African Union Commission’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017 adopted by Assembly

Addis Ababa, 27 May 2013-
The Heads of State and Government of the African Union have adopted the Commission’s Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017 during their 21st Ordinary Session on 26 May 2013.

According to the Chairperson of the Union who is also the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. HaileMariam Dessalegn, the Strategic Plan of the African Union Commission is an important document that will enable the Commission to achieve its goals for the next four years. He said the Plan aims to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in her press conference statement held at the closing of the 21st AU Summit, today, 27 May 2013, said, the adoption by the Assembly of this important document is a step forward towards achieving the Africa 2063 vision. She said the Strategic Plan constitutes the framework that outlines the overall priorities of the Commission for the four year period, and provides guidance for program formulation and prioritization. She added that, It seeks to establish the basis for creating the continental public goods and the enabling conditions necessary for peace, security, political stability and growth.

Chairperson Dlamini Zuma underlined that, with this Strategic Plan, the Commission will seek to accelerate progress towards a stable, peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa within a good governance environment, while paying particular attention to women and youth among others. She said the Commission will work to build a people-centered Union through active communication of the programs of the African Union, the branding of the Union and participation of all stakeholders, including those in the Diaspora, in defining and implementing the African agenda.

Worth noting that, the Strategic Plan 2014-2017, comes at a seminal point in the history of the African Continent, with the year 2013 marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) in 1963, while 2012 marked the first decade of the establishment of the African Union (AU) as the successor to the OAU. The Plan provides space for AUC to play its facilitating role, especially, with respect to policy and strategy setting, coordination and catalyzing Africa‘s socio-economic and integration agenda, consensus building and advocacy, experience and information sharing.

The eight priority areas of the Commission as stipulated in the Strategic Plan are:

1. Human capacity development focusing on health, education, science, research, technology and innovation;
2. Agriculture and agro processing;
3. Inclusive economic development through industrialisation, infrastructure development, agriculture and trade and investment;
4. Peace, stability and good governance;
5. Mainstreaming women and youth into all our activities;
6. Resource mobilisation;
7. Building a people-centred Union through active communication and branding; and
8. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Union and all its organs.

Communication for the first time became one of the priorities of the Commission (priority No.7). Also given the importance of the strategic document, the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union has resolved to elaborate a specific communication plan to popularize and inform the African citizens on the implementation of the Plan so that they can take active part in the process.