AU-UN Partner to Integrate Development Agenda within National Frameworks

The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) have signed a partnership agreement that will streamline the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the AU’s Agenda 2063 plans.

The UN-AU Framework for the implementation of the development plans was signed on Saturday by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and the AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat during the 30th Africa Union Summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

According to a joint statement released by the two international bodies, the framework will reinforce stronger coordination to ensure that the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the AU’s Agenda 2063 are mainstreamed and integrated into the national planning frameworks of all member states.

This is aimed to achieve a peaceful, stable and secure environment as well as respect for human rights to achieve sustainable development in both the UN 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 of the AU.

Both organizations envision a people-centered and planet-sensitive structural transformation in Africa while stressing the nexus between peace, security and development.

During the signing, UN Secretary General, António Guterres, noted that “eradicating poverty is the overriding priority of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” and that he is happy that “today, we signed the framework on the implementation.”

On his part, the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed satisfaction with the existing partnership between the AU and the UN, adding that the signing of this Framework will enhance the achievement of the two Agendas.

The framework also outlines the monitoring of implementation tools, to ensure that implementation results are monitored and challenges addressed.

Harmonization of the implementation of the two Agendas will minimize duplication, optimize domestic resource mobilization and external stakeholders and development partners support and strengthened partnerships.

The next step will be to formulate an action plan that will operationalize the signed framework. This will be later in April this year when the two leaders meet again for the 2nd Annual AU-UN Conference.

In April last year, the AU and UN signed a peace and security framework.