AU Foundation

The African Union Foundation was established by the African Union to promote domestic (African) resource mobilisation for African development. The AU Assembly decided in May 2013 to establish the Foundation, following a proposal by the High-Level Panel on Alternative Sources of Financing the African Union (Assembly/AU/ Dec. 487(XXI)). The Foundation was launched on 30 January 2015 during the Assembly’s 24th Ordinary Session.

A key priority for the AU Foundation is to advocate for partnerships with the private sector that will see inclusive economic development and growth, the growth of African business, intra-African trade and shared prosperity.

The goals of the AU Foundation are to:

• Mobilise resources from the private sector, philanthropists, individuals, donors within Africa, the Diaspora and globally
• Build partnerships with the private sector towards Africa’s common prosperity and development
• Connect people, ideas, initiatives and resources for Africa’s development and Agenda 2063
• Advocate for the African Union and support its programmes.

The AU Foundation will fund programmes and initiatives in pursuit of Agenda 2063, with specific emphasis on the following areas:

• Skills and human resource development
• Youth development and entrepreneurship
• Women’s empowerment and gender equality
• Promoting integration and the management of diversity
• Advocacy and support for the African Union.

The AU Foundation is governed by a council. The Council is made up of African leaders from various sectors and regions of the continent, as well as representatives from the African Diaspora. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is also the Chairperson of the AU Foundation.