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The Pan-African Parliament took part in the strategic reflection on the African Governance Architecture (AGA) held in Nairobi, Kenya from 9-11 July 2023. The engagement, organized by the African Governance Platform (AGP) ahead of the 5th Mid Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, aimed to enhance synergy and collaboration in joint flagship projects promoting the African Union’s shared values instruments.
The Pan-African Parliament is the legislative body of the African Union, dedicated to promoting democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law in Africa. As one of the AGA Platform members, it actively contributes to the AGA’s objectives alongside the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), and the Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
During the strategic reflection, members of the AGP discussed flagship projects aligned with Aspirations 3 and 4 of Agenda 2063, focusing on democratic governance, peace, and security. The outcomes were presented to the Platform for adoption, emphasizing the importance of transversal programmatic interventions that promote civic engagement, participation, open governance, and accountability.
The Pan-African Parliament has played a critical role in rethinking the strategic direction of AGA. Leading up to the Nairobi engagement, the Continental Parliament hosted the Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting (SCM) in June 2023, aimed at evaluating the progress of the African Governance Architecture Support Project (AGA-SP). The meeting resolved to reorient the project’s strategic direction to address pressing issues and align with AU institutional reforms.
The AGA, established in 2012, serves as a comprehensive framework for addressing governance challenges in Africa and has evolved into a formal decision-making platform. It supports the effective implementation of AU shared values and contributes to advancing the African democracy, human rights, and governance agenda.
The reflection on the AGA provided an opportunity to review achievements, identify challenges, and shape future work. The Pan-African Parliament remains committed to strengthening the AGA and promoting democratic governance, human rights, peace, and security in Africa through collaboration and cooperation among AGP members.
The AGA meeting concluded on Thursday, July 13, with the AGA Strategy 2024-2029 being presented to the 2nd Statutory Technical and Political meetings of the African Platform for adoption. The following highlights from the draft AGA Strategy 2024-2029 are hoped to be pillars of a more united, competent, and diverse platform that effectively addresses governance and human rights challenges in Africa.
- Vision: Building an Africa of peace, security, good governance, and respect for human rights.
- Mission: Providing leadership and facilitating the implementation and monitoring of governance, human rights, and the rule of law across AU Member States.
- Guiding Principles: Prioritizing coordination, collaboration, cooperation, and communication among AGA members.
- Key Strategic Objectives: Promoting the effective implementation of shared values treaties, enhancing coordination and synergy among AGA members, amplifying citizen consciousness and participation, building capacities, enhancing synergy with APSA, advancing knowledge management, communication, and information sharing, and implementing a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework.
- Principle of Working Modalities: Leveraging member advantages, focusing on transversal flagship activities, ensuring effective communication, fostering mutual respect and trust, and promoting accountability and transparency.
SOURCE: PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
