Agencies of the African Union

The agencies of the African Union are established through AU legal instruments, including decisions of the Assembly of the African Union and protocols adopted by member states. They are designed to provide technical expertise, coordinate regional initiatives, and implement programs aligned with the AU's strategic framework, Agenda 2063. These agencies often collaborate with regional economic communities (RECs), international organizations, and non-state actors to achieve their goals.

The agencies of the African Union are categorized based on their primary functions and areas of operation.

These agencies focus on conflict prevention, management, and resolution, as well as promoting peace and stability across the continent.

• African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC): The decision-making body for AU interventions in conflicts and crises.
• African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL): Continental police organization established to enhance cooperation among law enforcement agencies of African Union (AU) member states.
• African Standby Force (ASF): A multinational military force for rapid deployment in conflict zones.{{cite web |title=Protocol relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union |url=http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/psc-protocol-en.pdf |access-date=12 March 2014 |work=peaceau.org |publisher=African Union}}African Union Independent Panel of Experts (October 2013): Assessment of the African Standby Force and Plan of Action for Achieving Full Operational Capability by 2015
• Continental Early Warning System (CEWS): Monitors and analyzes conflict indicators to prevent crises.{{cite web |date=23 November 2015 |title=The Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) - African Union - Peace and Security Department |url=http://www.peaceau.org/en/page/28-continental-early-warning |accessdate=5 November 2016 |publisher=African Union |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Continental early warning system - (History of Africa – 1800 to Present) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations {{!}} Fiveable |url=https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/africa-since-1800/continental-early-warning-system |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=library.fiveable.me |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Noyes |first=Alexander |last2=Yarwood |first2=Janette |date=2013-06-01 |title=The AU Continental Early Warning System: From Conceptual to Operational? |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13533312.2013.838393?casa_token=Hfd3yoKtbPYAAAAA%3A8IBU5vILZ15hXKo42e-Xdx2kzLwWgowVP6zRWJHkwUS7s0OFhzwARLS4g-WY9gOLuoKTLK9ZfCVnGg& |journal=International Peacekeeping |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=249–262 |doi=10.1080/13533312.2013.838393 |issn=1353-3312}}
• Panel of the Wise: Provides mediation and advisory support for conflict resolution.{{cite web |title=AU Launches 'Panel of the Wise' |url=https://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2007-12-18-voa47-66814662.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917070507/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2007-12-18-voa47-66814662.html |archive-date=2011-09-17 |access-date=2016-07-14 |publisher=.voanews.com}}

These agencies promote economic growth, regional integration, and sustainable development.

• African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD): Drives infrastructure and development projects across Africa.
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat: Facilitates intra-African trade and economic integration.{{cite web |author=Loes Witschge |date=March 20, 2018 |title=African Continental Free Trade Area: What you need to know |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-180317191954318.html |work=Al Jazeera}}U.S. International Trade Administration, [https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/african-continental-free-trade-area African Continental Free Trade Area] (3 January 2022).{{cite web |title=Constitutive Act of the African Union |url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=au.int |publisher=African Union |quote=Article 3 (l): "coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;"}}

• African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM): Promotes good governance and accountability among member states.

These agencies focus on promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

• African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR): Monitors and enforces human rights standards.{{cite journal |last1=Welch |first1=Claude |date=December 1991 |title=Organisation of African Unity and the Promotion of Human Rights |journal=The Journal of Modern African Studies |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=535–555 |doi=10.1017/S0022278X00005656 |s2cid=154657052}}{{cite journal |last1=Odinkalu |first1=Anselm |date=August 1993 |title=Proposals for Review of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights |journal=Human Rights Quarterly |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=533–548 |doi=10.2307/762609 |jstor=762609}}
• African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Adjudicates human rights violations.Charles Ohene-Amoh, [https://www.academia.edu/10016577/Assessing_the_African_Court_on_Human_and_Peoples_Rights Assessing the African Court on Human and People’s Rights] University Of Education, Winneba[http://www.african-court.org/en/index.php/news/press-releases/item/257-the-gambia-becomes-the-ninth-country-to-allow-ngos-and-individuals-to-access-the-african-court-directly The Gambia becomes the ninth country to allow NGOs and individuals to access the African Court directly]
• African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: Protects the rights of children across the continent.

These agencies address public health, social development, and gender equality.

• Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC): Coordinates public health responses and disease prevention.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://africacdc.org/about-us/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430225749/https://africacdc.org/about-us/ |archivedate=30 April 2020 |access-date=9 May 2020 |publisher=Africa CDC}}{{cite web |author=Africa CDC |date=May 21, 2021 |title=African Union Member States reporting COVID-19 cases |url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/05/22/coronavirus-african-union-member-states-reporting-covid-19-cases-as-of-21-may-2021-6-pm-eat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210523033110/https://www.africanews.com/2021/05/22/coronavirus-african-union-member-states-reporting-covid-19-cases-as-of-21-may-2021-6-pm-eat/ |archive-date=May 23, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |publisher=Africanews}}{{cite web |date=2017-07-27 |title=Africa CDC: Improving Disease Detection and Emergency Response on the African Continent |url=https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/stories/africa-cdc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322180936/https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/stories/africa-cdc.html |archive-date=22 March 2020 |access-date=2020-04-13 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}
• African Medicines Agency (AMA): Harmonizes medical regulation and ensures access to safe medicines.{{cite web |date=6 October 2021 |title=African Medicines Agency Will Come into Being on 5 November – after 15th African Country Ratifies & Deposits AMA Treaty |url=https://healthpolicy-watch.news/african-medicines-agency-is-finally-on-the-road/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=Health Policy Watch |quote=}}{{cite news |author=Africa Press Office |date=21 April 2020 |title=Gabon Republic signs Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicine Agency (AMA) |url=https://www.cnbcafrica.com/africa-press-office/2020/04/21/gabon-republic-signs-treaty-for-the-establishment-of-the-african-medicine-agency-ama/ |accessdate=8 July 2020 |work=CNBC Africa}}
• African Union Commission for Social Affairs: Promotes social development and gender equality.

These agencies support economic growth and development through financial mechanisms.

• African Central Bank (ACB): It will become the banker of the African Government and/or regional unions, it will be the banker to Africa's private and public banking institutions along African regional central banks.{{Cite web |title=AU Financial Institutions {{!}} African Union |url=https://au.int/en/ea/epr/aufi |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=au.int}}
• African Development Bank (AfDB): Funds infrastructure and development projects.
• African Monetary Fund (AMF): Proposed to foster monetary stability and integration.
• African Investment Bank (AIB): Aims to boost capital investment in key sectors.

These agencies address specific technical and sectoral needs.

• Pan-African University (PAU): Promotes higher education and research.
• African Risk Capacity (ARC): Provides climate disaster insurance and risk management.
• African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC): Regulates air transport and promotes aviation safety.{{Cite web |date=17 January 1969 |title=African Civil Aviation Commission Constitution (AFCAC) |url=https://indigo.openbylaws.org.za/akn/aa-au/act/1969/civil-aviation-commission/eng@1969-01-17 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |website=Data for Governance Alliance}}{{Cite web |title=African Civil Aviation Commission Constitution {{!}} The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) |url=https://www.lawyersofafrica.org/african-law-database/african-civil-aviation-commission-constitution/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |language=en-GB}}
• African Space Agency (AfSA): Space organisation established by the African Union (AU) to promote cooperation between the space policies of the AU's member states.{{Cite web |title=Signature of the Host Agreement for the African Space Agency, in Cairo, 24 January 2023 {{!}} African Union |url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20230124/signature-host-agreement-african-space-agency-cairo-24-january-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043719/https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20230124/signature-host-agreement-african-space-agency-cairo-24-january-2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=au.int}}{{Cite journal |last=Oyewole |first=Samuel |date=2 April 2020 |title=The quest for space capabilities and military security in Africa |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10220461.2020.1782258 |url-status=live |journal=South African Journal of International Affairs |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=147–172 |doi=10.1080/10220461.2020.1782258 |issn=1022-0461 |s2cid=221115191 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043623/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10220461.2020.1782258 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=22 February 2023 |doi-access=free}}

AU agencies face challenges such as funding gaps, political fragmentation, and overlapping mandates. Strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing member state collaboration, and improving resource mobilization are critical for achieving the goals of Agenda 2063. The AU continues to work towards streamlining its agencies and ensuring their effective operation.

• African Union
• Agenda 2063
• Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
• Pan-African Parliament

{{Reflist}}

• [https://au.int Official website of the African Union]
• [https://au.int/agenda2063 Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want]

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