November 2009Design: MIS Division

Strengthening National AIDS Response Coordination and Aligning of the Continental, and

Regional AIDS Responses and other health programmes

7-8 November 2013,

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIADr. Marie-Goretti-HarakeyeHead of Division, AIDS, TB, Malaria and Other Infectious Diseases

VISION OF THE AFRICAN UNION The vision of the African  Union is that of: “An integrated,

prosperous and peaceful Africa,  driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in  global arena.”  MISSION AND VALUES OF THE AFRICAN  UNION COMMISSIONThe mission of the  Commission is become “An efficient and value-adding institution  driving the African integration and development process in close collaboration  with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities  and African citizens”.  The Commission will be  guided by the following principles:

  Subsidiarity and complementarity with  other Organs, Member States and RECs; 

Results orientation, feasibility  and impact focus;  Close coordination and  cooperation with the RECs;  Coherence of policies and programmes;  and  A networking approach that takes advantage  of available

resources through other players.

AU VISION (2)

AU Strategic plan 2014-2017 AGENDA 2063

"A global strategy to optimize use of Africa's resources for the benefits of all Africans"

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AU   To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African

countries and the peoples of Africa;  To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and

independence of its Member States;  To accelerate the political and socio-economic  integration of

the continent;  To promote and defend African common positions on issues of

interest to the continent and its peoples;  To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of

the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 

To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;  To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular

participation and good governance;  To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in

accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments; 

OBJECTIVE OF THE AU (2)

To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations; 

To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies; 

To promote co-operation in all fields of human activity  to raise the living standards of African peoples; 

To coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union; 

To advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and technology; 

To work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good health on  the continent.

AU ORGANS The Assembly

Composed of Heads of  State and Government or their duly accredited representatives. The Assembly of  Heads of State and Government is the supreme organ of the Union.

The Executive CouncilComposed of Ministers or  Authorities designated by the Governments of Members States. The Executive  Council is responsible to the Assembly. 

The CommissionComposed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, eight Commissioners and  Staff members; Each Commissioner shall be responsible for a portfolio.  The Permanent Representatives' CommitteeComposed of Permanent Representatives of Member States accredited to the Union.  The Permanent Representatives Committee is charged with the responsibility of  preparing the work of the Executive Council.  

AU ORGANS (2)Peace and Security Council (PSC)By decision AHG/Dec 160 (xxxvii) of the Summit of Lusaka, July 2001, a decision  was made for the creation within the African Union of the Peace and Security  Council. The Protocol establishing the PSC is in the process of ratification.

Pan-African  ParliamentA Pan-African Parliament, and organ to ensure the full participation of African  peoples in governance, development and economic integration of the Continent.  The protocol relating to the composition, powers, functions and organization of  the Pan-African Parliament has been signed by Member States and is in the  process of ratification.  ECOSOCCThe Economic, Social and Cultural Council, an advisory organ composed of  different social and professional groups of the Member States of the Union. The  statutes determining the functions, powers, composition and organization of the  Economic, Social and Cultural Council have been prepared and will be submitted  to Maputo Summit.  The  Court of Justicestatutes defining the  composition and functions of the Court of Justice have been prepared and will  be submitted to the Assembly in Maputo.

AU COMMISSION

The Commission is the  key organ playing a central role in the day-to-day management of the African  Union.

Among others, it represents the Union and defends its interests;  elaborates draft common positions of the Union; prepares strategic plans and  studies for the consideration of the Executive Council; elaborates, promotes,  coordinates and harmonizes the programmes and policies of the Union with those  of the RECs; ensures the mainstreaming of gender in all programmes and  activities of the Union. 

Members of the Commission   Chairperson;  Deputy Chairperson;  Eight (8) Commissioners (Social Affairs, Trade and Industry, Economic Affairs,

Commissioner for Peace and Security, Infrastructure and Energy, Human Resources, Science and Technology, Rural Economy and Agriculture)

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COMMISSIONER

DIRECTOR

ACALAN CELHTO ACERWC Secretariat

Division of HIV/AIDS,

Malaria and TB

Division of Labour,

Employment and Migration

Division of Social

Welfare and Drug Control

Division of

Culture

Division of

Sports

Division of Health

Population and Nutrition

AWA Secretariat

DSA Organizational Structure

AU POLICY INSTRUMENTS (HEALTH)

Africa Health Strategy Abuja Call for accelerated action toward universal access to

ATM services in Africa Maputo Plan of Action for SRHR(MPoA) Africa regional Nutrition Strategy Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) Campaign for accelerated reduction of maternal Newborn

and Child mortality in Africa (CARMMA) AIDS Watch Africa, an HOSG platform for High Level

Advocacy and accountability for AIDS, TB and Malaria response

AU Roadmap for Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity for Aids TB and Malaria response in Africa (2012-2015)

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BACKGROUND ON THE RECS AS AU’S BUILDING BLOCKS

The RECS are the pillars of the AU and have been recognized by the AU as AU’s building blocks and the key vehicles for regional and continental economic integration and cooperation in Africa.

The final OAU Summit in Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001 reaffirmed the status of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) within the African Union and the need for their close involvement in the formulation and implementation of all programs of the Union.

The 2003 session of the AU conference of African Ministers of health considered and adopted recommendations on a proposal to establish health and social affairs desks within the RECS. The 2003 Maputo session of the assembly of AU Head of States duly endorsed the Report of the Ministers and their recommendations.With the 2003 decision, the African leaders recognized the important role of the RECS in regional integration, as well as the centrality of health in the regional integration process.

BACKGROUND ON THE RECS AS AU’S BUILDING BLOCKS (2)

The UNGA resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 has also provided an important legal basis for the collaboration of WHO and other UN agencies with AU and RECS on various social and health mattersDuring the WHO meeting held in Brazzaville/Congo on 28-29 April 2005, all participants from member states, RECS and AUC agreed to consult each other in the development of policies, strategies and reports to ensure coherence and consistency in positions on health matters.They agreed to organize consultative meeting to clarify and determine the roles of each partner within the health sector, taking into consideration their strengths, weaknesses, competencies and comparative advantages. At the July 2007 Accra summit the AU Assembly adopted a Protocol on Relations between

the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (Assembly/AU/Dec.166 (IX)). This protocol is intended to facilitate the harmonization of policies and ensure compliance with the Abuja Treaty and Lagos Plan of Action time frames

RECS MAP

THE PROTOCOL ON RELATIONS BETWEEN AFRICAN UNION AND RECS

The Protocol on relations between African Union and RECs agreed to:a. Formalize, consolidate and promote closer co-operation among RECs and between them and the AU through the co-ordination and harmonization of their policies, measures, program and activities in all fields and sectors;

b. Establish a framework for co-ordination of the activities of RECs in their contribution to the realization of the objectives of the Constitutive Act of the AU and the Abuja Treaty;

c. Establish a co-ordination mechanism of regional and continental efforts for the development of common positions by its members in negotiations at the multilateral level;

d. Encourage the sharing of experiences in all fields among the RECs and ensure harmonization of their cooperation with potential donors and international financial institutions;

WHAT NEED TO BE DONE

Situational assessment to collect all available data within the RECS related to health sector.

To identify continental and regional priorities as well as areas of synergy in health policy and interventions with a view to strengthening capacity for result delivery including monitoring and reporting.

Need to formulate Suggestions/ Recommendations for improving collaboration, communication and drawing on synergies between your REC/RHO and the AU Health Divisions

Organise visits to RECS and agree on a forum AU-RECS to monitor progress made in the coordinating the AIDS response and to review the strategies and policies at regional level if needed.

NEED ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVING AU-RECS PARTNERSHIP IN THE HEALTH

SECTOR Existence of Health and Social desk within

RECS/RHOs (HIV/AIDS, cross borders programmes and other related health issues).

Key health policy instruments (declarations, decisions, frameworks, protocols) endorsed by MOHs or HOSGs.

Strategic plans, Work plans highlighting priorities for the health and HIV/AIDS area areas, Important upcoming events

Monitoring and Evaluation framework

NEED ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVING AU-RECS PARTNERSHIP IN THE HEALTH SECTOR (2)

The Regional Ministers of Health Conference

Regional coordination meetings with any international/continental bodies e.g. UN partners, AU and other International organizations?

Implementation of the decisions/declarations in Countries Process

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

Status update of continental and regional health initiatives information and experiences on programs and activities exchanged, at all appropriate levels,

continental priorities identified and aligned with regional and national priorities in the health sector

Articulation of an AUC-RECs Cooperation Framework that institutionalizes partnership, coordination and reporting mechanisms.

Dialogue established for resource pooling/resource-sharing for dealing with cross borders problems such as HIV/AIDS in particular and fight against endemics in general.

Agreement on strengthening the monitoring of AU Commitment on AIDS

THANK YOU

AN UNITED AND STRONG AFRICA TO ACHIEVE the goal of an AIDS FREE GENERATION