On 17^th July, the African Union will hold the 4^th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) in Lusaka, Zambia. The MYCM was conceptualized in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and Regional Economic Communiities (RECs) to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda, replacing the June/ July summits. It is a meeting between the bureau of the AU Assembly and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the Chairpersons of RECs, the AU Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

This year’s MYCM will have the following agenda items:

1. Status of regional integration in Africa (Report from the AUC Chairperson and Chairpersons of each REC. This agenda item is aligned to the objectives of the Abuja treaty and the Constitutive Act of the African Union to accelerate the political and economic integration of Africa. As such the meeting will consider the 2022 Status of Integration Report.
2. Consideration and adoption of an effective Division of Labour between the AU, RECs/RMs and Member States on the remaining sectors: This agenda point is necessitated by the need for the AU, RECs and Member States to work together in every area of integration based on their respective competencies so as to remove overlaps and duplication. Progress has already been noted in this regard. The 4^th MYCM will consider the outcome of the negotiation between the AU, RECs/RMs and Member States on already agreed areas of integration. These include Economic Development, Integration, Investment and Industry; Agriculture, Food Security, Blue Economy and Environment; Education, Science, Innovation and Technology; Agriculture, Food Security, Blue Economy and Environment and Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.
3. Launch of the inter-regional knowledge exchange (I-RECKE) on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention. I-RECKE is an institutional community of practice for intra-continental and cross-regional learning to build peace. It is a Pan-African mechanism for developing, capturing and documenting knowledge and also sharing lessons learned, and experiences on governance and conflict prevention on the continent. 
4. Tripartite FTA between EAC, COMESA and SADC. The MYCM will consider progress made so far since the agreement establishing the tripartite FTA, and identify its contribution to the continental agenda in light of the AfCFTA. A paper will be presented by the three RECs.
5. Impact of the Ukraine crisis on the African continent. This is an important agenda item in the context of the skyrocketing increases already registered in the prices of natural gas, wheat and fertilizer.
6. Africa’s response to COVID-19. The importance of this item lies in the fact that, despite the progress made in the response to the pandemic, member states still face challenges. The AU will present a report to the MYCM.
7. Draft Declaration. The meeting will consider its draft Declaration. The Declaration will emanate from the outcome of all the agenda items listed above.

Outcomes from the 4^th MYCM include a report and matrix on the Division of Labour between the AU, RECs, and Member States on the remaining sectors; the launch of the inter-regional knowledge exchange (I-RECKE) on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention and the declaration. The expected result of the discussions and outcomes is a fast tracking of the integration process in Africa.

The MYCM will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center. Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Stanley Kakubo announced on the 18^th of June that the meeting will be attended by 13 Heads of State and Government, comprising 5 Heads of State that form the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU, and 8 Heads of State that chair the 8 regional economic communities recognized by the African Union. It will be preceded by the 41^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, which will run from the 14^th to the 15^th of July.

Media accreditation for the MYCM is now open at https://accreditation.au.int/en/media/2022/4th-mid-year-coordination-meeting

Media contacts

Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head of Communication | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission |Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:MusabayanaW@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, WhatsApp +251 911 630 631, E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org