Addis Ababa, May 16, 2023 (FBC) – The African Union (AU) launched a working group on African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) on 15 May 2023 that will be co-chaired by Bankole Adeoye, AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD (Africa Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development).
It indicated that the mandate of the Group derives from the Decision of AU Heads of State (at the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, February 2023) and the communiqué by AUPSC (November 2022) directing AUC and AUDA-NEPAD to establish a PCRD Working Group to support implementation of PCRD activities and programmes.
The objective of the Working Group on PCRD is to develop and operationalize mechanisms and processes based on the AU PCRD Policy, at the technical and strategic levels. It will meet regularly and is expected to submit a report to the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC).
The group is expected to facilitate a coordinated Commission and extra-Commission-wide support on the implementation of PCRD activities at the strategic level and to harness the synergies across departments to ensure effective coordination of strategic AUPCRD Policy guidance and implementation.
The AU Policy Framework on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) was adopted by the Executive Council in June 2006 and a review of the policy was undertaken in 2022, with its adoption expected in 2024, as per AU Political Affairs Peace and Security.