Events

PRESS RELEASE Nº37/AU SUMMIT

22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly concludes: A summary of key decisions

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 31 January 2014- The 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit holding on the theme: “Agriculture and Food Security” ended Friday 31 January 2014 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the adoption of key decisions by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The following is a summary of decisions made by the Assembly. Full decisions will be posted on the AU website www.au.int in due course:

The Assembly approved the offer of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to host the African Statistical Training Centre that will be based in Yamoussoukro (Institut Polytechnique Felix Houphouet Boingy), and resolved to allocate adequate resources for the production and use of statistics, in line with the principles of the African Charter on Statistics. This is in pursuit of implementing the African Charter on statistics and the strategy for the harmonisation of statistics in Africa.

Assembly welcomed the establishment by the AU Commission, of a panel of independent experts to assess the status of the operationalization of the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC), as well as the development of proposals for the operationalization of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), and requested the Chairperson of the Commission to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of its Declaration at the next ordinary session in June/July 2014.

Under the discussion on implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Assembly commended the Commission and partners for the efforts in enhancing Africa’s visibility in COP.11/UNCCD in Windhoek, Namibia; and renewed its commitment to the Namibian Declaration to enhance the implementation of the UNCCD in Africa in order to address land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and effects of drought, and to promote sustainable development on the continent. It endorsed the establishment of an African working group on desertification and sustainable land management, to be convened by the Commission.

While expressing its disappointment that the request by Kenya supported by AU, to the United Nations (UN) Security Council to defer the proceedings initiated against the President and Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has not yielded the positive result expected; and that the request by the Union to the UN Security Council to defer the proceedings initiated against the President of the Republic of The Sudan has not been acted upon to date; the Assembly, in its discussions on the implementation of decisions on the International Criminal Court decided that:
(i) African states parties should comply with African Union Decisions on the ICC and continue to speak with one voice to ensure that the African proposals for amendments to Articles 16 and 27 of the Rome Statute of the ICC are considered by the ASP working Group on amendments as well as by the forthcoming sessions of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute;
(ii) There is an imperative need for all member states to ensure that they adhere to and articulate commonly agreed positions in line with their obligations under the Constitutive Act of the African Union;
(iii) The group of African states parties in New York and the African members of the bureau of ASP should follow-up on the implementation of various Decisions of the Assembly on ICC, in collaboration with the Commission and ensure that the African proposals and concerns are properly considered/addressed by the ASP and report to the Assembly through the Commission on actions taken regularly;

Discussions on maternal, new born and child health (MNCH) led to the endorsement of the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Commission on the establishment of an annual award to recognize significant contributions or action of individuals, organisations and governments in Africa towards ending preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality as well as enhancing their survival and well-being; and that the annual award be named “Mama Afrika Award” in honour of Miriam Makeba. The Commission was requested to coordinate the process of investiture.

With regard to Africa’s strategic partnerships, the Assembly welcomed the offer made by the Republic of Cameroon to host the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in May 2014 and welcomed the adoption of the principle of rotation in hosting the TICAD V follow up mechanisms, including the summit, and requested the Chairperson of the Commission to undertake consultations with Member States of the African Union with a view to identifying the host for TICAD VI Summit to be held in Africa in 2018.
In the same vein, the Assembly endorsed the Kuwait Declaration and the Eight Resolutions adopted by the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit and expressed gratitude to the Amir of Kuwait for the initiative to grant concessionary loans to African countries to the tune of one (1) Billion US Dollars, in the coming five years, through the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development and also to finance investment and its insurance in Africa, with emphasis on infrastructure, to the tune of one (1) Billion US Dollars, through cooperation and coordination with the World Bank and other International Institutions. It welcomed the establishment of an Annual Prize of one (1) Million US Dollar, to be allocated by the State of Kuwait for development research in Africa, under the auspices of the Kuwait Scientific Development Institutions.

The Assembly adopted the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy plan of Action Plan. It also retained the 2015-2025 decade as the "Decade of African Seas and Oceans”, and the date of 25 July as the African Day of Seas and Oceans. Assembly invited Regional Economic Communities and regional mechanisms to develop and adopt a regional strategy against piracy, armed robbery and other illegal activities committed at sea, consistent with the 2050 AIM Strategy.

While welcoming the fact that more than 10,000 students have received higher and post graduate studies and more than 5,000 doctors from Africa have received continuous medical training (CMT), and that 48 countries are now connected to the Pan Africa E network under the Africa-India partnership, Assembly requested the Commission to prepare and submit to member states at the January 2015 Assembly Session an action plan for the sustainability of the services of the network.

Assembly endorsed the organization of an extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Governments on the assessment of progress made in the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on employment and poverty alleviation, proposed to be held in Burkina Faso this year.

Assembly requested the Commission to work out the modalities, in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and other interested member states including the legal, structural and financial implications relating to the establishment of an African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP) and to submit a report in January 2015 to the Assembly.

On Ghana’s proposal for the adoption of the Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) by the African Union; Assembly called upon the Commission in consultation with the secretariat of the Encyclopaedia Africana, to submit at the next Summit proposals for sustainable financing of the project, including strategies for making it financially self-reliant.

The Assembly deliberated on the issue of peace and security on the continent. In this regard, it expressed satisfaction at the continued progress in the consolidation of peace and reconciliation in The Comoros, in Liberia and in Côte d’Ivoire; It welcomed the conclusion of the process of transition and restoration of constitutional order in Madagascar; the conduct of legislative elections in Guinea on 26 September 2013; the positive developments in the situation in Tunisia and the commitment of the various Tunisian stakeholders to foster consensus and dialogue with a view to bringing the on-going transition to a successful conclusion; developments in Mali, particularly the conduct of two rounds of presidential election on 28 July and 11 August 2013; the progress that has continued to be recorded in Somalia; and the advances made in the implementation of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA),. It expressed satisfaction at the positive developments in the situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the end of the M23 rebellion and the signing in Nairobi on 12 December 2013, of Declarations by the DRC Government and the M23; and noted with satisfaction the continued progress in the relations between The Sudan and South Sudan, and this, within the framework of the Cooperation Agreements signed between the two countries in Addis Ababa, in September 2012.
However the Assembly expressed its concern and made recommendations on the eruption on 15 December 2013 of violent conflict in South Sudan and the grave consequences inherent in this situation for both the country itself and the region at large; and at the situation in the Central African Republic. It underscored the need for more sustained effort to overcome the difficulties facing the peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and to normalize the relations between Djibouti and Eritrea, reaffirmed its support for the Libyan government, expressed its solidarity with the Egyptian people and strongly condemned the acts of terrorism being perpetrated in the country.

While discussing the report of the Committee of Ten on UN Security Council Reform, the Assembly requested the committee to endeavour to reach out at the highest political levels for the purpose of garnering and galvanizing the necessary political will in support of the African Common position; and reiterated its call for Africa to continue to speak with one voice and cohesively on all issues relating to the UN Security Council reform and related matters.

The Assembly adopted the Common African Position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda; requested the high level committee that was formed to sensitize and coordinate the activities of African leaders and members of the High Level Panel as well as build regional and inter-continental alliances on the Common African Position on the post 2015 Development Agenda, to meet as soon as possible to launch the Common African Position in Ndjamena, Chad.

On African development goals especially in the post 2015 period, the Assembly endorsed the articulation of the African development goals consistent with the existing continental frameworks and to serve as milestones for tracking and monitoring progress towards Agenda 2063.

In recognizing that boosting intra-African trade, industrial development and economic integration are the most viable means for African countries to achieve structural transformation and sustainable development, while discussing the report of the high level African Trade Committee on Trade Issues, the Assembly urged Member States and Regional Economic Communities to consider carefully the impact of the negotiations of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements on the African integration agenda, so that they do not compromise the African trade integration process and undermine the vision and scope of the Abuja Treaty. It also mandated the Ministers of Trade to hold an extra ordinary session to consider and adopt a work plan, negotiating modalities and principles towards the effective launch of the CFTA negotiations in 2015 to be presented through the High Level Committee on Trade to the next Summit meeting in June 2014.
On the biennial joint AU/WHO conference of the AU Ministers of Health, the Assembly called upon member states, RECs, regional health organizations and other stakeholders to utilize the biennial meetings to strengthen coordination and create synergies.

The Assembly appointed the ten members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for a two year term as follows:
1. Burundi Central Region
2. Chad Central Region

3. Ethiopia Eastern Region
4. Tanzania Eastern Region

5. Libya Northern Region

6. Namibia Southern Region
7. South Africa Southern Region

8. Gambia Western Region
9. Guinea Western Region
10. Niger Western Region.

While discussing the report of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) on NEPAD, Assembly reinforced the critical need for financial investments and leveraging public private sector partnerships and in particular welcomed the Africa 50 investment vehicle by the African development Bank to mobilise adequate funds for infrastructure developments.

Assembly decided that the 23rd session of the Assembly of the African Union will be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 26-27 June this year, preceded by meetings of the PRC and the Executive Council from 21-21 June and 23-24 June respectively.

Following deliberations of the Assembly, the large conference hall at the African Union Commission has been renamed Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Conference Hall.

Assembly encouraged the Commission to pursue its efforts in enlisting the inputs into Agenda 2063 of all Africans and the Diaspora and engage member states to submit their written inputs before the end of April 2014.

On the democratic transition in Tunisia, Assembly expressed its satisfaction with the establishment of a new government of highly qualified technocrats with no affiliation to any political party, mainly tasked with securing the continuation of the democratic process.
WZM

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Press Release
Global learning crisis is costing $129 billion a year
Crisis will affect generations of children without action to boost teaching, report warns.

Strict embargo until 29 January 00.01 GMT:
The 11th Education for All Global Monitoring Report reveals that a global learning crisis is costing governments $129 billion a year. Ten per cent of global spending on primary education is being lost on poor quality education that is failing to ensure that children learn. This situation leaves one in four young people in poor countries unable to read a single sentence. The Report concludes that good teachers are the key to improvement and calls on governments to provide the best in the profession to those who need them most.
This year’s Report, Teaching and learning: Achieving quality for all, warns that without attracting and adequately training enough teachers the learning crisis will last for several generations and hit the disadvantaged hardest. In many sub-Saharan African countries, for example, the Report reveals that only one in five of the poorest children reach the end of primary school having learnt the basics in reading and mathematics.
Poor quality education is leaving a legacy of illiteracy more widespread than previously believed. Around 175 million young people in poor countries – equivalent to around one quarter of the youth population – cannot read all or part of a sentence, affecting one third of young women in South and West Asia. On current trends, the Report projects that it will take until 2072 for all the poorest young women in developing countries to be literate; and possibly until the next century for all girls from the poorest families in sub-Saharan Africa to finish lower secondary school.
In a third of countries analysed by the Report, less than three-quarters of existing primary school teachers are trained to national standards. In West Africa, where few children are learning the basics, teachers on temporary contracts with low pay and little formal training make up more than half of the teaching force.
“Teachers have the future of this generation in their hands,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. “We need 5.2 million teachers to be recruited by 2015, and we need to work harder to support them in providing children with their right to a universal, free and quality education. We must also make sure that there is an explicit commitment to equity in new global education goals set after 2015, with indicators tracking the progress of the marginalized so that no one is left behind.”
The Report calculates that the cost of 250 million children around the world not learning the basics translates into a loss of an estimated $129 billion. In total, 37 countries are losing at least half the amount they spend on primary education because children are not learning. By contrast, the Report shows that ensuring an equal, quality education for all can generate huge economic rewards, increasing a country’s gross domestic product per capita by 23 per cent over 40 years.
Even in high-income countries, education systems are failing significant minorities. In New Zealand, while almost all students from rich households achieved minimum standards in grades 4 and 8, only two-thirds of poor students did. Immigrants in rich countries are also left behind: in France, for example, fewer than 60 per cent of immigrants have reached the minimum benchmark in reading.
The Report shows that to achieve good quality education for all, governments must provide enough trained teachers, and focus their teacher policies on meeting the needs of the disadvantaged. This means attracting the best candidates into teaching; giving them relevant training; deploying them within countries to areas where they are needed most; and offering them incentives to make a long-term commitment to teaching. The Report also highlights the need to address gender-based violence in schools, a major barrier to quality and equality in education. It underscores the importance of curriculum and assessment strategies to promote inclusion and improve learning.
Pauline Rose, the director of the EFA Global Monitoring Report, said: “What’s the point in an education if children emerge after years in school without the skills they need? The huge numbers of illiterate children and young people mean it is crucial that equality in access and learning be placed at the heart of future education goals. New goals after 2015 must make sure every child is not only in school, but learning what they need to learn.”
The Report makes the following recommendations:
1. New education goals after 2015 must include an explicit commitment to equity so that every child has an equal chance of an education. New goals need clear, measurable targets with indicators that will track the progress of the most disadvantaged.
2. New goals after 2015 must ensure that every child is in school and learning the basics. Children do not only have the right to be in school, but also to learn while there, and to emerge with the skills they need to find secure, well-paid work.
3. Ensure the best teachers reach the learners who need them most. National education plans must include an explicit commitment to reaching the marginalized. Teachers should be recruited locally, or have similar backgrounds to disadvantaged learners. Every teacher needs pre- and in-service training on ways to target support to disadvantaged children. Incentives must be provided to ensure the best teachers work in remote, under-served areas. Governments must work to retain their best teachers, providing pay that meets at least their basic needs, good working conditions and a career path.

For interviews, photos, b-roll, pre-edited videos, quotes or case studies of teachers or children please contact:
Kate Redman : k.redman@unesco.org 0033 6 71 78 62 34
Sue Williams: s.williams@unesco.org 0033 1 45 68 17 06 or 0033 6 15 92 93 62

Notes to Editors:
Developed by an independent team and published by UNESCO, the Education for All Global Monitoring Report is an authoritative reference that aims to inform, influence and sustain genuine commitment towards Education for All.
@EFAReport / GMR Facebook Web: http://www.efareport.unesco.org | World Education Blog: http://efareport.wordpress.com

The global GMR launch in Addis Ababa is held in cooperation with the Government of
Ethiopia and the African Union Commission.

Press Release Nº31/22nd AU SUMMIT

AUC Chairperson in audience with US Deputy of State

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 January, 2014:The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. NkosazanaDlaminiZumaon Thursday 30 January 2014, granted audience to US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns who was heading the US delegationto the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30-31 January 2014.

The AU Commission Chairperson and the Deputy Secretary of State discussed issues of mutual interest aimed at strengthening their cooperation.

Dr. DlaminiZumahighlighted investment in people, industrialisation, intra-African trade, and others, as important areas in which US partnership with Africa would help the continentto move forward. She underscored the importance of African partners taking the continent’s priority areas into consideration.

Mr Burns concurred that these are areas in which President Obama takes keen interest in working with Africa to unleash its potential. He noted that these areas would be discussed further in a Summit to be held in August, to which President Obama is inviting African leaders. The US, he said, looks forward to working with the AU on peace and security in South Sudan, Central African Republic and other areas.

The AUC Chairperson also expressed gratitude to the US for its support inthe airlifting of Rwandan soldiers to support the AU peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

JEE/wzm

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Directorateof Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

PRESS BRIEFING H.E ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF, PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA AND H.E DONALD KABERUKA, PRESIDENT OF AFDB
Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and H.E Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank ( AfDB) will, on Thursday, 30 January 2014 at 17:30 will hold a press briefing on the following issue:
- Launching of the report on Fragile States in Africa

The press briefing will be held in Briefing Room1, at the new AU Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing

Media Contact

Mr. MolaletTsedeke
Media Center Coordinator
Directorate of Information and Communication
AU Commission
Tel:+251911630631
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org

For further information contact

Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail:dinfo@africa-union.org/Web site: www.au.int/ Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

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MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release
Addis Ababa, 27 January 2014

African Girls and Young Women Dialogue with African Leaders at AU Summit and Issue Recommendations Setting out Priorities for the Continent

Girls and young women are the future of the African continent, yet are seldom heard.

On 30 January 2014, during an innovative dialogue, some 50 girls and young women will issue a set of recommendations to political and business leaders from around the continent to make their voices heard.

The High Level Intergenerational Dialogue Breakfast Meeting, organised by the World YWCA, UN Women and the Nike Foundation, takes place as African Union states are poised to determine their common position ahead of the negotiations for what follows the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

These girls and young women, representing the continent of Africa, will speak directly to African leaders, and will hand over a statement setting out their priorities and needs for the forthcoming negotiations on the post-2015 agenda to UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Media are invited to attend.

When: January 30, 2014 - from 7.30 – 9.30am

Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Please register by Wednesday 29 January 2014

Interviews with participants will be made available upon request.

Media contacts:

UN Women: christian.mulumba@unwomen.org /+251 939 846 086
World YWCA: vivian.hakkak@worldywca.org / +4178 740 24 22
Nike Foundation: Pete.Lewis@nike.com / +1503 869 9653

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AVIS AUX MÉDIAS

Pour diffusion immédiate
Addis-Abeba, le 27 Janvier 2014

Les filles et les jeunes femmes africaines engagent un dialogue avec les dirigeants africains au Sommet de l'Union Africaine et émettent des recommandations définissant les priorités pour le continent

Les filles et les jeunes femmes sont l'avenir du continent africain, mais sont rarement entendues.

Le 30 Janvier 2014, au cours d'un dialogue innovant, quelque 50 jeunes femmes et filles vont émettre une série de recommandations aux dirigeants politiques et économiques de tout le continent africain pour faire entendre leur voix .

Le dialogue intergénérationnel de haut niveau organisé par l’organisation mondiale du YWCA, l’ONU Femmes et la Fondation Nike, a lieu au moment où les États membres de l'Union Africaine sont prêts à déterminer leur position commune en vue des négociations sur les objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement et l’agenda post-2015.

Ces jeunes femmes et filles, qui représentent le continent africain, parleront directement aux dirigeants africains, et leur remettront une déclaration énonçant les priorités et les besoins pour les négociations à venir sur l'agenda post -2015 , à travers la Directrice Executive d'ONU Femmes , Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka .

Les médias sont invités à y assister.

Quand : 30 Janvier, 2014 - de 7h30 - 09h30

Où: Radisson Blu Hôtel Addis-Abeba , Ethiopie

Prière de s’inscrire d’ici Mercredi 29 Janvier 2014

Les entretiens avec les participants seront disponibles sur requête.

Contacts pour les médias :

ONU Femmes : christian.mulumba @ unwomen.org / 251 939 846 086
YWCA Mondiale : vivian.hakkak @ worldywca.org / +4178 740 24 22
Fondation Nike : Pete.Lewis @ nike.com / +1503 869 9653