Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1122^nd meeting, held on 28 November 2022, on Briefing on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa (PCRD).

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling the 2006 AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Policy Framework, as well as all its previous decisions and pronouncements on PCRD in Africa, particularly, Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.1047 (2021)] adopted at its 1047th meeting held on 12 November 2021;

Determined to effectively promote and implement peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction activities to consolidate peace and prevent the resurgence of violence, in line with Article 3 (c) of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union;

Noting the opening statement made by H.E. Ambassador Emilia Mkusa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for November 2022, and the presentation by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and,

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol:

1. Welcomes the Progress Report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission on the implementation of AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy Framework in Africa;

2. Welcomes the launch of the second AU PCRD Awareness Week and encourages all Member States, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), AU Specialized institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Youth and Women Organizations to join the commemoration, in order to raise awareness and seize the opportunity to mobilize more financial, technical and in-kind support to Member States undergoing PCRD processes;

3. Commends the efforts being deployed by the AU Commission towards revitalizing the AU Peacebuilding Architecture and relevant normative frameworks in the African Continent and welcomes the launch of the AU PCRD Policy Framework review process; and in this regard, requests the PSC Committee of Experts, working together with the AU Commission, to urgently review the draft, revised PCRD Policy, taking into consideration the inputs of all AU Member States and to submit it to the PSC for consideration before the next Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled to be held in January/February 2023;

4. Welcomes the efforts deployed by the Arab Republic of Egypt and the AU Commission towards the full operationalization of the AU PCRD Center and salutes the leadership of H.E Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and AU Champion for PCRD for supporting and promoting peacebuilding efforts and, in this regard requests the AU Commission to ensure that the AU Centre for PCRD in Cairo is availed with all necessary material, financial and human resources, in order for it to effectively discharge its mandate;

5. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission in supporting capacities of countries undergoing PCRD processes, including the recent deployment of multidimensional technical teams in South Sudan and Comoros, notably in the fields of constitutionalism and good governance; in this regards, directs the Commission to ensure the deployment of long-term AU Technical Support Teams (AUTST) to identified countries under PCRD and calls the AU Member States, as well as the African stakeholders and the AU partners to show greater financial and technical support ;

6. Directs the AU Commission and the AU Development Agency (NEPAD) to establish a PCRD Working Group; in the same vein, also directs the Commission to establish a Continental Network of National Development and Cooperation Agencies to support the Working Group in implementing PCRD activities and programmes on the continent;

7. Underscores the need to urgently reactivate the Council’s Sub-Committee on PCRD and in this regard, tasks the PSC Committee of Experts to urgently work on the terms of reference and time frames for the Sub-Committee;

8. Encourages the Commission to expeditiously revitalize the Interdepartmental Task Force on PCRD and to take necessary steps to ensure an effective implementation of the AU PCRD Policy Framework, working in close collaboration and coordination with the AU Centre for PCRD and other AU Organs and specialized institutions;

9. Requests the Commission to work in close coordination and collaboration with the RECs/RMs, the UN Peacebuilding Commission and other relevant UN Agencies, as well as to establish common Action Plans with the UN Peacebuilding Fund, in order to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure rationalized utilization of resources;

10. While underscoring the need to ensure national ownership of the PCRD activities, urges the Commission to always ensure the AU PCRD interventions directly respond to the national peacebuilding needs of the beneficiary Member States;

11. Takes note, with deep concern, of the growing peacebuilding funding gaps, and in this respect, while commending bilateral and international partners for their continued support, appeals for redoubled financial and technical capacity building support to Member States undergoing PCRD processes; in this regard, directs the Commission to engage in smart-partnerships with private sector and to diversify partnerships in order to fill the financial gap in funding peacebuilding programmes, bearing in mind the national priorities expressed by African countries undergoing PCRD processes ;

12. Also underlines the need for the United Nations (UN) to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for PCRD efforts in Africa;

13. Encourages Member States and the Commission to ensure the meaningful participation of women and the youth in all PCRD activities in the Continent;

14. Emphasizes the importance of addressing all PCRD issues in a holistic and comprehensive manner, including those relating to trauma and other psycho-social needs of victims of violent conflicts particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups and, in this regard, urges the Commission to accelerate the drafting of an AU Policy on Psycho-Social Support to survivors of violent conflicts, particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups;

15. Underscore the importance of enhancing the institutional capacity of AU Liaison Offices, in order to ensure that they discharge their mandates more effectively; and

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS