12th HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND PROSPECTS.

“DELIVERING PEACE DIVIDENDS THROUGH THE AFCFTA IMPLEMENTATION.”

05 - 06 OCTOBER 2023

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

ABOUT THE 12TH HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA.

The 12th High-Level Dialogue aims to assess, identify, and explore normative, structural enablers to achieve democratic governance, peace, and security in Africa. Specifically, the Dialogue will focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and democratic governance and explore its linkages to deliver peace dividends.

Africa is endowed with natural resources, but it’s most pivotal source of development is its people. Africans indeed are the ones bringing the Continent’s Aspirations which is Agenda 2063 to fruition.  A fruitful Africa that is of good governance, democratic, respectful of human rights, peaceful, strong, united, and an influential global player. In that vein, African Leaders prioritized the need to boost inter-trade to reduce its vulnerability and improve trade and economic performance with a vision of making Africa a global powerhouse. Against that backdrop, the AfCFTA was born and received a historic number of ratifications in its short life span entering into force on 30th May 2019.

Africa has around 1,119 million hectares of arable land which is nearly 40% of the Continent’s total land area, and a human capital of approximately 60% averaging below 35 years of age. African youth is its greatest asset and force for pulling the Continent out of abject poverty. However, the Continent’s massive dependence on imports and concentration primary commodities as exports create vulnerabilities to external actors and events like the Covid-19 Pandemic, vaccine apartheid, climate change, and the war in Europe, reminding Africans and their Leaders that self-reliance is key to socioeconomic growth and prosperity.

Dubbed as the largest free trade area in the world, the AfCFTA is set up to eliminate trade barriers and boost trade among Member States with the aim to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African Economy, contribute to establishing regional value chains and enable investment and job creation, fostering industrialization, scientific and human capital development, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Africa and Africans. It is expected that when it reaches its full operationalization it can lift more than 30 million people out of extreme poverty and boost inter-Africa trade up to a whopping US $450 Billion4 by 2035.

However, the Continent still faces its dim realities: lack of good governance, challenges to peace, security, and stability, impunity, human rights violations, and disregard for Rule of Law and justice, leading the Continent down a destructive path. In acknowledgement of these interlinkages, the prevailing need to contribute to the 2023 AU theme of the year which is “Acceleration of the AfCFTA Implementation” and to further explore its linkage with democratic governance, peace, and security - the African Governance Platform (AGP) as a custodian of the High-level Dialogue (HLD) has dedicated this year’s theme to “Delivering Peace Dividends through AFCFTA implementation.”

The following Sub-thematic areas will guide discussions on addressing some of the challenges, historical, legal, and normative contexts. The deep dive on sub thematic areas will provide a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences, draw lessons, craft solutions, and a pathway for implementation.

1. Unpacking the nexus between democratic governance, peace, and security and development – Under this thematic session, the speakers will have an open discussion on the nexus between Democratic Governance, Peace and Security, and Development as enablers for building the Africa we Want. The session also aims to look at the implications of conflict instability and poor governance in the effective implementation of the AfCFTA.
2. Catalyzing democratic governance and the AfCFTA for peace dividends - This thematic area will provide an opportunity to explore the ACDEG and other normative and legal frameworks of the AU specifically focusing on the implementation of the AfCFTA, through which the agenda of good governance, peace and security could be advanced.
3. Learning from RECS: Can Free Trade Agreements be a panacea for peace? - This session will reflect on the role that Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as the building blocks of the AU can simultaneously play in conflict prevention and accelerating the implementation of regional free trade and integration agreements as a sub-set of the AfCFTA.
4. Inter-sectoral approach to deliver as one: This session will engage in discussions that will focus on an integrated approach to deliver and succeed as one. Discussants from the free movement of persons, security Sector experts that focus on cross-border crimes, public health experts, Universities and Think Tanks will also weigh in to identify ways of working and delivering peace dividends.  

CONTINENTAL YOUTH CONSULTATION TO THE 12^th HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE.

The overall goal of the Continental Youth Consultation on 3^rd October 2023 is to provide a collaborative, open, and inclusive space to leverage and foster meaningful participation of young people and identify their role in delivering peace dividends through the implementation of the AfCFTA.

With over 400 million young people aged 15 to 35 years, Africa presents a demographic bulge, which is its greatest human capital. The bulge also puts youth at the centre to shoulder socioeconomic development as well as responsive democratic governance that contributes to Africa’s peace dividends. Transforming the demographic potential into practical gains to wards governance and socio-economic development necessitates substantive investments in the youth’s human capital. 

Yet, despite young people’s contributions, they encounter significant challenges such as lack of education, unemployment, lack of opportunities, and legal, structural, and financial challenges that hinder their ability to exert their full potential. Their perspectives have not been a priority as their engagement in policy and decision is insignificant. In fact, any progress sought to be made without considering the perspectives of young people is an exercise in futility. The AU has put the youth as one of the main stakeholders in its efforts to promote democracy and good governance within Member States. The same can be said for the AfCFTA, although a significant accomplishment, it must, from the beginning, engage youth fruitfully.

Beyond youth engagement, AfCFTA is dependent on several factors to succeed, democratic governance, peace, stability, and consequently the free movement of persons as essential preconditions. A stable and secure environment is necessary for businesses to operate, for investors to make long-term commitments, and for workers to be able to produce goods and services. On the other hand, trade itself can also contribute to peace and security by promoting interdependence and fostering economic and social connections between countries. Therefore, this can lead to a reduction in tensions and the likelihood of conflict and as a result, the successful implementation of the AfCFTA will lead to the creation of more decent jobs, improved welfare, and better quality of life for all citizenry, including youth.

To further explore this linkage and underscore the role of youth and bring their perspective to the conversation, the youth consultations will focus on the following thematic areas:

1. Unpacking the role of youth in democratic governance and socioeconomic development: Under this thematic session, speakers will have an open discussion on establishing the role of youth in democratic governance and socioeconomic development.  This session will set the tone and raise questions and ideas that will be the basis of the discussions for the following sessions. 
2. Youth at the center: implementation of the AfCFTA to ensure peace dividends: This session will focus on the normative frameworks of the AU, RECs, and Member States to ensure the AfCFTA will not be a missed opportunity to ensure youths are meaningfully engaged at every step. Regional and Continental frameworks will be explored during this session to make a case for youth-responsive actions.
3. Creating access for youth to realize AfCFTA and Africa’s peace dividend. This session will focus on discussing the opportunities that will need to be created for youth in line with the AfCFTA implementation and reaping peace dividends. Youth require the space for policymaking, leadership, capacity, access to finance, technology, and space for political and democratic governance. The session will explore how providing opportunities for youth can be an investment that is worth the implementation of the AfCFTA and realizing the peace dividend.
4. Africa Talks: This session is designed as an intergenerational conversation to allow the exchange of experiences and showcase youth’s contributions to democratic values and socioeconomic development. This session will feature young people’s best practices and highlight their key contributions to the areas of discussion. 

 GENDER PRE-FORUM TO THE CONSULTATION TO THE 12^th HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE.

The overall goal of the Gender Pre-Forum on the 4 October 2023, is to provide a collaborative, open, and inclusive space to leverage and foster meaningful participation of women’s role to deliver peace dividends through the implementation of the AfCFTA.

Women, mostly young women, make up above half of Africa’s population and are pivotal for the Continent’s democratic governance and socioeconomic development. Women are the first responders and victims during times of conflict and insecurity. Most often during conflicts, women are targeted, victimized, and displaced while taking the burden of care in the family Unit. They have mostly been confined, bogged down by cultural, systemic, and structural disadvantages that fail to recognize or acknowledge their role in leadership, or in decision-making processes, rather than only recognizing their traditional role in family.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), envisioned to facilitate movement of goods and services among African Countries is hoped to create job opportunities, facilitate trade and contribute to sustainable development. Although a groundbreaking agreement that has taken the Continent by storm and received wide acclaim, the AfCFTA’s success is hinged on several factors that can be a hindrance or an enabler – one of the major ones being women’s meaningful participation. 

The implementation of the AfCFTA is crucial to Africa’s citizens, and if women are given the right to be on the front lines as key players for its implementation, the Agreement can have a positive multiplier effect on the Continent. On the other hand, women have the potential to use the AfCFTA to improve their own livelihoods and by extension of their families and communities. The involvement of women as agents of peace through trade, and a call for gender-responsible implementation is crucial, and the AfCFTA must not be another missed opportunity that widens the gender equality gap, rather it must be a vehicle for equality and mainstream gender-responsive actions.

African women have always been at the forefront of the fight for Africa’s best interests and it's high time we prioritize their role in governance, peace, and development. To discuss solutions and warrant the inclusion of women’s voices in conversations that can impact the future, women will have an opportunity to deliberate and discuss the AfCFTA, democratic governance, and peace dividends on this year’s Gender Pre-Forum to the 12th High-Level Dialogue, through highlighting their perspectives, historical role and add value to enhancing the nexus between peace, security, and the AfCFTA.

The Gender Pre-Forum to the High-Level dialogue is organized annually to provide women with a safe and collaborative space to discuss issues that are of critical importance to the Continent. The forum will look at the following thematic areas:

1. Unpacking the role of women in democratic governance and socioeconomic development: Under this thematic session, the speakers will have an open discussion on establishing the role of women historically as contributors to democratic governance and socio-economic development. This session will set the tone and raise questions and ideas that will be the basis of the discussions for the following sessions. 
2. Gender responsive implementation of the AfCFTA to ensure peace dividends: This session will focus on the normative frameworks of the AU, RECs, and Member States to ensure the AfCFTA will not be a missed opportunity to materialize gender equality through gender-responsive actions.
3. Listening to women in trading: can trade contribute to realizing Africa’s peace dividend? This session will focus on listening to women and men who have experience working in informal cross-border trading and hear their opinion about how trading can contribute to peace and vice versa – learning from women that have been trading before trade agreements.
4. Africa Talks: This session is designed as an intergenerational conversation to allow the exchange of experiences and showcase women’s contributions to democratic values and socioeconomic development. This session will feature women’s best practices and highlight their key contributions in the areas of discussion.

OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOMES OF THE 12^TH HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE.

The specific objectives of the HLD are to:

1. Increase the understanding of the normative and institutional frameworks in the implementation of the AfCFTA as well as the Continental and Regional priorities in accelerating its implementation.
2. Create a space for RECs to share their experience of integration and peace.
3. Provide a platform for a transversal approach to deliver, integration, free trade, peace, and security as one.
4. Provide a platform for African citizens specifically youth and women to share their perspectives and experiences on the nexus between the AfCFTA and peace/conflict.
5. Contribute ideas towards curating and proffering solutions for consideration in the roadmap for a peaceful, integrated, influential Africa.

The Dialogue aims to produce the following outputs:

1. One (1) Policy Brief focusing on discussions of the Dialogue for policy recommendations.
2. One (1) Proceedings Report that will be disseminated on our website.
3. Media Advisory, Press Releases; and Social Media posts, Facebook post. 

PARTICIPATION AT THE 12^TH HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE.

The convening of the 12^th HLD will use a combination of methodologies to facilitate deliberation. Discussions will be conducted through several interactive strategies including, conversation with high-profile individuals through plenary forums. The Panel Discussions will be designed to ensure an intergenerational exchange as well as ensure a mix of policy and practitioner perspectives in the conversations.

Also, the HLD will include robust social media engagement, and other innovative means to spur debate before and during the Dialogue in real time. 

Participation at the High-Level Dialogue and its pre-forums will include:

The key stakeholders that will be part of the HLD include the following:

• Sitting and Former Heads of State and Government.
• AU Organs and Institutions.
• Regional Economic Communities.
• Civil Society Organizations including Youth networks and Women’s organizations.
• The AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance (HRDG).
• The Peace and Security Council (PSC).
• Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
• Development Partners and Agencies.
• Private Sector (Multinationals/Local)
• Philanthropy Organizations and Individuals.
• Academia, think tanks, and Research Institutions.
• Media.

For more information, kindly contact:

Ms. Makda Mikre Tessema | Senior Democracy and Governance Expert |AGA-APSA Secretariat |Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate |Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security | Email: MakdaM@africa-union.org

Amb. Salah Hammad, Ag. Head AGA-APSA Secretariat | Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate | Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security | African Union Commission | Email: HammadS@africa-union.org