IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POST CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT (PCRD) POLICY IN AFRICA
I. Background
1. The African Union has always encouraged the participation of Civil
Society organisations and other stakeholders to actively participate in the realization of its visions
including through the development and implementation of its policies. This participation has been welcome at various levels ranging from conceptualisation and development of policies to their dissemination and implementation.
2. In pursuit of this approach, the AU Executive Council other organs of the AU have been engaging stakeholders on a number of challenges facing the continent. The challenge of postconflict reconstruction and development has been one such issue. Faced with complex demands for material, human and institutional resources to address the challenges facing countries emerging from conflict, it is evident that the approach would have to be pluralistic in character. For this reason, therefore, the Commission is now convening in Lusaka, Zambia, on 17 – 19 July 2007 a
workshop on postconflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) in order to exchange ideas and collectively work out a strategy that would help effectively implement the AU Policy on PCRD and address the most pressing challenges facing countries emerging from conflict.
II. Rationale
3. At its 7 th Ordinary Session held in Sirte, Libya, from 28 June to 2 July 2005, the Executive Council adopted decision Ex.CL/Dec.228 (VII) on the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the conflict situation in Africa. In this respect, the Executive Council urged the Commission to develop an AU Policy on PostConflict Reconstruction based on the relevant provisions of the Peace and Security Council Protocol and the experience gained so far in the continent.
4. In pursuit of this approach, the Commission undertook several meetings, i.e. the 4 th Brainstorming Retreat of members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) and other Member States represented in Addis Ababa during Durban, South Africa, from 4 to 5 September 2005; the technical experts meeting on PCRD from 7 to 8 February 2006, in Addis Ababa; and the meeting of governmental experts from 8 to 9 June 2006 in Addis Ababa.
5. Subsequently the PSC’s 39th meeting, held on 30 September 2005, endorsed the report of the 4 th Brainstorming Retreat. The 9th Executive Council Ordinary Session of the AU in June 2006 eventually adopted the PCRD Policy in Banjul, The Gambia.
6. Since the adoption of the PCRD Policy, some meetings have been held with a view to implementing the Decision EX.CL/Dec.302 (IX) and related decisions. Notable of these have been a oneday workshop of Experts on 26 September 2006 to review a draft strategy for the implementation of the policy and decision. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Development Bank (AfDB), CSOs, other partners and the Commission. On 12 and 13 March 2007, the Commission held a CSO consultative meeting to discuss the role of CSOs in the operationalisation and implementation of the Policy and the Banjul decision and discuss the further engagement of civil society in the matter. On 17 April 2007 there was a briefing session was held for the PSC on the progress made in the implementation of the Policy.
III. Objectives
7. The objective of the workshop is to embark on an extensive consultative process with civil society, the private sector and other critical stakeholders such as member states emerging from conflict, RECs and the AU Commission on the implementation of the PCRD Policy and the Banjul Decision. While the workshop will serve as a forum for explaining the continental strategy for postconflict challenges in the African Union, the endstate of the consultative process includes charting the way forward for the effective implementation of the policy.
8. The workshop is expected to address the following issues and arrive at a common understanding on:
a. the role, mandate, successes and challenges of CSOs in reconstruction efforts on the continent thus far;
c. the question of coordination; and coherence among CSOs;
d. the lessons from experiences and best practices at national, regional, and continental levels;
e. the issue of challenges faced by countries emerging from conflict;
f. some of the obstacles against civil society participation in PCRD processes, including determining the appropriate level of decentralisation and/or engagement;
g. capacity building and retention for CSOs; and
h. mobilisation of resources for PCRD.
IV. Expected results
9. The workshop is expected to achieve the following results:
a. development program for streamlining the contributions of actors involved in the implementation of the PCRD policy at the continental, regional and national levels;
b. development of a framework and mechanism for cooperation and coordination that would enable all actors to effectively contribute to the implementation of the PCRD policy and the Executive Council decision;
c. identification and prioritization of core issues and areas of focus on which joint actions can be planned and implemented; and
d. establishment of a followup mechanism to monitor the implementation of the workshop results.
V. Participation
10. It is expected that approximately 100 participants will attend the workshop representing countries emerging from conflict, RECs, African CSOs; representatives of selected international partners and CSOs; representatives of African private business; and the AU Commission.
VI. Conference organisation
11. The workshop is organised by the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission with the support of COMESA and the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA);
12. Selected thematic areas will guide the deliberation of the workshop, and background papers will be prepared in advance on specific topics within the themes identified;
13. Deliberations will be in plenary. Resource persons chosen for their expertise will be invited to lead the discussions as presenters of issue papers, or as discussants or commentators;
14. The workshop will be conducted in English and French; and
15. Under the AU Commission through the Department of Peace and Security, the Conflict Management Division will have overall responsibility for coordination of the workshop supported by a secretariat composed of a team drawn from COMESA and OSSREA.
VII.Conference Venue and Date
16. The workshop will be held at the COMESA Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, from 17 to 19 July 2007.
VIII. Conference Proceedings
17. The workshop proceedings will be published by OSSREA as soon as possible after the Lusaka meetings and upon publication will be officially handed over to the AU Peace and Security Department at an appropriate date.
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