The African Union Commission (AUC) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), on the sidelines of the 5th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions aims at providing support to countries undergoing complex political transitions and countries at risk.
In May 2023, African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government reiterated a zero-tolerance stance against unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) and called for collective action in developing a robust mechanism for deepening democracy and collective security on the continent.
In response to this call, the AU Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined efforts to launch the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions, an innovative initiative aimed at providing comprehensive programmatic support to African countries undergoing complex political transitions.
High-level speakers at the launch event included Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya – representing His Excellency William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated in his welcoming remarks, “The Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions is a practical and pragmatic mechanism that is geared towards boosting the capacity of all actors in the democratic governance space.. It is a Facility to capacitate those who will stand as watchdogs for democracy.”
UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa said, “The Facility calls for a re-focus on development, including good governance, human rights and access to basic services such as education and healthcare, as a critical means to not only prevent coups, but also sustain peace.”
The primary objective of the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions is to assist in the development of credible, inclusive and legitimate transition roadmaps, mechanisms and institutions, ultimately leading to the restoration of constitutional rule, democracy and stability in relevant countries.
The Facility complements existing AU, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) and UN instruments, as well as initiatives by development partners, to ensure inclusive transitions. It will proactively anticipate, respond to and address complex political crises within AU Member States.
AU Member States, including members of the Peace and Security Council, Representatives from the UN, AU, RECs/RMs, as well as respective bilateral and multilateral stakeholders, participated at the launch event.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency