United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) (May 2012 to April 2013) UNICEF support to NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Authority (NPCA) The UNICEF Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA 1 (UNICEF LO) continued to support the African Union Commission (AUC) and its NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency 2 (NPCA) throughout 2012. UN agencies have been collectively supporting the capacity enhancement programme of the AUC through the AU-UN Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM- Africa), with the AUC and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) assuming joint secretariat role of this mechanism. The joint secretariat role has ensured closer inter-agency collaboration and cooperation, and which has further promoted joint action plans that have resulted in common results. As an active member of the RCM-Africa, the UNICEF LO ensured that children s rights and welfare were mainstreamed in the various clusters and subclusters and implemented collectively by the AUC and UN agencies through the joint business plans 3. In November 2012, the Heads of the UN Liaison Team (UNLT) 4 discussed with the Executive Secretary of the UNECA on the need for close cooperation between UN agencies to enhance the UN Delivering as one. UNICEF LO was designated as the chair of the UNLT Task Force and led the drafting and adoption of a consolidated matrix mapping template on UNLT work, as well as a strategy for enhanced engagement and visibility of the UNLT. UNICEF LO has been coordinating with the three UNICEF Regional Offices (ROs) in Africa 5, as well as with UNICEF NYHQ, to extend technical and financial support to the AUC, through the RCM-Africa framework. This involved participation in several consultative meetings, conferences and taskforces to develop and implement frameworks, policies and strategies of the AUC with a focus on child rights issues, as well as for implementing plans and frameworks at the country level. UN collaboration with AUC, including NPCA, regional and sub-regional organisations in support to the TYCBP for the AU In 2012, the RCM-Africa made commendable strides in implementing the Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme for the African Union (TYCBP-AU 2006-2015). The 13 th Session of the RCM-Africa, held in November 2012, urged the RCM-Africa to redouble efforts in implementing the TYCBP-AU. The UN system support to the AU capacity building programme, framework was jointly developed between the AU and UN, and forms the basis for the implementation of the capacity enhancement support to the AUC. Some joint activities were held between the clusters and sub-clusters of the RCM-Africa, and in which UNICEF LO was closely involved during the reporting period, and included; a Participatory Gender Audit commissioned between July and September 2012 by the Gender Sub-Cluster to facilitate a self-assessment exercise on how the RCM-Africa and its clusters have managed to 1 UNICEF Liaison Office to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 2 NEPAD is now fully integrated within the structures of the AUC. 3 All activities indicated in this report were held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, unless specified. 4The UNLT was established in 2011 as an informal information-sharing group comprising Heads of UN agencies accredited to the AU and the UNECA. Delivering as One has enabled UNLT to better channel support to the AUC, thereby eliminating duplication, especially with regard to providing human, financial and technical support for the implementation of joint activities. The UNLT works in complementary with the RCM. 5 The three UNICEF Regional Offices in Africa are: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), Western and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) 1
implement the gender equality mandate as provided for in regional and international gender equality instruments; members of the Agriculture, Food Security, Rural Development (AFSRD) Cluster and those of the Gender Sub-Cluster of the RCM-Africa met in September 2012 and discussed the need for mainstreaming gender in the AFSRD Cluster and all its programmes; combating violence against women and girls in Africa through the symbolic climbing of Mt. Kilimanjaro, as well as a symposium to commemorate the International Women s Day in March 2012; Africa CEDAW consultations in April 2012 to develop a General Recommendation on women and girls in conflict and post conflicts; Eighth African Development Forum in October 2012 on sustainable use of natural resources in Africa; Eighth African Governance Forum, held in Gaborone, Botswana, in October 2012, to promote youth and gender participation in democracy and elections in Africa; among others. The meetings aimed at strengthening coherence in the AU/UN partnerships and collaboration. Financial and Institutional support to AU and its NEPAD programmes Resource mobilization efforts were initiated through support from the three UNICEF ROs and NYHQ. During 2012, UNICEF LO supported the AUC, including NPCA, with approx. US$831,000 of direct and indirect financial, human and institutional assistance. Within the UNICEF LO, this includes approx. US$100,000 of consultancy support, approx. US$500,000 of salaries of international and national staff, and approx. US$6,000 in travels and other miscellaneous expenses. Other indirect expenses borne by other UNICEF offices include approx. US$210,000 in travels and US$15,000 for publications. The details are: Department of Human Resources Science and Technology of the AUC: Provided input at a validation workshop in June 2012 to review the report on the implementation of the Malabo Summit Decisions on accelerating youth employment for sustainable development, and which emphasized on the need for accelerated reduction of youth and women unemployment, support youth as avenues for empowerment, and development of national plans of action for youth employment. Through the conference of Ministers of Youth in September 2012, highlighted the need to support families during early adolescence to avert negative outcomes in late adolescence, as well as the need to approach adolescents education, health, nutrition, maternal health, protection, etc. Supported a consultancy in 2012 for the Mid-Term Review of the Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006-2015) (Second Decade), which includes its eight programmatic dimensions: gender and culture, Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), teacher development, higher education, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), curriculum and teaching learning materials, educational quality management and early childhood education. Promoted policy dialogue and advocacy on the education for all children of Africa, including a panel discussion on Equity and Quality in Basic Education, with a focus on out-of-school children, multiple pathways to learning, quality education and learning outcomes, gender equity and teachers for the marginalized, during the Conference of Ministers of Education, in April 2012, in Abuja, Nigeria. As a result, the capacity of the Department has been strengthened to monitor the Second Decade. 2
Department of Social Affairs of the AUC: Facilitated the participation of children from Mali, Somali, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Ethiopia to participate in the Third Pan African Forum on Children in November 2012, and urged African leaders to pay close attention to accountability and investment in African children, as well as provided input to the review of the Renewed Call for Action on the Implementation of the Plan of Action Towards Africa Fit for Children (Call), for the implementation period 2013-2017. The adolescent girls and boys will also participate actively in monitoring the implementation of the Call. Promoted awareness on children with disabilities during celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child on 16 June 2012 across Africa by AU Member States, UN agencies and partners; Highlighted the nutrition crisis in the Sahel Region, the Post-2015 Development Agenda, harmful cultural practices, and support to the work plan of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) during the 19 th Session of the ACERWC in March 2012. As a new bureau of the ACERWC was elected during the 20 th Session of the ACERWC, in November 2012, UNICEF highlighted on children in conflict zones, contribution to the social dimension of the Post-2015 Agenda, the commemoration of the DAC, and on the birth registration agenda for Africa. As a result, the capacity of the Department has been strengthened to assess the accountability of governments in the implementation of the Call. Department of Peace and Security of the AUC: Through the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the elimination of the Lord s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA), UNICEF LO highlighted UNICEF s perspectives on child protection throughout 2012, as part of the joint efforts to address the threat and impact of the activities of the LRA in the affected countries of Central Africa Republic, DRC, South Sudan and Uganda. Supported the launch of the African Solidarity Initiative in July 2012 as a means for African countries to assist other post-conflict countries in their post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts. Highlighted the need for the protection of women, children and young girls from all forms of violence during conflict and post-conflict situations, during the Open Session of Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU on refugees, IDPs and migration in June 2012. UNICEF reiterated the need to protect women and girls from sexual and gender based violence, human rights violations, among other issues. During the Open Session of PSC on development, peace and security held in November 2012, UNICEF LO reiterated that disasters and conflicts were among the biggest inhibitors of progress towards development, and pose great risks to children and women. In a number of meetings in 2012 on the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel Region, UNICEF LO dwelled on nutrition, hygiene, health, protection, water and immunization concerns facing children and urged for intervention to protect vulnerable groups, such as children, women and other marginalized groups. As a result, the resilience strategy was promoted to allow for communities to better face the nutrition crisis. Capacity has been strengthened to address humanitarian issues related to the political crisis. Further, the humanitarian policy and disaster risk reduction was conceived and adopted. Department of Economic Affairs of the AUC: Technically supported the preparation of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Civil Registration in September 2012, in Durban, South Africa, and facilitated consultations between 3
UNICEF ROs, COs and the organisers for the joint UN assistance to selected governments, with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), to ensure the implementation of birth registration systems in Africa. As a result, an implementation plan was adopted, while the programme has been fully owned by the ROs for further implementation at the country level. Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AUC: Promoted the initiative of the first 1,000 Days of a child s life and stunting awareness during the commemoration of the Third Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) in October 2012. Highlighted the EU-UNICEF ANSP programme as well as sensitized the media during a Media Breakfast Briefing on the challenges of stunting and under-nutrition in Africa. Hence, stunting and under-nutrition has been well position in political and political awareness enhanced on the linkages between food and nutrition security. Advocacy work in support of African development A number of advocacy opportunities in support of the child welfare in Africa were conducted, among them; the promotion of gender mainstreaming in the AU through influencing the gender agenda at the 19 th and 20 th Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the AU, held in January and July 2012, respectively; the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and the Annual Meeting of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Action Committee of Heads of State and Government, held in July 2012; the Elimination of Mother-To-Child-Transmission of HIV (emtct) at the Fourth Inter-Agency Meeting on Coordination and Harmonization of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Strategies, in March 2012; promotion of the linkage and collaboration between the AU and UN human rights treaty bodies in June 2012; partnership between AU and UN special procedures mandate-holders in January 2012; advocacy for women and girls at the Africa Unite Regional Steering Committee Meeting in June 2012, in Abuja, Nigeria; consultations on the Post- 2015 Development Agenda for Africa; among others. As a result, the awareness created will enhance the acceleration of the implementation of activities targeting children and women. Partnerships and collaboration In implementing the TYCBP-AU in support of the capacity enhancement effort of the AU and NPCA, the UNICEF LO formed close partnerships and collaboration with Department of Social Affairs, Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, Peace and Security, Agriculture and Rural Economy, Human Resources Science and Technology, Communication and the Office of the Legal Counsel. UNICEF LO also collaborated with other AU organs, including, the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), the Executive Council, the Heads of State and Government, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the ACERWC, the African Union Commission on international Law (AUCIL), the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) and other organs. The collaboration with the AUC departments and AU organs resulted in children s issues being discussed in key conferences or meetings, and positive outcome realized, including the mainstreaming of children in policies and action plans. Close collaboration was also realized with the European Union Delegation to the AU on implementation of EU-UNICEF African Nutrition Security Partnership; with the Civil Society Organisation Forum on the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC); among others. 4
Monitoring and Evaluation The AfricaInfo database initiative received political endorsement when the July 2012 AU Summit requested, the AUC, the UNECA, the AfDB and UNICEF to mobilize the required resources for operationalization of the AfricaInfo database initiative and provide the necessary support to enable countries to develop effective data management and dissemination systems aimed at enabling full public access to official statistics. The four institutions jointly implement AfricaInfo. UNICEF LO promoted UNICEF s agenda through consultations to articulate Africa s Common Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, in collaboration with the AUC, AfDB, UNECA, UNDP/RBA, and other stakeholders. The ChildrenFirst Newsletter of the UNICEF LO was produced and highlights some selected activities on the UNICEF/AU-NPCA/UNECA cooperation, as well as with other partners, as well as internally with NYHQ and ROs. UNICEF LO stimulated the CO technical support to the preparation of the State Party Report from Sudan on the implementation of the ACRWC, which was presented during the 20th Session of the ACERWC in November 2012. The UNICEF LO provided technical input to the 2012 Africa MDGs Report on Assessing Progress towards the MDGs in Africa and especially on Goal 4 of the MDGs on reducing child mortality. Hence, UNICEF LO has become a valuable source of information on children s issues, as well as its messages are well considered at policy level across Africa. Lessons Learned During the AUC leadership transition period between January and October 2012, the implementation of the activities proved challenging, as some meetings were postponed to await the new AUC leadership to take office. As a result, a number of activities were implemented between October and December 2012. For some clusters and sub-clusters, coherence and cohesion still needs improvement in joint planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, funding and resource mobilization. The thematic clusters and sub-clusters take an average of six months to complete the business plans (annual work plans). This is attributed to long consultative processes on the joint activities. Leadership, ownership and accountability by AU-UN are crucial to successful partnership. UNICEF LO stimulated support from ROs in Africa and NYHQ, and which ensured successful implementation of the joint work plans, and ownership of programmes. COs are also more involved. The collaboration within the clusters and sub-clusters requires substantial investment in time, human and financial resources. The RCM-Africa Secretariat should develop an effective M&E mechanism for the work programme of the TYCBP-AU, so as to ensure that the impact is quantifiable. There is a need to engage a joint planning exercise with the ROs for 2013 and for the 2014-2017 strategic plans in coherence with the UNICEF/AU planning process, as well as within the AU Strategic Plan 2014-2017 and the UNICEF Mid-Term Strategic Plan for 2014-2015, with ESARO taking the leadership support role. 5