Preparations for the review of the UN-AU Cooperation Framework for the TYCBP-AU

1. Preparations for the review of the UN-AU Cooperation Framework for the TYCBP-AU 10th Session of the RCM Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 5 November 2009

2. UN Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme for the AU • Signing of Declaration on enhancing UN-AU cooperation- November 2006 • Programme serves as a framework for UN system-wide engagement with the AU • Addresses a wide range of issues, based on AU needs and strategic priorities • GA Resolution (A/61/L.70) September 2007 – calls for accelerated implementation of the Declaration • Implementation currently through the RCM • ECA to Coordinate implementation

3. Objectives • Main objective “…to enhance the capacity of the AU Commission and African subregional organizations, (para 2) with special emphasis on the following areas: • Institution-building, human resources, development and financial management; • Peace and security • Human rights; • Political, legal and electoral matters; • Social, economic, cultural and human development • Food security and environmental protection • Priority to focus on “conflict prevention, mediation and good offices, peacekeeping and peacebuilding” (para 1)

4. Key issues to note from the Declaration Declaration recognizes and proposes the following: • The “…ongoing cooperation between the AU and the organizations of the UN system at the AU headquarters is the operational component of the evolving Framework” (paragraph 4). • “…[A]lign the support of the organizations of the UN system for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) with the evolving Framework” (paragraph 5). • “[C]ooperation will continue to develop in a practical fashion, taking into account each organization’s specific expertise and capabilities, and contributing to improving collaboration among all elements of the international community’s response to the challenges on the African continent” (paragraph 6).

5. Key issues to note from the Declaration • Existing UN-AU cooperation arrangements will continue but new cooperation projects and programmes, long term partnership arrangements with the AU and subregional organizations “should be designed within/in the context of the evolving Framework and should be consistent with their specific mandates and area of competence” (paragraph 7) • Ongoing and envisaged UN-AU cooperation programmes need to be implemented on the basis of the evolving Framework (paragraph 8). 6. Periodic review of the evolving Framework at three-year intervals.

6. The Matrix • Developed and finalized in September 2006 • Has six main areas of focus: • Institutional capacity and human resource development; • Peace and Security; • Political, Legal and Electoral matters; • Social, Human and Cultural development; • Economic and Environmental development; • Cross-cutting issues.

7. The Matrix Priority Areas under each Category

8. Social, Human and Cultural Development

9. Issues to be addressed for the review • The guiding principle is that this upcoming review and the response to the review outcomes should lead to progress in implementing the TYCBP. • The review should assess progress in achieving the objectives of the TYCBP while at the same time leading to the development of strategies and implementation plans that will accelerate the implementation of TYCBP and result in the attainment of the objectives of the UN-AU Framework agreement. • Thus, guidance and clarifications are required on a number of important issues, including areas of focus of the review, relevant activities and duration, method of review, coordination and timeline, review executor, expected outputs and financing.

10. Areas of Focus • It is important to define the contours and limits of this review and specify the areas on which the review should focus. • Should the review be limited to the extent to which the activities, projects and programmes listed in the Programme’s matrix have been achieved or should it also include the role of the AUC the primary recipient as well as that of the UN agencies/clusters as implementing organs. • Should the review go beyond the operationalization of the Programme and delve into the overall objective and the conceptual foundation of the programme

11. Activities and duration • There is a need to guide the review by clearly defined, objective, and quantifiable criteria that are related to the expected outcomes of the Ten-Year Capacity Building Program. • In this regard, what criteria and benchmarks should be set for the review?

12. Method of review • What methods should be adopted in the review exercise and to operationalize the review? • How comprehensive should it be and at what levels? • What are the applicable approaches: documentary studies, qualitative studies, semi-structured interviews, quantitative studies and sample surveys, case studies and empirical and statistical studies.

13. Coordination and timeline • It is important to ensure that proper steps are taken and that the timeline is established and adhered to, effective coordination is required. • Therefore, there is a need to clarify who should coordinate the review exercise and what is the timeline for completing the review?

14. Who should carry out the review? • Should it be done by a consultant or consultants? • If so, what type/level of consultant will be best disposed to do the study? • Of significant note here is the need for the process to be as independent as possible.

15. What are the expected outputs from the review? • How will the review be financed?

16. Thank You