
 An Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential of the African People, particularly its Women
and Youth and caring for children.

Goal 18   
 
Engaged and Empowered Youth and Children
 
 
Priority Area (1)
2023 Target

Key Process Actions/Milestones Towards 2023 on AU Framework(s)

 
Youth Empowerment and Children's Rights
 
 
 


National
 
1. Reduce 2013 rate of youth unemployment by at least 25%; in particular female youth.

2. Youth business start ups including female youth in all business start ups is at least 15%.

3. At least 50% of youth who cannot go on to have tertiary education are provided with TVET.

4. At least 50% of Youth and Children are engaged in talent based development programmes, leisure and recreation.

5. End all forms of violence, child labor exploitation and child marriage and human trafficking.

6. Recruitment of Child soldiers is ended.

7. At least 20% of Youth and Children are engaged in sports activities.

8. Full implementation of the provision of African Charter on the Rights of the Youth is attained.

9. End all forms of child marriages.


Youth

National
1 . AU Five Year Plan of Action on Youth Empowerment in Africa (2019-2024) is integrated into national planning frameworks by 2019/20.

Regional

1. Consultations with Member States on implementation of Action Plan on Youth Empowerment is done in 2019.
 
Continental

1. AU Five Year Plan of Action is prepared to replace the African Youth Decade in the first half of the year in 2018.

2. The AU Five Year Plan of Action on Youth Empowerment (2019-2024) is presented to the STC and AU Policy Organs in late part of 2018 and  January 2019 for approval.

3. Consultations with RECs on Implementation of AU Plan of Action is done in 2019.

Children

 National
1. Preparation of the Initial and periodic State Party Reports on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children is prepared between 2015/23.

Continental
 
1. Strategic Plan for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights in Africa adopted by 2014.

2. Study on Children and Armed Conflict completed by 2015.
 
3. State Party reports on the implementation of the African Charter on The Rights and Welfare of the Child are reviewed between 2015/23.

4. General Comments on child marriage, children and armed conflict and responsibility of the Child are issued between 2015/23.

5. Action Plan on the Implementation of the African Common Position on Ending Child Marriage is prepared by 2016 and adopted.









Indicative Strategies

To achieve the above targets, the following indicative strategies have to be considered:

National

1. Fully implement the African Youth Charter.

2.  Implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

3. Implement Malabo 2011 Declaration and Decision on Youth Empowerment.

4. Implement African TVET Strategy for Youth Employment.

5. Fully implement the African Youth Charter and the 2002 Alexander Youth Employment Summit Recommendations.

6. Develop/promote the growth of youth businesses / start ups.
 
7. Increase financial investment for access to youth friendly services.

8. Increase opportunities for youth apprenticeship and internship.

9. Promote positive work ethic and enterprise among young people irrespective of blue or white collar jobs.

10. Develop / implement policies and programmes that protect the rights of young people living and working in the diaspora.

11. Develop/implement mechanisms for life and career counseling so that skilled experience of young people match the demands of the labor market that includes lessons on self-discipline, self-drive, integrity, harmony, patriotism and commitment to country and family.

12. Promote Youth Volunteerism.

13. Design and implement care and protection strategies that will address the issue of Orphaned and  Vulnerable Children(OVC) in the indicative strategy.

14. Establish close links between educational institutions and the labor market through apprentice schemes and industrial placements / encourage and promote work related skills training.

15. Encourage and support career counseling services so that skilled experience of young people match the demands of the labour market.

16. Implement the Framework for Sustainable Development of Sports in Africa.

17. Implement the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

18. Implement Accelerated Action on the Implementation of the Plan of Action Towards African Fit for Children.

19. Implement Algerian common position and Plan of Action on Strategies to support orphans, vulnerable children and children infected with HIV/AIDS.
 
20. Eradicate all forms of gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls, especially child, early and forced marriages and FGM (Female Genital Mutilation).


Editor's Note:
https://www.africa-youth.org/frameworks/continental-tvet-strategy/


https://conta.cc/3bOPQfs
Ending Child Marriage launched by the African Union

African Union Theme of the Year 2017 and Valid Today
Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investment in Youth
https://conta.cc/2KzHqfY
  
 
 
Priority Area (1)
2023 Target

Key Process Actions /Milestones Towards 2023 on AU Framework(s).

 
Operationalization of APSA Pillars
 
 
 
 



National

 1. National standby contingent of the ASF ready in all operational aspects.
 
2. National Peace Council is established by 2016.
 
3. Full compliance to funding Africa's peace and security.

Continental

1. Ready for deployment and engagement African Stand By Force. 
 
2. Well-equipped, competent regional security structures / mechanisms to participate in continental assignments.
 

 
 National
1. Contribution to peace fund is the norm/adequate and timely during 2014/23 period.

Continental

2. ACIRC is realized by 2015; AMANI II exercise completed by 2016 with realization of the ASF attained by 2018.

3. Policy directive to member states on increase in mandatory contributions to the Peace Fund issued in 2018.




Indicative Strategies

To achieve the above targets, the following indicative strategies have to be considered:
National

1. Implement regional and continental agreements in the context of the APSA.

2. Provide African CSOs with capacities at local, national and continental levels to address conflict prevention and peace building.

3. Ensure well-equipped, competent national security structures/mechanisms to participate in continental assignments.

Continental

1. Provide advocacy for compliance by Member States and RECs of the operationalization of the APSA.


EDITOR'S NOTE:

APSA: African Peace and Security Architecture

Silencing the Guns by 2020
Silencing the Guns by 2020



ASPIRATION 4 OF AGENDA 2063:   An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

T here are three Goals in Aspiration 4 from 13-15:

Goal 13 : Peace, Security and Stability are Preserved
  • Maintenance and Preservation of Peace and Security
Goal 14 : A Stable and Peaceful Africa
  • Institutional structure for AU Instruments on Peace and Security
Goal 15 : A Fully Functional and Operational African Peace and Security (AP
  • Fully operational and functional African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Pillars
The corresponding UN SDG is Goal 16.

The AU Peace and Security sector: 
  • Promotes Peace, security and stability in Africa; 
  • Anticipates and prevents conflicts;-and where conflicts have occurred;
  • Undertakes peace-making and peace-building functions for the resolution of conflicts; 
  • Promotes and implements peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction activities to consolidate peace and prevent the resurgence of violence;
  • Co-ordinates and harmonizes continental efforts in the prevention and combating of international terrorism in all its aspects; develops a common defence policy for the Union; 
  • Promotes and encourages democratic practices, good governance and the rule of law, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for the sanctity of human life and international humanitarian law, as part of efforts for preventing conflicts.
CIVIL SOCIETY

On December 4-5, 2008, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union held a Retreat in Livingstone, Zambia. The objective of the Retreat was to consider an appropriate mechanism for interaction between the Peace and Security Council and Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa within the framework of article 20 of the PSC Protocol.

In this regard, the Retreat adopted the conclusions II. CONCLUSIONS A) Title/Name of the Formula 3. The name of the formula for interaction between the PSC and CSOs in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa is called Livingstone Formula.

B) Modalities of interaction Procedural aspects 4. The Retreat agreed that the PSC remains master of its procedures and decisions, and that the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), as the consultative organ responsible for coordinating the participation of civil society in the work of the African Union, particularly through the Peace and Security Cluster as the focal point n engaging members and entities in the civil society in addressing peace and security issues.

The vehicle through which the civil society can participate in the peace process is through the Livingstone Formula, which is included the description segment. It includes:

i) Conflict prevention (early warning):  
CSOs may provide technical support to AU Field and fact-finding missions and Regional Economic Communities/RMS. By undertaking early warning reporting and situation analysis, civil society organizations can assist in enhancing the research and analysis process that feeds information into the decision-making process of the PSC.  
 
ii)  Peacemaking and Mediation:  
CSOs may assist and advise mediation teams during negotiations. CSOs can provide information to Special Envoys/Representatives of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union in the execution of their work. CSOs may also participate in giving publicity to the peacemaking process to enable the wider population to be informed of the ongoing efforts to broker peace in the country.  
 
iii)  Peacekeeping:  
Following the signing of a peace agreement, CSOs may assist, in a complementary manner, the AU and the PSC to devise effective processes to ensure that the parties to a conflict are assisted in the implementation of peace agreements. CSOs may also work in support of PSC authorized peacekeeping missions by undertaking some aspects of the civilian component of the operation. This might, for example, involve supporting the work of the civilian component of the African Standby Force. 

  iv)  Humanitarian support, peace-building, post-conflict reconstruction and development:  
 After the signing of peace agreements, CSOs may work in complementality to the efforts of the PSC and Special Envoys/Representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission in post-conflict confidence-building and support reconciliation processes in war-affected regions. Also, in the aftermath of conflict, CSOs may assist in rebuilding of communities to enable the delivery of basic services to the people.  
 
v: Provision of technical support:  
CSOs may work on environmental rehabilitation issues to enable local populations to resume normal activities. In addition, CSOs may work with local governments to reestablish water, electricity, and re-build social infrastructures. 

 vi)   Training:  
CSOs may provide training sessions and workshops to impart skills and knowledge on peace building for specific parties to a conflict or for countries and regions that require such training. CSOs may backstop mediation efforts by providing appropriate information required on particular aspects, objectives, and procedures of the mediation process. 

vii) Monitoring and impact assessment of the implementation of peace agreements:  
 CSOs may contribute to monitoring of the implementation of PSC decisions, particularly those relating to peace agreements and provide independent evaluation reports and briefs that would help the PSC in reviewing the situation. 

 viii) Post-conflict situations:  
CSOs may engage in peace-making and peace-building, humanitarian assistance; addressing basic needs of returnees and internally-displaced persons; economic recovery and rehabilitation of ex-combatants; rebuilding the administrative infrastructure, disarmament and demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, especially child soldiers, as well as provide counsel and moral support to victims of violence and other members of the community affected by war. 

 ix) Advocacy/Publicity for PSC Decisions:  
 CSOs may play a complementary role in the advocacy/publicity of AU-PSC decisions and activities, using their wide continental and international networks, to contribute to a better understanding of PSC decisions by the population.