Active Citizenship in the Affairs of AU By December 2015, the OI AU Liaison Office will be known as having contributed to the enjoyment of key freedoms and rights contained in continental policy standards and legal instruments by all African citizens. We will do this by consistently informing AU decisions on economic justice, gender justice, peace and security, democratic governance and essential services. By prioritizing Experts and Ministerial meetings, the production of timely information on and access to the AU by the wider AU advocacy community and the generation of policy debates and communication of recommendations to policy-makers from citizens especially those affected by the issues we advocate on, we will ensure that the space for continental policymaking remains open, informed and influential.
Continental policy making space will remain open to African Citizens (especially the direct affected people) and their voice will be heard in the African Union decision making forums including experts, Ministerial and Summit gatherings. For thisto happen, Citizens and their representatives will be trained, systematically and regularly informed on the African Union agendas in order to seize the opportunity toengage the Union on peace and security, governance, humanitarian affairs, gender equality, food and climate justice, management of extractive industry, and to hold accountable their governments for the implementation of those decisions at national level.
The Oxfam Confederation will be represented systematically and constantly engaged withthe policy organs at the African Union in order to inform policy debates base on our operational presence and experience in 33 countries in Africa.
As a result, better policies that fit African citizens# needs are adopted and implemented to improve life.
Priority areas:
Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union # Right to be Heard (OSP Change Goal 1) At least 100 partners from partner organizations in Africa, ordinary citizens and affected people will receive a variety of support including capacity building, policy, financial and logistic support from OI-AU to engage with the policy formulation process within the African Union and to influence decisions that will affect their life. These supports will be given to partners organizations working on the following thematic issues: agriculture and food security, democratic governance, gender justice, peace security and humanitarian intervention, protection of civilians, peace building, and transparency on the management of natural resources. 60 NGO leaders and journalists will received and intensive training on #Understanding the African Union# to be co-hosted by OI-AU and the African Union Commission Under our ##Pan African Professional in Residence## Programme, Staff of at least 4 organizations/coalitions will be hosted in our office for 3-6 months and assisted to established institutional relation with the AU policy organs and engage the continental body on their policy concerns. Over 2000 African Citizens will be informed on a weekly/monthlyand quarterly basis on the African Union and its Members states# policy activities, opportunities and commitments in order to hold their government accountable in their countries. This will be done through our publication: AU Weekly, Active Citizens etc.The 2nd edition of the African Union Compendium which OI-AU published early 2014 will be widely disseminated within African countries (hard and electronic version) to help understand AU processes and opportunities for engagement by citizens and demand for accountability. The AU Compendium can be download online from the following link: http://issuu.com/assogbavi/docs/au_compendium_2014__small_size
Saving Live Now and in the Future # Rights in Crisis (OSP Change Goal 3) The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (15 AU Members) and the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission will be regularly influenced and their policies and practices informed by Oxfam Rights in Crisis updates, analysis, and policy recommendations focusingmainly on Oxfam RiC priority countries in Africa (Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Mali, CAR). This will be done in close collaboration with Oxfam Country Teams. A number of affected citizens by conflicts will be brought to Addis Ababa to engage directly the Peace and Security Council members during open sessions and close door lobby visits. OI-AU.
On the request of the Office of the Special Envoy of the UNSGfor to DRC and the Great Lake Region request, OI-AU will host the 3rd and the 4th direct consultations between Mary Robinson and DRC affected communities and other stakeholders. The Division of Humanitarian Affairs of the AU Commission will be supported by updates and analysis from Oxfam Country Programs AU Task Force on the Protection of Civilianwill be systematically engaged by Oxfam and partners to ensure a strong and full respected on PoC in the framework of all AU peace enforcement operations
Making Extractives Work for African People - Fair Sharing of Natural Resources (OSP Change Goal 5)
A Policy Advisor on Extractive Industries (to be recruited by April 2014) will develop and implement policy advocacy strategies on extractive industries targeting the African Union. The engagement strategy will include dissemination of the African MiningVision; support to the African Union Trade and Industry Department in the setting up and operationalization of the African Natural Resource Center; and capacity development of CSOs to increase transparency on extractive industries in Africa. This will bedone in close collaboration with Oxfam Country Programmes working on EI.