On 12-13 July 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will be holding an Expert Group Meeting to discuss the report on the Final Triennial Review of the Ten Year Capacity Building Programme for the AU (TYCBP-AU) and Transition Plan to the renewed Partnership for Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda (PAIDA). 

The TYCBP-AU which began in 2006 and came to an end in December 2016, sought to broaden the partnership in institutional strengthening and capacity building between the AU and the UN, to encompass activities that go beyond peace and security, and cover governance, conflict prevention, development, human rights and regional integration. It was to serve to enhance institutional and technical capacities, and cooperation between the UN, AU and Regional Economic Communities.  This was a comprehensive programme that reflected a broad range of UN efforts in support of the African Union and the sub-regional organizations in areas:

®       Institution building; human resources development and financial management;

®       Peace and security,

®       human rights,

®       political, legal and electoral matters;

®       Social, economic, cultural and human development; and

®       Food security as well as environmental protection

The TYCBP was the result of a Declaration signed on 16 November 2006 by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Alpha Konare, as called for in UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/1 of 2005. The Declaration was subsequently endorsed by the UN General Assembly (Resolution 63/310) and the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The Declaration recognizes the evolving nature of the Framework in which “cooperation will continue to develop in a practical fashion, taking into account each organization’s specific expertise and capabilities, and contributing to improving collaboration among all elements of the international community’s response to the challenges on the African continent” (paragraph 7).

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/60/1 of 2005 also mandated that the programme was to be reviewed every three years. Accordingly, the first triennial review was carried out in 2010; which covered the period 2006-2009, taking into account the guidelines provided by the Tenth Session of the RCM-Africa, that took place on 5 and 6 November 2009, which reiterated its commitment to the effective implementation of the TYCBP-AU and recognized the need to address all priority needs of the AU and enhance its capacity within the cooperation framework. The meeting further underlined that the review should be thorough and that it should consider the past and ongoing capacity building efforts by UN system organizations and other partners. The second review took place in 2013. To undertake the third and final triennial review, the RCM-Africa Secretariat engaged a senior consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of the TYCBP-AU, highlighting the challenges and achievements with a view making proposals for the strengthening of the mechanism of cooperation between the UN and AU within the framework of PAIDA. With the TYCBP-AU coming to an end, the General Assembly on December 19, 2016, under resolution A/71/L.50, adopted the new United Nations – African Union Partnership for Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda 2017-2027 (PAIDA) framework as the successor framework of the TYCBP-AU. PAIDA will therefore serve as an overall platform for UN-AU cooperation anchored on Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The main objective of the Expert Group Meeting is to review the document on the final triennial review and to assess the impact and effectiveness  the of TYCBP-AU  taking into account the recommendations of the first and  second triennial review to gather lessons learned with a view to enhancing and strengthening the capacity the effectiveness of the successor programme PAIDA  The EGM also gives an opportunity to strategize on the transition from the TYCBP-AU to PAIDA and a chance for corrections to be made regarding resource mobilization which was outstanding throughout the life of the TYCBP, hindering implementation. The meeting is part of a series of events being conducted with the broad aim of strengthening the coordination mechanisms, at the continental and sub regional levels, so as to support the African Union, its institutions, organs and regional economic communities on the implementation of priorities including Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The main outcome will be strengthening United Nations Support to the implementation of AU and priority programmes through better alignment of programmes between subregional and regional levels among UN agencies as well as an increase in joint activities conducted by the UN System in partnership with the AU. This should help maximize the impact of the UN response to the development needs on the continent, as well facilitate the realization of the vision of regional integration.

It is expected that the EGM will be attended by joint programming experts as well as representatives of the AU,RECs, SROs, UN Organizations and  agencies operating in Africa, and other international partners operating in Africa including the African Development Bank..

The following are contact details for the secretariat: