High Level Retreat on the Operationalization of the Peace Fund.

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January 11, 2020 to January 12, 2020

High Level Retreat on the operationalization of the Peace Fund

Theme: “Securing predictable and sustainable financing for peace in Africa.”

During the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) held in July 2019, the African Union Executive Council adopted a decision for a Retreat be held before the February 2020 Summit, to take stock of the status of operationalization of the Fund and agree on the medium term strategic funding priorities for the AU Peace Fund. To implement the decision of the AU policy organ, the African Union Commission is convening the High Level Retreat on the operationalization of the African Union Peace Fund. The retreat will include the following stakeholders:

AU Peace and Security Council;
The Bureau of the Permanent Representatives Committee;
The Board of Trustees and Executive Management Committee of the AU Peace Fund;
The Chair of the Sub-committee on General Supervision Budget and Administrative;
The AU High Representative for Financing the Union and the Peace Fund:
The Chairperson of the Committee of Fifteen Finance Ministers (F15)
The Chair of the Sub-Committee on Audit Matters.

Retreat Objectives

The Retreat has two primary objectives:

To take stock of the operationalization of the Fund; and
To agree on the medium term strategic funding priorities of the AU Peace Fund

Retreat Format

The Retreat will be structured around four main sessions.

Session I
Session one will set the scene by providing an overview of best practice in international fund management with an emphasis on highlighting the critical success criteria required for effective fund management, delivery and results.
Session II
This session will provide an overview of progress to date and updates in the following key areas:
1. Financing. A status update will be provided on;
2. - Summary of Member State contributions received since 2017 - Update on Banking Arrangements
3. Status of the Operationalization of the Governance and Management Structure
4. - Board of Trustees - Executive Management Committee - Fund Manager - Independent Evaluation Panel - Peace Fund Secretariat
5. Financial Rules and Regulations
6. 2019 Special Audit of the AU Peace Fund
Session III
During this session, the Peace and Security Council will provide its guidance, inline with the established scope of the Fund, on the medium term strategic objectives that the Fund should be focused on and the specific priorities to be pursued under the Fund’s three thematic windows: - Mediation & Preventive Diplomacy; - Institutional Capacity; and - Peace Support Operations The Board of Trustees will also provide its views on the medium term funding envelope, taking into account the level of Member State contributions, the current rate of return on the Fund and management and implementation capacities.
Session IV
This session will be an opportunity to present a draft roadmap for the operationalization of the remaining elements of the AU Peace Fund with a view to agreeing the key milestones and targets for February 2020 in line with the July 2019 Executive Council Decision.

Expected Outcomes:

The Retreat is expected to provide clarity and consensus on the following key issues:

How to ensure the revitalised AU Peace Fund is effectively and accountably managed in line with international best practice in fund management;
How to ensure the Peace Fund delivers concrete results and impact;
The roles and responsibilities of the AU Policy Organs
The roles and responsibilities of the Peace Fund governance bodies
The decision-making process for financing activities under the AU Peace Fund and what procedures will guide access to the Fund?
How the budgeting process for the AU Peace Fund will work
How to ensure that the Fund is not rapidly depleted. Beyond Member State contributions, what resource mobilisation strategy should be put in place?
The initial pilot activities that should be prioritised for financing in 2020, along with the management systems that will need to be in place to ensure that any funds allocated are effectively utilised.