Oi au 2013 review final

1Raising Citizens’ Voices & Enlarging the Space

OXFAM International Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU)

AnnUAL RevIew 2013

Annual Review 2013

2Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union

This is the Annual Review 2013 of the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU) formally established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Union and a Host Agreement with the Government of Ethiopia.

Liaison Office with The African Union

Annual Review 2013


IntroductionBesides representing the Oxfam confederation to the African Union, the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU), operating under Oxfam International’s Secretariat, carries out two main programmes: 1/ Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union and 2/ Peace, Security and Humanitarian Affairs. From January 2014, the Office will launch an additional programme: “Making African Extractive Resources Work for Africa”.

In this review, you will find the highlights of our work this year to implement the OI-AU strategy. This has been achieved by working in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Oxfam Pan Africa units in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa and Oxfam programmes in 35 African countries, various partners and allies in and outside the African continent and in synergy with the Oxfam Advocacy offices in New York, Brussels, Geneva and Washington DC.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the committed and dynamic team of staff, associates and volunteers who made our year’s success happen.

I would also thank the African Union leadership and our various friends and allies at the Commission as well as in the various embassies for their strong collaboration over the year.

Finally, I thank the Government of Ethiopia, especially the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support and the facilitation of our operation in Addis Ababa. Désiré Y. Assogbavi

Resident Representative and Head of Oxfam Liaison Office of the African Union

Annual Review 2013


OI-AU Mandate:

1. Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union: To support civil society organizations and ordinary citizens of Africa to engage with the African Union and be part of the policy debates that affect their life. This role is in line with the African Union’s vision of a people driven organization, and to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, an Africa driven and managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

2. Saving lives now and in the future: Peace, Security and Humanitarian issues Direct engagement with the African Union’s peace and security organs in terms of policy advocacy building on Oxfam’s operational presence in a number of conflict affected countries including Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Mali, Somalia etc.

3. Representation of Oxfam to the African Union and management of the confederation relationship with the African Union and its organs and member states in the framework of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Oxfam International and the African Union Commission.

Our Theory of Change!

Change will happen when African citizens are informed, empowered and enabled to influence policies, practices and to use mechanisms to hold their leaders accountable

Over the year 2013 our key achievements are the following:

Annual Review 2013


Peace , Security and Humanitarian AffairsOxfam’s global Rights in Crisis campaign aims to support the rights of people caught in emergency and humanitarian crisis situations. In Africa, five countries have been identified as priorities due to ongoing conflict or continued instability: DRC, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. At OI-AU, much of our work relates to these countries and the RiC campaign; acting as a link between the work of the country teams and the African Union Commission and Peace and Security Council/Department. In 2013 Oxfam reach approx. 2 million people across these countries and thus connecting and effectively engaging with the AU is crucial to our efforts to push for their interests.

Mary Robinson addressing members of civil society organizations during a forum hosted by OI –AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Strategic consultation with UnSG special envoy to DRC, Ms Mary Robinson and African CSOs in Addis

OI-AU convened a consultative meeting between H.E Mary Robinson, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region (GLR), and CSO representatives on the sidelines of the 21st AU summit in May 2013, where 26 CSO representatives discussed issues around the DRC framework agreement.


Engagement with the Peace and Security Council/Department of the

AU

On World Humanitarian Day, OI–AU brought a representative of a partner organization from the DRC to directly address the special session of the Peace and Security Council on the protection of civilians and gender based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Claudine Tsongo from DRC and OI–AU then submitted recommendations to the PSC Chair of the month which, among other things, called upon the PSC to encourage the 11 signatory states to the DRC Peace and Security Framework Agreement to remain politically engaged in finding

lasting solutions to the conflict and uphold their commitments. The recommendations also called upon DRC’s neighbours to actively promote a regional solution to the conflict.

the Africa Solidarity Initiative

OI-AU participated in the AU strategy gathering in South Africa to formulate strategies for the implementation of the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI), which aims to mobilize and enhanced support from within the continent for post-conflict reconstruction and development in countries emerging from conflict, with a view to consolidate peace where it has been achieved.

Annual Review 2013


Women and Children in Situations of Violent Conflict in Africa

Muleya Mwananyanda, Oxfam’s Rights in Crisis Africa Campaign and Policy Manager addressed the Peace and Security Council of the African Union during its two open sessions on

“women and children in situations of violent conflict in Africa”.

Conflict Area Partners engaged with AU Official and Ambassadors

OI–AU facilitated a number of high level dialogues between Conflict affected partners from Mali, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia and other key targets including AU , EU officials and other development partners in May

OI-AU assisted the African Union Peace and Security Department with institutional support

for the publication of its “Make Peace Happen’’ campaign materials.

Africa Support to Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

The Oxfam ATT Team and their Control Arms partners

were accompanied to various lobby meetings with a

number of African ambassadors in Addis Ababa, in a

bid to secure their countries’ support for a strong

ATT.

African Union Actions Against Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)

OI–AU, in collaboration with the Oxfam team in DRC and

the Institute for Security Studies, jointly organized a

high-level seminar on AU actions against LRA. Over 60

stakeholders, mostly diplomats, AU Commission staff

and CSOs participated in the seminar. OI-AU brought

Father Ernest Sugule from the DRC-based ‘’Solidarité et

Assistance Integrale aux Personnes Déplacées (SAIPED)

and Pascal Konan from the AU Conflict Management

Division.

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Over 200 delegates visited the Oxfam and AUC exhibition on Mali and DRC Conflicts

OI– AU and the AU Commission co-hosted a photo exhibition on DRC and Mali on the side-lines of the Heads of State Summit in January 2013. The exhibition attracted over 200 visitors. Oxfam also launched a paper on Mali. The then Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, H.E Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, personally officiated both the photo exhibition and launch of the Mali paper.

Commissioner Lamamra during the exhibition

Active Citizenship in the Affairs of theAfrican Union:

Oxfam International Executive Director, Mrs. Winnie Byanyima, and the Oxfam Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Celine Charveriat, conducted lobby meetings with High Level Officials including Ambassadors of Uganda, Tanzania, Togo, Zimbabwe, the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, EU Delegation to AU, the UK embassy and other stakeholders during their visit to Addis Ababa

Annual Review 2013


Oxfam Int. ED Winnie Byanyima (2nd left) with Uganda Amb. to the AU (3rd left)

Understanding the African Union Training for journalists and cSOs

60 CSO leaders and media representatives received training in May and December on the structures and functioning of the African Union. These trainings were jointly organized by Oxfam and the African Union Commission Directorate of Information and Communication with the support and the participation of other department of the AU Commission such as the Legal Affairs Department and the Peace and Security Department, CIDO, Rural Economy and Agriculture, the Cabinet of the Chairperson etc.

Over 2013, more than 100 CSOs representatives received targeted technical, financial and logistic support from OI-AU to engage with the 20th and 21st Summits of the African Union as well as a number of ministerial and technical experts meetings and bilateral engagements with country representatives.

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OI-AU gave institutional and logistic support to the African Youth Decade Alliance to engage the African Union with the ongoing Africa Youth Decade Program

To mark the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU, OI–AU, together with Femme Africa Solidarité (FAS), co–hosted an African inter-generational dialogue alongside the AU summit in May.

15 African organizations were supported to engage with the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD) in Japan, July 2013.

25 Students from the School of Diplomacy of Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA on a study visit of Ethiopia received a briefing on peace and security issues in Africa from the OI-AU Team, supported by Oxfam in Somalia.

Crisis Action received support through the year to bring delegations from Sudan and South Sudan to Addis Ababa for lobby meetings at the African Union Commission & Embassies.

International Day of Peace 2013

To mark the International Day of Peace, OI-AU and the AU Peace and Security Division jointly organized a public seminar titled: “Peace and Solidarity in Africa, whose responsibility?”

Thanks to a joint effort of our IT and Communication Team with the AU Communication department, this was the first event organized from the AU Commission that had a live online participation of citizens around the continent. On Twitter, 431 African Citizens from all regions followed the debate live and sent tweets, comments and questions directly to panellists (projected live on the screen during the conference). The event had over 2000 views on the live stream that is still running on http://www.peaceau.org.

The over 100 participants included Ambassadors, policy makers, research institutions, AU Staff, NGO partners, students, youth representatives and members of the public.

Annual Review 2013


H.E. Amb. Joram Mukama Biswaro of United Republic of

Tanzania with Head of OI-AU during his visit to the office

Ensuring impact…Following our unprecedented exhibition on Mali and DRC, both conflicts were widely discussed by the African Union Summit and subsequent important decisions were taken by the Heads of States and Governments.

The Assembly of the AU, in May 2013, “requested the Commission and the Peace and Security Council to take all necessary steps to enhance interaction with CSOs”.

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union adopted key recommendations proposed by Oxfam and partners on the issue of peace and development and the protection of women and children in conflict.

During May 2013

AU Summit, Oxfam ED Winnie Byanyima was on hand to launch the “50 voices, 50 places” documentary.

Annual Review 2013


In it, 50 ordinary citizens from Mali, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia recount their experiences of conflict and hopes for the future.

The majority of African governments have supported the adoption of the first unprecedented legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the UN as a result of Oxfam’s campaign.

Over 400 citizens across Africa and the diaspora 50 different places in the conflict affected areas of Mali, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia ex-pressed their hopes, fears and demands through direct discussion with policy makers. Participated online to the discussion of peace and security issues in Africa. In addition, over 2,000 citizens watched the live stream of the international day of peace seminar.

Over 5,000 people have had access to the AU Compendium; the first comprehensive guide to the African Union Commission published by the OI-AU.

Over a thousand subscribers receive OI-AU weekly updates and alerts on the AU activities and engagement opportunities.

Fifty voices

fifty placesFifty years gone by, looking to the future with hope

Annual Review 2013


Facing thE FuturE …A number of new developments in Africa, at the African Union and within the Oxfam Confederation will drive our future. They are:

in aFrica:Economies continue to grow but there is widening inequality, governance challenges in a number of countries and increasing peace, security and humanitarian issues unregulated exploitation of extractive resources in Africa and illicit capital flow.

at thE aFrican union:

• Increasing demand for accountability and implementation of on AU decisions, protocols and treaties at national level.

• New strategic plan of the African Union with the following area of priorities:

• More recognition of Non-State Actor space within the AU processes

• Progressive decisions but still largely unimplemented

Within oxFam :

• New Oxfam Strategic Plan matching a number of AU priorities including active citizenship,

Annual Review 2013


agriculture, extractive industries and illicit capital flow, gender equality etc.

• New Executive Director of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima

• Decision to move its leadership’s center of gravity closer to states in the global South.

MAkIng AFRICAn eXTRACTIve MIneRALS wORk FOR AFRICA

Building on Oxfam 15 years’ experience working on extractive industries, OI-AU will launch an extractive industries programme in Addis with the appointment of a Senior Policy Advisor for Extractive Industries to work on advocacy, campaign and research on extractive industries and transparency issues. In the preparation of this, Oxfam has had a number of interactions with the AUC’s Department of Trade and Industry to discuss the scope of Oxfam’s work on natural resources and how that could fit within the new AUC Strategic Plan. Oxfam was also invited participate to the 3rd Session of African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development, in December 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique.

OI-AU had also had a discussion with the AU Advisory Board on Corruption to consider an eventual program that looks at the role of extractive industries on development in Africa.

Pan-African Professional in Residence

As part of our Active Citizenship Programme, George Asiimwe (Ugandan), Campaigns, Advocacy and Lobby for the Eastern and Southern Africa Small

Annual Review 2013


Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF)- Uganda is now seconded to OI-AU for the next 3 months. During this time he will receive support from our Active Citizenship Team to engage with the African Union linking his organization to the African Union in the upcoming Year of Agriculture and Food Security

The Pan-African Professional in Residence was established as part of our Active Citizenship Programme to provide committed civil society actors the opportunity to meet and work with policy and decision makers at the African Union in Addis Ababa. By so doing, we strengthen the role and influence of non-state actors and ordinary citizens in the AU’s policy-making process.

OI-AU PUBLICATIOnS

OI-AU launched a quarterly bulletin “Active Citizens” highlighting opportunities of citizens’ engagement at the African Union.

A weekly update, ‘’AU Weekly’’ has been regularly circulated to over 1000 subscribers of the ‘’African Citizens’’ listserv and Oxfam Affiliates. The weekly

covers key updates and opportunities on the African Union agenda. An official note from the AU to Oxfam has appreciated this initiative.

AU PRC poster is co-published in collaboration with the Communication and Information Department of the AUC, the yearly updated AU PRC poster- will enable all African CSO actors, observers

Annual Review 2013


and members of the International and local community to familiarise themselves with the distinguished Ambassadors who make up the AU PRC, in order to facilitate the lobbying and advocacy work they plan.

The second edition of our AU Compendium in both English and French will be launched in January 2014. The African Union Compendium is intended for multiple stakeholders including, but not limited to civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers at various levels, AU and embassy staff, academics, staff of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and journalists among others.

In preparing the African Union Compendium, we have made use of publicly available official AU documents, policy instruments, key presentations by AU departmental experts, internet research and research work that has taken into account available information.

African Union Compendium1st Edition

African Union Compendium2nd Edition

Annual Review 2013


People

Our Staff Associates & VolunteersOI-AU operates under Oxfam International Secretariat as one of its advocacy offices to the multilateral institutions. We work closely with Oxfam Pan Africa programmes, regional and country teams across the continent. The office has the following 12 staff, associates and volunteers:

Desire Assogbavi- TogoHead of Office

[email protected]

Muleya Mwananyanda - ZambiaRights in Crisis Campaign and Policy Manager

(Gender Peace & Livelihoods) [email protected]

Brenda Chikwe Mofya - ZambiaPolicy Advisor – Peace and Security/

[email protected]

Idriss Ali nassah - MalawiOI-AU Media Lead

[email protected]

Rinret Dabeng - NigeriaPolicy and Capacity Development

[email protected]

Roben nedasa - EthiopiaFinance and Administration Officer

[email protected]

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Liyu Dereje - EthiopiaOffice Administrator

[email protected]

Faith Adhiambo - KenyaPan African Associate: Strategic Engagement

[email protected]

Hannah Adisu- EthiopiaPan Africa Associate:

Strategic Campaigning, Rights in [email protected]

Senay Girma - EthiopiaPan Africa Associate: IT Support

[email protected]

Ilyas Oussedik- AlgeriaPan Africa Associate:

Peace &Security/[email protected]

Abaynesh Tekle - EthiopiaOffice Assistant

Annual Review 2013


19Our Year 2013 in Pictures . . .

Contact:

Oxfam Liaison Office with the African UnionTK Building, Bole Airport Area, Suite 406 Addis-Ababa, EthiopiaTel.: +251 11661 1601 / Fax: +251 11 661 2795Email: [email protected]@Oxfam_AU Facebook: Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union: OI-AU

ABOUT OXFAM InTERnATIOnAL - LIAISOn OFFICE WITH THE AFRICAn UnIOn

Around the globe, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes and we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local, national, regional and global decisions that affect them. We believe that change happens when citizens are informed, empowered and enabled to influence policies, practices and to use mechanisms to hold their leaders accountable.

We work directly with citizens, communities and we seek to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. We are an international confederation of 17 organizations working together with partners in more than 90 countries including 35 in Africa.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union and a Bilateral Host Agreement with the Government of Ethiopia, Oxfam set up a Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU) in Addis Ababa to strengthen it collaboration with the African union. OI-AU together with other Oxfam affiliates and partners operating in Africa, work closely with the African Union and its member States on various issues of common interest including humanitarian policy, peace and security, social affairs, gender justice, economic affairs, governance, agriculture, citizens’ participation and communication.

Layout & Print: www.acm.com.et, +251 (0) 911 64 71 88

In line with the African Union’s mission to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven and managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena, our Liaison Office with the African Union, part of Oxfam Pan Africa Team works essentially on the following:

1. Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union: To support citizens and civil society organizations of Africa to work with and engage the African Union, and be part of the policy processes debates and decisions that affect their life.

2. Saving Life Now and in the Future: Peace, Security and Humanitarian Affairs including direct engagement with the African Union’s peace and security organs in terms of policy advocacy and campaign, building on Oxfam’s operational presence in 35 countries in Africa including a number of conflict affected countries namely Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Mali, Somalia etc.

3. Making African Extractive Resources Work for Africa: Support the AU’s African Mining Vision and African Mineral Development Centre objectives to ensure that African rich mineral resources are fully and best used for the socio-economic development of the continent.

4. Representation of Oxfam to the African Union and management of the confederation’s relationship with the African Union, its organs and member states in the framework of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Oxfam International and the African Union Commission.

Documents

Oi au 2013 review final