Support to the African Union for the Establishment of an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA)

Transcription

1 Support to the African Union for the Establishment of an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) region: sponsor: German implementing Agency: partners: Support to the African Union for the Establishment of an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) All Member States of the African Union (AU) AU Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Peace and Security Department, African Union Commission (AUC) term: July 2009 to June 2015 Budget: 7 Million Euro (current phase) Context The African Union (AU), which was created in 2002, was given an extended mandate to act in the field of peace and security. At the core of this new mandate is the active promotion of peace, security and stability as prerequisites for sustainable development. With the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the AU shows its commitment to finding African solutions to African problems", in order to be better prepared for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the continent. It raises great expectations of a politically strong and effective organization that frames the multilateral relationships between 54 African nations in the field of peace and security. The African Peace and Security Architecture is a collective security framework that includes instruments for all conflict types and phases. The main elements are the Peace and Security Council (PSC) as the standing decision-making organ, the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Peace Fund for the financing of peacekeeping missions and other peace and security activities. The role of the AU Commission (AUC), as the executive organ of the AU, is to lead and promote the set up and development of the APSA together with the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs). So far the APSA is only partly functional as some of its already existing elements are not used effectively. One of the main reasons for this state of the matter lays in the limited capacity of the Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the AU Commission. There is still a need for capacity development regarding human resources and expertise but also for the improvement of internal processes. Involving the RECs in the architecture still presents a challenge as they have different interests and capacities. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is working with the Commission of the African Union and its core partners in the field of peace and security (especially with RECs and RMs). The cooperation aims at supporting the partner organizations in establishing and using important elements of the African Peace and Security Architecture more effectively. In order to reach this objective, different approaches are promoted according to the situation and in a flexible manner: Contribution to the establishment and development of elements of the APSA, for example of the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise or the civilian element of the African Standby Force (ASF); Support to priority areas of work of the PSD through provision of external advisors, organizational support and where required financing of activities; Institutional capacity development and resolution of concrete organizational issues within PSD, for example improving communication processes and knowledge management in the Peace Support Operations Division; Promotion of the cooperation with the RECs and other important partners, e.g. through the improvement of coordination processes; Strengthening of PSD's financial basis for human resources through the development of sustainable financing mechanisms together with other partner countries. The collaboration with PSD takes place in close coordination with other partner countries especially in the context of the Joint Africa- EU Strategy. Regarding donor coordination, Germany participates intensively in the taskforces on peace and security and actively supports initiatives designed to harmonise donor activities as advocated in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

2 Support to the African Union for the Establishment of an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Assembly Hall of the African Union Commission AUC Sivuyile Bam, Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division AUC Results The main result consists in the improvement of the capacities of the partners to deal with the diverse and challenging tasks of preventing, managing and sustainably resolving conflicts on the African continent. The establishment of Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) has been particularly supported by the project. Despite the multiple, especially political challenges, the objective of establishing a functioning CEWS has almost been reached. Germany has been supporting CEWS through contribution to the development of the conceptual basis. After finalising the CEWS Handbook as the methodological framework, the AU has started to collaborate closely with the existing regional early warning mechanisms as well as with international organisations. By 2012 the CEWS shall be widely functional so that AU decision making organs - especially the Peace and Security Council - shall increasingly have their own reliable information and conflict analysis sources and instruments on conflict situations on the continent at their disposal. Contact GIZ AU Programmes' Office Lideta Sub-city, Kebele 15 House No. 372, Roosevelt Ave P.O. Box Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact Person: Gerhard Mai T F E I gerhard.mai@giz.de

3 Strengthening the Development of the Police Component of the African Standby Force (ASF) region: Strengthening the capacity of police structures in Africa - Strengthening the Development of the Police Component of the African Standby Force (ASF) Africa, cross-national; Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia sponsor: German implementing Agency: partners: German Federal Foreign Office (AA) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH African Union (AU), Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) term: 2008 to 2012 Budget: 1.5 Million Euro Context Armed conflicts hinder political, economic and social development in many African countries. National governments alone are often incapable of addressing cross-border conflict situations. The African Union (AU) and African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) are playing an increasingly important role in crisis prevention, conflict transformation and peace building across the continent. A joint peacekeeping force, the African Standby Force (ASF), is to be established by 2015 for the purpose of settling armed disputes. Police units are being prepared as well within the scope of the ASF for deployment to crisis regions. Objective Efforts to develop and improve the capacity of police forces within the AU are being supported in a sustainable manner in order to improve the security situation in Africa. The ASF is able to recruit and deploy qualified police officers independently. Approach GIZ has been carrying out a program since early 2008 on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office to promote the development of police forces in sub-saharan Africa. This program, dedicated to strengthening the functional capacity of police structures, is active in nine African countries. Peace support operations (PSOs) of the AU shall consist of a civilian and a police component, as well as a military component. The police development program in Africa supports the African Union Commission (AUC) efforts to establish the police dimension and therefore support the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The department at the AU Commission (AUC) responsible for PSOs, the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), receives support for its efforts to set up a multi-dimensional body which is able to plan and run peacekeeping operations. The police component constitutes a key element in this multidimensional structure. The PSOD is responsible for the strategic planning of AU PSOs, as well as leading and managing such missions. Four police experts have been appointed and deployed to the PSOD to reinforce the staff. They are dedicated to conceptual planning and to developing policing capacities and expertise. The project also advises on planning and organisational issues. In addition, the police officers receive support for the development of policy guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conceptual improvement of police training courses for PSOs. In some cases required equipment and material are procured. Furthermore, the exchange and cooperation between the AU, the RECs and the Member States is encouraged. Results The issue of police capacity in African-led PSOs ranks high on the agenda of the AUC. The integration of police matters in the ASF concept has been promoted. The police officers are working alongside their military and civilian colleagues within the multidimensional structure of the PSOD. A first African training activity for police officers has been launched. The police officers are being advised by a permanent GIZ Advisor and a German police officer (intermittently). Thereby, organisational development processes have been implemented. The exchange and cooperation between the AU, RECs and Member States are strengthened. In the Member States logistical and organisational capacities for police training courses have been put in place.

4 Support for Developing the Police Component of the African Standby Force (ASF) Police Programme Africa: Strengthening the police for more peace and security in Africa GIZ Contact GIZ AU Office Lideta Sub-City, Kebele 15 Roosevelt Ave No. 372 P.O. Box Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact Person: Stephan Lidsba T F E stephan.lidsba@giz.de I

5 Border Managment in Africa Border Management in Africa: "From Barriers to Bridges" Support to the African Union Border Programme region: sponsor: German implementing Agency: partners: Africa German Federal Foreign Office (AA) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH African Union Commission (AUC), responsible ministries for border issues, national border commissions term: Phase Phase Budget: Phase Million Euro Phase Million Euro (incl Million Euro funding by the British Foreign Commonwealth Office) Context Africa's colonial history has left behind a legacy of weak national boundaries. Today only about a quarter of the borders are clearly defined (delimited) and physically marked (demarcated). The African Union (AU) views these ill-defined borders as a potential source of conflict - particularly in regions with valuable mineral resources - and thus a threat to peace and security. To reduce these risks, the AU established the African Union Border Programme (AUBP). The AUBP's activities comprise the delimitation and demarcation of borders, border cooperation, and institution-building and capacity development. GIZ supports the AUBP on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office through the project Border Management in Africa - Support to the African Union Border Programme, in order to build trans-regional border management and thus to secure peace in the region. The project "Border Management in Africa" supports the African Union Border Programme by contributing towards conflict prevention. It assists the African Union, regional organisations and partner countries to prevent conflicts among African states through effective and sustainable border management, thereby promoting regional integration. The project is steered from Addis Ababa and is aligned with the three components of the AUBP. 1. Delimitation/Demarcation The project supports eleven African partner countries in delimiting and demarcating their borders: Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Comoros, Seychelles, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Sudan and South Sudan. 2. Cross-border cooperation The project supports its partner countries in promoting and extending cross-border cooperation. In 2009, a pilot project working with two communities in Burkina Faso and Mali successfully resolved cross-border disputes over access to resources. Since then, more initiatives have been developed, such as the construction of a granary and a cross-border health centre, which are used and managed by both border communities. A module for cross-border cooperation is being developed that will make the pilot project's best practices available for other countries. In addition, the project has cooperated with the "Trading for Peace Programme" of COMESA, which aims to simplify international trade agreements in order to strengthen cross-border relations. 3. Institution-building & capacity development The Border Management in Africa project supports the AU in developing an achievable programme that maintains a focus on the AU's strategic objectives. This includes technical advice, funding for staff, materials and equipment, and office space. Furthermore, the project contributes towards the legitimacy of the AUBP through bilateral awareness creation and educational measures at the national level.

6 Border Managment in Africa Cross-border dialogue. Harandane Dicko Results The Border Management in Africa project has achieved significant results: The Mali-Burkina Faso border has been fully delimited and demarcated. 610 km of the Zambia-Malawi, Zambia-Mozambique, Mozambique-Malawi and Mozambique-Tanzania borders have been delimited and demarcated. Delimitation and demarcation of the Mozambique-Tanzania border, the Mozambique-Zambia border and the Malawi-Zambia border will be completed by The delimitation of the maritime borders between Mozambique, Tanzania and Comoros and between Tanzania, Comoros and Seychelles will be finalised and it is expected that agreements will be signed by the end of The project has also succeeded in ending a protracted border dispute between two villages in Mali and Burkina Faso through a participatory method of conflict settlement. This method has now been expanded to ten further border communities. Economic and cultural cooperation among border villages has increased thanks to the construction of granaries for joint use. A cross-border health centre, administered by both countries, will be inaugurated in January Through ongoing technical and conceptual advice by GIZ, the AUBP is better placed to implement the AU's border objectives independently. In 2010, an AU intranet portal was initiated covering country-specific border issues which can be accessed from across Africa. The portal site should be completed in Thanks to these developments, member states now see the AU as a key actor in border management. While the German Federal Foreign Office is still the major donor, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is co-financing the boundary marking process between Sudan and South Sudan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the AUBP by financing a number of workshops. Contact GIZ AU Office Lideta Sub-City, Kebele 15 House No. 372, Roosevelt Ave P.O. Box Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ansprechpartner: Mamadou Diarrassouba T F E mamadou.diarrassouba@giz.de I

7 African Union Commission Peace and Security Building region: sponsor: German implementing Agency: partners: African Union Commission Peace and Security Building Addis Ababa, Ethiopia German Federal Foreign Office (AA) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH African Union Commission (AUC) term: June 2008 to December 2013 Budget: 26.5 Million Euro Context The African Union (AU) has been accorded an extended mandate by its Member States to act in the field of peace and security. The role of the AU Commission (AUC), as the executive organ of the AU, is to lead and promote the set up and development of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) together with the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs). To help achieve this task, donors including Germany are supporting the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission through capacity development measures. The strengthening of the Department's human resource base is part of the capacity development and the number of staff members is projected to increase from ca. 200 to 360 persons over the next two years. For a growing Department with expanding responsibilities, the current facilities are neither large enough nor adequate in terms of quality and functionality. Several of the Department's units are currently housed outside of the AU Compound, which creates significant organizational problems. Many of the existing buildings are in need of renovation and technically outdated. On behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is managing the construction of the Peace and Security Building for the African Union Commission. The new building will provide suitable office space for the Department and has been designed to accommodate the growing number of staff members. All of the Department's units will be housed under one roof. The building will provide the Department with a modern, functionally adequate infrastructure, which is one of the essential prerequisites for efficient work. With 13,500 square meters gross floor area, the building will accommodate offices for about 360 employees. It will be centrally situated on the grounds of the African Union, providing a plenary hall for the meetings of the Peace and Security Council as well as a library and facilities for meetings. The situation room of the Continental Early Warning System CEWS and the Department's operations room form the central area of the building. In addition to the construction works, the building will be partially equipped and furnished. The new building will meet criteria of ecological and sustainable construction and use climate friendly and energy efficient technologies. These technologies will help to lower the building's maintenance costs. The AU Peace and Security Building (PSB) is being built by construction companies registered in Ethiopia. GIZ provides the overall project management, steering and technical supervision. Results Construction of the AU PSB started in January 2011 while a detailed room allocation plan has been agreed with the AU Commission (AUC) in The tendering process was completed by the end of A cornerstone laying ceremony took place on 14 February 2011 in the presence of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mr. Jean Ping and other high officials of the AUC, the Ethiopian Government, the German Government as well delegates from the German Parliament. On request of the AUC temporary facilities for archives and storages were constructed and handed over on 26 May After the signing of contract between the AU and a local contractor, the construction of the main building started in April The building will be handed over to the partner end of December 2012.

8 African Union Commission - Peace and Security Building Interior design of the new building for the Peace and Security Department of the AU-Commission. GIZ Contact GIZ International Services TK International Building, No. 2/ Bole Kifle Ketema/ Kebele 03/05/ House No. 162 P.O. Box 28127, Code 1000 Addis Ababa Ethiopia Contact person: Martin Hansen T F E martin.hansen@giz.de I

9 Support of the Research and Training Programme of the AU in the Area of Peace and Security region: sponsor: German implementing Agency: Support of the Research and Training Programme of the African Union in the Area of Peace and Security (APSP) All Member States of the African Union German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH partners: Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) Addis Ababa University Peace and Security Department (PSD) African Union Commission (AUC) term: November 2011 until October 2014 Budget: 3 Million Euro Context The African Union (AU), which was created in 2002, was given an extended mandate to act in the field of peace and security. At the core of this new mandate is the pro-active promotion of peace, security, and stability as prerequisites for sustainable development. In developing and maintaining the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which establishes close ties with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the AU sustains its commitment to finding "African solutions to peace and security", to be better prepared for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the continent and with the aim of developing concepts that fit the conflicts at hand. The AU raises great expectations towards a politically strong and effective organisation that frames the multilateral relationships between 54 African nations in the field of peace and security. But limited capacity of the Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the AU-Commission (AUC) and partner organizations, and its personnel in the field of peace and security for operational, strategic and analytical roles are constrains for the development of appropriate concepts for particular conflicts and overall policies falls short. Furthermore, the actors and stakeholders mainly work in an isolated manner and are not connected in a professional network that would inform the genuine development of practical solutions and inclusive approaches to peace and security. Against this background the AU members recognised "making and sustaining peace and security" as "an intellectual challenge" and accordingly formulated the need to "build the capacity in universities and research institutes to explore the nature of African conflicts, to investigate what succeeds and what fails in conflict resolution efforts, and to arrive at African-centered solutions" (Tripoli Declaration on the Elimination of Conflicts in Africa and the Promotion of Sustainable Peace, 2009). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is working with the AUC, the RECs, and the Institute for Peace and Security (IPSS) to support adequate responses to the Tripoli Declaration's call. IPSS is the main implementation partner and has itself developed a wider institutional partnership with the AUC the African Peace and Security Program (APSP) that was instigated by the AUC, endorsed by the AU Executive Council in 2010 (EX.CL 567(XVI), and formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding between AUC and IPSS. The prime objectives of APSP are the qualification of staff and building up closer ties among them and other practitioners to create an all-african community of practice. The cooperation eventually aims at supporting the partner organisations by putting them in the position to fulfil their mandates more effectively and effectively use, further develop, and sustain APSA within a highly integrated framework. Comprehensive education in the field of peace and security is provided through the establishment of an executive one-year Master's course on "Managing Peace and Security in Africa" for staff from the AU, RECs, and their member states' institutions. Applied research is conducted within the newly established programme "African Solutions for Peace and Security" through events such as seminars and workshops as well as long-term case studies; the programme tightens the still lose network of research institutions and brings together actors in an integrative, Pan-African approach..

10 Support of the Research and Training Programme of the AU in the Area of Peace and Security Congolese political actors Forum on "Electoral process and peace and security perspective in the DRC" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26-27th Sept Israel Results APSP helps develop capacity and closer networks between the concerned actors. Based on the needs formulated in the Tripoli Declaration and requests by the AUC, APSP flexibly supports and creates efforts that strengthen the actors' development in the political, strategic, and organisational realm. Training (executive Master's "Managing Peace and Security in Africa"): The first batch of the executive MA started in May 2010; the other batches proceed at intervals of six months. The methodology and content receive regularly experts' group assessments and overhaul. While the graduates'usage of the knowledge gained cannot be verified conclusively, the graduates' qualification enables them to make well-informed choices based on critical and balanced judgment rather than ad-hoc responses to peace and security challenges on the African continent. Their knowledge of practical approaches to conflict resolution, prevention, and management along with an understanding of conflict dynamics helps them to address these issues in a more substantive and effective way. Furthermore, the participation in the course strengthens the ties between all organisations involved, both at individual and institutional level. The focus of the programme content and its methodology prioritising working on problem-solving with real cases and within the constraints of today's African institutions by using a systematic approach to the challenges and problems that confront practitioners in the field furthermore lead on to shaping agenda formulation by pointing out to the participants what areas call for further policy development and action. The research component was launched in December 2010 with the case study research starting in September 2011 and already managed to inform policy development through applied and action research. The countries currently selected for case study research are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, and South Sudan. The studies, however geared towards the individual conflicts or crises, share the common approach of bringing together stakeholders and discussing solutions instead of problems i.e. evaluate and help improve self-reliant processes that lead to solutions and their implementation. With regards to both the executive MA and the research programme, a primary long-term benefit is the strengthened network among stakeholders and actors from various fields and the provision of an exchange and interaction platform. Contact GIZ AU Programmes' Office Lideta Sub-city, Kebele 15 House No. 372, Roosevelt Ave P.O. Box Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contact person: Markus Körner T (0) E markus.koerner@giz.de I