APPLICATION FORM FOR CSO OBSERVERS TO THE JANUARY 2014 AU SUMMIT- ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 24-31 JANUARY 2014 - “Year of Agriculture and Food Security”
Notice and
Information for Civil Society Organizations and Diaspora on the January 2014 AU Summit
The Citizens and Diaspora Organization Directorate of the African Union Commission (CIDO) has the honor to inform African Civil Society and Diaspora Community that the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 24 to 31st January 2014.
It is to be recalled that by Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.449 (XIX) adopted on 16 July 2012, the Assembly has decided to proclaim 2014 as the “Year of Agriculture and Food Security” and this would be also the theme of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union scheduled for January 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The schedule of meetings of the AU Summit is as follows:
a) Permanent Representative Committee of Ambassadors (PRC): 24-25 January 2014
b) 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council: 27-28 January 2014.
c) 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments: 30-31st January 2014.
It is important to underline that our emphasis is on having a people-driven organization and as per the established tradition, members of the African Civil Society Community and Diaspora whose presence and contribution would be of a great relevance and value addition vis-à-vis the theme being discussed are kindly invited to apply to participate at the AU Summit as Observer.
It is to be noted that CIDO has to submit a list of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for accreditation to the Secretary General of the Commission for process and decision. Therefore, we insist that all interested applicants must submit their application before the 14th October, 2013, in order to enable the Commission to release the invitations three months before the Summit, to allow adequate preparations of those CSOs to attend the Summit. No application will be considered after the deadline mentioned above.
The Office of the Chairperson and the Secretary General of the Commission will direct CIDO on the number of accreditation vacancies available to CSOs. However, we have been informed that due to the limited space and accommodation constraints and the serious inconveniences faced during the previous Summits with the ever-expanding lists of observers and invitees beyond the Commission’s capacities to accommodate them, only those observers/invited guests whose presence and contribution would be of great relevance and value addition vis-à-vis the theme of the Summit could be accommodated. In addition, we shall have to make choices based on the timing of application, role envisaged in Summit, activities related to the theme of the Summit and carried out by the organization during the last two years, history of association with AU etc. The bottom line is that not all applicants can be accredited. We shall however, do our utmost to ensure that we can get accreditation for as many CSOs as possible. We urge a sense of realism among willing participants in this regard.
It is important to note that the AUC will bear no responsibility for travel and maintenance costs of CSOs accredited through our Office. CIDO remains available to assist CSOs or Diaspora representations with seeking appropriate facilities.
It is our expectation that this notice will assist the African Civil Society Community in preparation for the Summit. Accreditation for the Summit is open to local and international NGOs, with preference given to relevant grassroots organizations, where required.
Kindly submit your application to the following email address:
CIDO@africa-union.org / TsebaotA@africa-union.org
Thank you for sharing widely this information with other CSOs.
Citizens and Diaspora Organization Directorate (CIDO)
African Union Commission
