Au weekly november 4th 2015

AU WEEKLY ...keeping you updated November 4th, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS Economic Justice 





Upcoming: Please Join Us this Friday Nov 6 for our ―Friday s of the Commission‖ Debate: Toward Climate Justice for Africa Ensuring Food Security Empowering Women

Understanding the AU 

by

Africa, Climate Change and Sustainable Development: What is at Stake in Paris and Beyond?

Upcoming Events 



Peace and Security 





AUC Report on South Sudan Released Universalization of the Biological Weapons Convention in Africa New Appointment

Non-State Actors Engaging the African Union





4th Congress of African Economist: ―Industrial Policy and Economic Performance in Africa‖ Global African Stakeholders’ Diaspora Convention African Girl’s Summit on Ending Child Marriage in Africa Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa; 6th Technical Committee Meeting

Follow us on: Facebook - Oxfam International Liaison Office to the African Union: OI-AU Twitter - twitter@oxfam_AU Disclaimer: Views or articles presented in this publication are solely those of the media source and do not represent Oxfam’s views

AU-Weekly Published by Oxfam Liaison Office to the AU 1

AU Weekly

Upcoming: Fridays of the Commission Please Join Us! African Union Commission and Oxfam will be hosting The Regular Session ―Toward Climate Justice for Africa‖ Friday November 6, 2015 from 2:00pm to 5:30pm „ The Department for Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with Oxfam invite you to attend the 20th Edition of the Fridays of the Commission under the theme: ―Toward Climate Justice for Africa‖.

This session will provide a policy dialogue platform for all interested stakeholders to add their voices to the ongoing debate on how Africa will adapt to climate change and achieve the necessary external resources required for adaptation.

The session will be conducted in French and English, and will include eminent speakers/discussants on the following topics:  Official African position for the Paris Climate Change negotiations  Role of Heads of States in the negotiations  Priorities and role of African parliaments  Obligation to fight climate change: moral perspective  Civil society plans for the COP21 The outcomes of the session will be published in the „‟Bulletin of the Fridays of the Commission‟‟ and disseminated to a wide audience including AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, universities and development partners among others.

AU PRC Members, AUC Staff, Members of the diplomatic corps in Ethiopia, UN Agency staff, students, academia, civil society organisations, and the general public are cordially invited to this special event.

Date: November 6, 2015 from 2:00—6 pm Location: AUC New conference hall building –Small Conference Rm 2 2

AU Weekly

Economic Justice Ensuring Food Security by Empowering Women The 6th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) (commemorated on October 30 each year) was convened under the theme “Empowering Our Women, Securing Our Food, Improving Our Nation” in Kampala, Uganda. This was coorganised by the Africa Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD, and other coordinating agencies in collaboration with the Government of Uganda.

The ADFNS serves as a rallying point to intensify political and financial commitments at all levels in order to address contemporary challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in Africa. It as well provides a platform at national, regional and continental levels to share experiences, knowledge and mutual learning, as well as measure progress in assuring food and nutrition security for all by governments and multi-stakeholder partners.

The Continental Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee was also convened to support the implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) through the coordination of SPS issues. The specific task of a Continental SPS Committee would be to mainstream SPS issues such as food safety, plant and animal health, into the CAADP‟s implementation. As well other agriculture, trade-related, and environmental initiatives could be included in its results framework.

Following the ceremony, the Republic of Uganda launched a food and nutrition handbook. This will be used by extension workers in the delivery of agricultural services in communities.

Further Reading: http://rea.au.int/en/content/women%E2%80%99s-empowerment-critical-fight-against-hunger-andmalnutrition or http://rea.au.int/en/content/continental-sps-committee-africa-and-auc-sps-cluster-meeting

3

AU Weekly

Economic Justice Africa, Climate Change and Sustainable Development: What is at Stake in Paris and Beyond?

The fifth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa was held from October 28th to 30th 2015 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to reflect on the performance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in achieving its stated objectives of emissions reduction and sustainable development. Participants deliberated on climate change issues across the continent with the focus being on addressing climate change, sustainable development and equity issues under article 2 of the Convention. The Conference theme was “Prospects for sustainable, resilient and creative economies in Africa in the Context of a Changing Climate”.

During the Conference the application of the principles of the Convention—with particular emphasis on the implications of the principles for equity—was reviewed with the intention to inform the COP21 framework with African perspectives. The discussions also focused on developing climate-sensitive development policies and processes in Africa in the post-COP21 period.

Specifically, the Conference aims were:  To deepen the understanding of the role of climate data, information services and climate knowledge in development planning, and the climateproofing of Africa‟s economic development processes  To share experiences and deepen the understanding of climate trends and the impacts of climate change in key development sectors in Africa, and the implications of these experiences for the continent‟s sustainable development.

4

AU Weekly

Economic Justice (cont’d) 





To contribute towards the development of common African positions regarding the post-Kyoto Protocol global climate governance regime To anticipate the outcomes of COP21 and to initiate preparations for the implementation of the post-COP21 phase, such as the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) currently under preparation To build on the recommendations of the Fourth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa and the climate research frontiers identified at the 2013 Africa Climate Conference.

Expected Outcomes:  Enhanced understanding of the linkages between climate science, policy, and the developmental and equity outcomes engendered by the prevailing global climate governance regime  Better understanding of recent climate change trends and the implications for Africa‟s sustainable development  Increased focus on investment and partnerships within the field of climate research that could be further developed by African governments and partners  Improved knowledge of the opportunities for clean energy development to inform Africa‟s development path, and the enhancement of appropriate policy platforms to support renewable energy initiatives  Integration of climate change issues into comprehensive rural development programmes, to better inform sustainable development planning Further reading: http://www.climdev-africa.org/

5

AU Weekly

Peace and Security Universalization of the Biological Weapons Convention in Africa The African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Geneva-based Implementation Support Unit of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), organized a two-day meeting of Member States on the universalization of the BWC in Africa, The objective of the meeting was to enhance understanding of the BWC and its implementation among signatories and non-signatories in order to promote its universality.

The meeting topics included procedures for ratification of, and accession to, the BWC; national legislative, administrative and enforcement measures; the BWC Confidence Building Measures, advances in science and technology, convergence between biology and chemistry and implications for the BWC; synergies between the BWC and UN Security Council resolution 1540 (2004); and international assistance and cooperation within the framework of the BWC. Bio-safety, bio-security and bio-sciences and technology in Africa, as well as the implications and lessons learned from the recent West Africa Ebola disease outbreak, national and regional measures required to address disease outbreaks, and bio-threats were part of the discussion.

Further reading: http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/a-meeting-on-theuniversalization-of-the-biological-weapons-convention-concludes-at-the -au-headquarters#sthash.0PWZODIF.dpuf

6

AU Weekly

Peace and Security (cont’d)

AUC Report on South Sudan Released On October 27th 2015, the African Union Commission released, for public information, the report of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS) and the Separate Opinion submitted by one member of the AUCISS. The Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, reiterated the AU‟s appreciation Credited: AU to the members of the AUCISS and to the New Appointment team of experts that supported them, for The United Nations Secretary- their hard work and commitment in the General Ban Ki-moon and African discharge of their mandate.

Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced The decision to release the AUCISS rethe appointment of Ms. Bintou Keita port and the Separate Opinion was made of Guinea as the Deputy Joint Spe- by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) cial Representative for the African at its 547th meeting.

Union-United Nations Hybrid OperaBoth documents are now available on the tion in Darfur (UNAMID).

AU‟s website www.au.int and the website Further reading: http:// of the Peace and Security Department of www.peaceau.org/en/article/unthe Commission www.peaceau.org. secretary-general-and-aucchairperson-appoint-bintou-keita-ofFurther reading: http://www.au.int/en/ guinea-as-deputy-joint-specialcontent/african-union-releases-report-aurepresentative-for-thecommission-inquiry-south-sudan unamid#sthash.uFsWyUh6.dpuf 7

AU Weekly

Understanding the AU Non-State Actors Engaging the African Union: Institute for Security Studies (ISS) - Addis Ababa Office The ISS is a pan-African applied policy research institute headquartered in South Africa, with offices in Kenya, Ethiopia and Senegal. The ISS is an established think tank working on issues of African human security. It seeks to mainstream human security perspectives into public policy processes and to influence decision makers within Africa and beyond.

The objective of the Institute is to add critical balance and objectivity by providing timely, empirical research and contextual analysis of relevant human security issues to policy makers, area specialists, advocacy groups, and the media. In line with its objective, the ISS conducts research and compiles reports for the African Union and the African community in general. ISS is also known for facilitating public discussions and seminars on pre and post African Union Summit agenda items and other major African issues. ISS also provides technical support in the areas of peace and security to the African Union, mainly to the Peace and Security Department as the need arises by resourcing different meetings and providing reports.

Although ISS has other offices in Africa, its Addis office coordinates all the other offices on AU matters in order to ensure that the ISS is constantly working to address AU requests. As part of their mandate, ISS works with the AU Peace and Security Council, AU Peace Support Operation Division, and the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission.

Contact Information: Tel: +251 11 515 6320 Fax: +251 11 515 6449 Email: addisababa@issafrica.org Website: www.issafrica.org 8

AU Weekly

Upcoming Events Nov

Event: 4th Congress of African Economists: ―Industrial Policy and Economic Performance in Africa‖ Venue: Accra, Ghana

16-18 Nov

Contact: Mrs. Kokobe George Email: kokobeG@frica-union.org Direct Line: +251 115 182658

Event: Global African Stakeholders Diaspora Convention Venue: Washington DC

19-22

Contact: www.globalafricadiaspora.org; Evelyn Joe at 1-240-7066885, Mr. Kyeretwie Osei: Oseik@africa-union.org and Ms. Eiman Kheir:KheirE@africa-union.org.

Nov

27-28 Nov

28-29

Event: African Girl’s Summit on Ending Child Marriage in Africa Venue: Lusaka, Zambia Contact: http://pages.au.int/cecm/events/african-girl%E2%80%99s-summit -ending-child-marriage-africa-lusaka-zambia or http://pages.au.int/cecm/ summit/registration

Event: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa 6th Technical Committee Meeting Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact: http://sa.au.int/en/content/pharmaceutical-manufacturingplan-africa-6th-technical-committee-meeting-28-29-november-2015 Follow us on: Facebook - Oxfam International Liaison Office to the African Union: OI-AU Twitter - @oxfam_AU

Disclaimer: Views or articles presented in this publication are solely those of the media source and do not represent Oxfam’s views

AU-Weekly Published by Oxfam Liaison Office to the AU 9