Ensure that outcomes of our partnerships don't undermine our continental agenda
- Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea - 20 June 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission has called for a clearly defined approach to continental partnerships. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma addressed members of the AU Permanent Representative Committee as part of the 23rd Summit of Heads of State and Government that planned to run from 20-27 June 2014.

In her opening address, Dr. Dlamini Zuma informed the PRC that the Commission was currently undergoing a review of its partnerships, and called for a focused approach to partnerships in order that Africa reaps better benefits from them. Drawing lessons from the recent Africa-EU Summit, and projecting the upcoming Africa-US Summit, she said: “When we are clear about what Africa wants and we coordinate our efforts, we can ensure that we have outcomes which do not undermine our continental agendas."

Turning to the annual theme of "Agriculture and Food Security," the AUC Chairperson appealed for a strong multi-dimensional approach that puts women and youth at the centre of Africa's agricultural transformation.

"We must also put in place the concrete actions we must take as countries, regions and the continent to stimulate agribusiness value chains, identifying which specific agricultural products this should be, and where. It requires renewed focus on irrigation and seed development; women’s access to land, inputs and markets; and the infrastructure to store products and move them to markets, inside and outside the continent."

The two-day meeting of the Permanent Representative Committee prepares and facilitates the meetings of both the Executive Council and the Assembly. It will be examining a number of reports of various sub-committees for consideration by the subsequent organs, amongst which are: economic and trade matters, programmes and conferences, activities of the Pan-African Parliament, the African Court on Human and People's Rights; Commission on Alternative Sources of Financing the African Union.

The PRC ends on Saturday 21 June 2014.