Project description

Title: African Union Commission - Peace and Security Building
Commissioned by: German Federal Foreign Office (AA)
Financier: German Government
Country: Ethiopia
Overall term: 2008 to 2013

Context

Peace and security are priority issues for the whole international community, including the countries of Africa. The African Union (AU) Commission implements a peace and security strategy for the African continent. To support its efforts, the German Federal Foreign Office has funded the design and construction of a highly specialised building for the AU Peace and Security Department. Besides hosting the Peace and Security Council, the building will also be home to the Continental Early Warning System, with which the Council will be able to monitor critical information about ongoing crises, and manage both civil and military operations.

Thanks to its long and successful record in the management of large construction projects in Ethiopia, GIZ's International Services department was appointed to manage the design and construction work in Addis Ababa.

Objective

The Peace and Security Building provides a plenary hall for the meetings of the Peace and Security Council, a situations room and a military operations room. It also houses the offices of the Peace and Security Department, as well as a library, meeting facilities and space for auxiliary functions.

Approach

The AU Peace and Security Building is being built by Ethiopian construction companies. The building will meet international design standards for environmental sustainability, incorporating climate-friendly and energy-efficient technologies. The new building will be centrally situated on the grounds of the African Union. Its approximately 13,500 square meters of floor space will include offices for about 360 employees.

Results achieved so far

All excavation works, and the installation of sub-base materials as well as the concrete substructure and drainage system for the new building had been completed by mid July 2011, as had the other relevant site installations.

• The preliminary design was finalised in 2010.
• Construction work commenced in January 2011.
• The temporary facilities, built for the AU to use during the construction period, were handed over in May 2011.
• Full clearance of site was completed May 2011.