Project description

Title: Support to the Peace and Security Directorate of the African Union (AU)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Africa, supra-national (located in Ethiopia)
Lead executing agency: Commission of the African Union
Overall term: 2009 to 2012

Context

For decades, the African continent has been marked by crises and conflicts, which constitute a major factor in its slow economic, political and social development. However, with the transition of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU), the continent gained a politically significant organisation prepared to take on the numerous issues to be dealt with in the field of peace and security. The AU has set itself the objective of establishing a comprehensive architecture of peace and security comprising the following structures: 1) Peace and Security Council, 2) Continental Early Warning System, 3) Panel of the Wise, 4) African Standby Force, 5) Special Fund.

The successful execution of this complex mandate requires that all elements of the peace and security structure must function and interact effectively. However, the AU is still young and, mainly due to shortages of personnel and resources, it does not yet possess the necessary organisational and political capacities to meet this requirement.

Objective

The stakeholders – not only the Commission of the African Union (AUC) but also the regional organisations, pan-African institutions and international partners – are able to carry out their peace and security tasks effectively and competently.

Approach

The programme supports the African Union in its task of building and strengthening sustainable peace and security structures for Africa. Successful partnerships have been formed with the Department of Conflict Management at the Directorate of Peace and Security. GIZ focuses one part of its support on the continental early warning system, which it supports both conceptually and through the provision of training. At the same time, the programme provides strategic advice and facilitates workshops for the Peace Support Operation Department, helping it to fulfill its task of developing the civilian elements of the African Standby Force.

Apart from this, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GIZ provides financing for the AU's peace and security programme, in which a number of international partners pool their contributions for capacity building within the AU.

Results achieved so far

Progress has been made in developing the capacities of the partner institutions. They are now better equipped to establish and use the instruments of the African Peace and Security Architecture. Significant success has also been achieved in terms of the continental early warning system. In partnership with GIZ, the AU has been able to develop the core methodical elements of this system, which matches international standards while also meeting specific African needs. The aim is for the decision making bodies – especially the Peace and Security Council of the AU – to have their own reliable sources of information and analysis on conflict situations across the continent. Cooperation has improved between the Peace and Security Department of the AUC and the African regional economic communities and regional mechanisms. This has increased the effectiveness with which the peace and security architecture is being implemented.

Further information

• Website of the African Union
  www.africa-union.org