Representatives of UNHCR,

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

All protocols observed,

I wish to most heartily thank UNHCR for inviting the African Union Commission to join in the launch of the e-center. The Commission commends and welcomes the establishment of the e-center in Africa and also takes the opportunity to applaud UNHCR for taking this initiative, and the Government of Japan, for their generous support to this noble endeavor. The e-Center is expected to significantly contribute to improved emergency preparedness and quicker response in the management of emergencies on the African Continent.

A couple of weeks ago, Ms. Shoko Shimozawa-UNHCR Director of Emergency, Security and Supply paid a courtesy call to my office and, she briefed me of the efforts that were underway to launch this e-center. We had a very constructive discussion that will hopefully, further reinforce the long and fruitful strategic engagement that exists between the African Union and UNHCR.

Having looked at the objectives of the e-center, I am heartened to note that its objectives largely align with the AUC’s humanitarian agenda. This includes inter alia, the commitment to effectively address humanitarian challenges in Africa through timely and inclusive humanitarian response mechanisms to humanitarian crises.

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Africa continues bearing a disproportionate burden of having the highest number of forcibly displaced persons in the world, now numbering over 40 million. It is encouraging to see African Union member states’ largely showing admirable solidarity by keeping their borders open, often while facing their own challenges.

Responding to such a complex and heavy magnitude of humanitarian situation continues to pose significant challenges to both host countries and humanitarian partners. The African Union and its member states having been concerned over the years by this scale, impact and complexity of humanitarian crises in Africa took a decision to establish the African Humanitarian Agency.

 I am pleased to update that the operationalization of this Agency is at an advanced stage, with member states who bid to host the Agency having been already assessed. The report and recommendations of the Commission is expected to be soon tabled at the midyear AU Summit in July 2024, in Accra, Ghana.

The agency would be charged with the responsibility to coordinate humanitarian responses with AU member states to achieve effective humanitarian action that is fit for purpose, and addresses future challenges. The Agency is expected to pursue closer collaboration with the existing global humanitarian system which envisages strategic partnerships with establishments such as the e-center.

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

One of the serious obstacles of effective humanitarian action in Africa today is associated with the challenges to humanitarian access in many of the humanitarian contexts on the continent. In order to mitigate this, the Commission advocates for closer collaboration among different humanitarian actors in implementing strategies that can ensure continuity of aid delivery in times of such obstacles.

One of the strategies that I believe will overcome these challenges are the systematic collaboration with the numerous, highly capable first responders that are available in Africa and who have over the years, proved invaluable in this regard. The African Humanitarian Agency foresee working closely in mobilizing and capacitating local organizations in a localization model that will leverage its mandate. The Commission avails itself to support the wider efforts by the Global Humanitarian Community in realizing the dividends of humanitarian action in enhancing the reach of humanitarian workers and overcoming access barriers faced by international organizations in such contexts. 

I am confident that this Agency will present even more opportunities for collaboration with the e-center, as it scales up its contribution to the emergency response capacity on the continent. The training programmes by the e-center in Africa are very much welcome, and we look forward to collaborating in building and strengthening the capabilities and capacities of AU member states, regional bodies, national and local organizations on emergency humanitarian response and management.

 I am therefore very much excited to be part of this launch and to witness the inaugural cohort, and I look forward to seeing more of the AU and its member states’ technical teams at future cohorts of this training. I also look forward to collaborating on coordinating such trainings for the aforementioned entities, leveraging on the AU’s convening powers.

I take this opportunity to mention some of the existing initiatives at the African Union Commission with which collaboration in this regard is feasible. These include the African Disaster Managers Platform, the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) under our sister Department ARBE, focusing on disasters. Also, the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), which is one of the five pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) responsible for data collection and analysis, in order to provide recommendations for the Peace and Security Council (PSC), on potential conflicts and threats to peace and security in Africa.

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In conclusion, I am wishing you all the very best in your future endeavors to realize the noble objectives of the e-center, and to share in your joy of a successful launch today. I thank you.