UNPDF | ��AV and Security 2017-06

Strengthening the UN-AU partnership and supporting the African Union's initiative to Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020

Lead Entity/ies

Department of Political Affairs (DPPA formerly DPA)

Collaborating Partners

UNOAU, DPKO, DFS, PBSO
African Union Commission (��AV and Security Department)

Duration

January 2018 �C December 2019

Location

Africa

Approved Budget

$ 969,670

Description/outline

The project provided advisory services to the African Union (AU) ��AV and Security Department and the AU High Representative on Silencing the Guns in Africa; supported the first and second High-level Workshops on Silencing the Guns to Fast Track the initiative and related expert-level meetings; organized a dialogue with African youth on silencing the Guns together with AU Commission, the Government of Kenya and UNDP; provided technical assistance in support of the operationalization of the AU Mediation Support Unit (assessment of mediation needs in Africa and draft of a four-year Strategic Plan); established an institutional mechanism for AU-RECs/RMs coordination on mediation support; and implemented the first AU Mediation Support Unit-organized ��Fireside Chat�� on AU mediation support needs and best practices/lessons learned.

Status

Completed

Synopsis

Objectives

The project aims to support UN-AU efforts in conflict prevention and mitigation and help the African Union achieve its objective to silence the guns in Africa by 2020 in one to two pilot countries.

Components

Conduct High-level policy dialogue workshops and expert-level workshops on the AU flagship initiative of Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020
Provide advisory services and direct capacity support through a Senior Political Affairs Officer based in Addis Ababa
Organize a roundtable on Developing an AU Political Strategy for Somalia
Conduct UN-AU Consultative Meetings, AU Mediation Support Unit Validation Workshop
Organize an event on the role of youth in Silencing the Guns in Africa
Establish a coordination mechanism between the AUMSU and mediation units of RECs/RMs
Launch a ��Fireside Chats�� on AU Mediation efforts in Africa
Develop a four-year AUMSU strategic plan

Main achievements

The project contributed to enhancing regular consultations between AU and UN in preventing and mitigating violent conflict in Africa in coherence with the Silencing the Guns initiative, through the discussions held at the annual UN-AU-RECs/RMs Desk-to-Desk meetings and the technical assistance provided to the AU ��AV and Security Department (AUPSD).

In addition, the project provided technical assistance and support to the AU Commission to advance the objectives of Silencing the Guns (STG) by 2020, including through support to high-level policy dialogues (the 2018 and 2019 High-level Workshops on Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020) and other meetings (expert-level retreats on fast-tracking the STG and an event on the role of African youth in Silencing the Guns) to help sustain momentum for the STG initiative and ensure strong support of the United Nations, further enhanced by Security Council resolution 2457 (2019) of 27 February 2019 in support of Silencing the Guns in Africa. It also supported the development of an AU Political Strategy on Somalia and the operationalisation of the AU Mediation Support Unit through technical assistance, inter alia, the assessment of mediation needs in Africa and a draft of a four-year Strategic Plan. It also supported the initiative at the country level, namely through the establishment of the regional coordination team in Somalia, the Somalia Coordination Team, which was established as a vital coordination platform given the AU��s presence in Somalia.

Impact

The project was instrumental in enhancing tailored UN support to the AU Initiative in the area of conflict prevention, mediation and sustaining peace.