1. THE IMPERATIVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR UNION (KAGAME REPORT)
Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation
7 June 2017

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
Background
Focusing on key priorities with Continental Scope
Realignment of continental institutions to deliver against identified priorities
Managing the AU efficiently at both political and operational level
Sustainable financing of the Union

3. BACKGROUND
The 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016, mandated the President of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame to prepare a study on the institutional reform of the African Union (AU), with a view of putting in place a system of governance capable of addressing the challenges facing the Union.
In compiling the report, President Kagame was assisted by an Advisory Team drawn from experts from different regions from the Continent, including Mr Tito Mboweni.
Prior to the 28th Session of the Assembly in January 2017, the Retreat of Heads of State and Government discussed the report compiled by President Kagame, “The Imperative to Strengthen our Union” (the Kagame Report). The Report was then adopted by the Assembly.

4. BACKGROUND CONT.
The Report focuses on four key areas to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Union and has over twenty recommendations aimed at doing so. It should however be noted that the report was compiled without consultations with Member States and its recommendations are broad.
The recommendations are to be implemented in three phases, short term 0-6 months, medium term months and long term 1-2 years.
The Assembly further decided that in order to implement the recommendations of the Report
A high-level panel of Heads of State and Government should be put in place to supervise the implementation process, led by President Kagame, with Presidents Itno and Condé.
A Reform Implementation and Change Management Unit has been established in the office of the Chairperson of the Commission to drive the day-to-day implementation of the reforms in line with agreed timelines.
A legally binding mechanism should be established to ensure member states honour their commitments to implement these reforms.

5. FOCUS ON KEY PRIORITIES WITH CONTINENTAL SCOPE
Recommendations
Focus on fewer number of priority areas:
- Political affairs,
- Peace and security,
- Economic integration; and
- Africa’s global representation and voice.
Clear division of labour and effective collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms and Member States

6. REALIGNMENT OF CONTINENTAL INSTITUTIONS
Recommendations • Audit of bureaucratic bottlenecks and inefficacies. • Evaluate AUC structure to ensure right size and capabilities to deliver on agreed key priorities. • A lean AUC senior leadership and performance oriented.

7. REALIGNMENT OF CONTINENTAL INSTITUTIONS CONT.
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
NEPAD should be fully integrated into the Commission, possibly as African Union’s development agency, aligned with the agreed priority areas and underpinned by an enhanced results-monitoring framework.
Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
The APRM could be strengthened to track implementation and oversee monitoring and evaluation in key governance areas of the continent.
Judicial and legislative organs
The roles of the African Union’s judicial and legislative organs – the Court of Justice of the African Union, the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Pan-African Parliament – should be reviewed and clarified, while assessing progress to date.

8. REALIGNMENT OF CONTINENTAL INSTITUTIONS CONT.
Peace and Security Council
Reform the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in line with Article 5(4) of the PSC Protocol,
Strengthening the PSC’s working methods, and
Strengthening the PSC’s role in prevention and crisis management.
Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)
Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) rules and procedures to be in line with the mandate provided in the Constitutive Act.
PRC to facilitate communication between the African Union and national capitals, and act as an advisory body to the Executive Council, rather than a supervisory body of the Commission.
Specialised Technical Agencies (STCs)
The Specialised Technical Agencies (STCs) should be reviewed and streamlined and be aligned with the priority areas.

9. REALIGNMENT OF CONTINENTAL INSTITUTIONS CONT.
Increasing the African Union’s relevance to its citizens by launching initiatives such as the following:
Establishing women and youth quotas across African Union institutions, as well as for private sector representatives, where appropriate.
Establishing an African Volunteer Corps.
Facilitating cultural and sports exchange among member states.
Making the African passport available to all eligible citizens as quickly as possible, in line with the Assembly decision.
Identifying and providing a set of new capabilities or ‘assets’ in the form of common services valued by member states and citizens. For example, it could provide neutral arbitration and competition services, or a common technical platform for the data and analysis needed to assess Africa’s progress toward its development goals.

10. MANAGE THE AU EFFICIENTLY
POLITICAL
Recommendations
On the Summits
The Assembly should handle an agenda of no more than three strategic items
One Summit per year should be convened at Assembly level, except for extraordinary sessions.
Summit rules and guidelines should be reviewed, including the acceptable level of representation (e.g., Presidents, Vice Presidents, or Prime Ministers only).
The second Summit of the year should focus on coordination with RECs
External parties should be invited to Summits on an exceptional basis and for a specific purpose.

11. MANAGE THE AU EFFICIENTLY CONT
POLITICAL CONT.
Partnership Summits convened by external parties should be reviewed. Africa could be represented by the Previous, Current and Incoming Chairpersons, the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Chairpersons of the RECs
A troika arrangement between the outgoing, the current, and the incoming chairpersons should be established and that the role of the Chairperson of the Assembly also needs to be clarified.
The current sanctions mechanism should be strengthened and enforced. This would include consideration of making effective participation in African Union deliberations contingent on adherence to Summit decisions.

12. MANAGE THE AU EFFICIENTLY
OPERATIONAL
Recommendations
Transparent governance process in relation to the election of the Chairperson of the Commission.
Competitive process in appointing the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners in line with best practice and appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission.
The Deputy Chairperson role should be reframed to be responsible for the efficient and effective functioning of the Commission’s administration.
A fundamental review of the structure and staffing needs of the organization as well as conditions of service should be undertaken to ensure alignment with the recommended priority areas.

13. SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF THE UNION
Recommendations
The Kigali Financing Decision to be implemented immediately to ensure the Union’s financial sustainability;
Critical complementary measures to reinforce the Kigali Financing Decision:
The current scale of assessment should be revised to avoid risk concentration
The F10 established under the 2017 Kigali Financing Decision should assume responsibility for the oversight of the African Union’s budget and finances.
The F10 should develop a set of ‘golden rules’ setting out clear financial
management and accountability principles.
Penalties for failure to honour assessed contributions should be reviewed and tightened, in line with the new enforceable sanctions regime.
SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF THE UNION

14. SEQUENCING OF REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS
Short Term (0-6 MONTHS)
Focus the African Union’s agenda on a fewer number of priority areas
Implement Kigali Financing Decision
Adopt complementary measures to reinforce Kigali Financing Decision
Strengthen and enforce the current sanctions mechanism
Establish a high-level panel to supervise reform implementation
Establish a unit in the Commission to drive reform implementation
Establish binding mechanism to ensure reform implementation
Reform the working methods of the Summit
Determine the appropriate African representation at Partnership Summits

15. SEQUENCING OF REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS CONT
Medium Term (6-12 MONTHS)
Enhance the process for selecting the Commission Chairperson
Recruit the Commission Deputy Chair and Commissioners competitively
Reframe the role of Deputy Chairperson and potentially change the titles of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson
Conduct an audit of the African Union’s bureaucratic bottlenecks and inefficiencies
Re-evaluate the size and capabilities of Commission’s structures
Establish a lean and performance-oriented senior leadership team at Commission
Review structure, staffing needs and conditions of service of the Commission

16. SEQUENCING OF REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS CONT
Long Term (1-2 YEARS)
Clarify division of labour between the African Union, RECs, regional mechanisms, member states and continental institutions
Review and update mandate and structure of key organs and institutions
Launch initiatives focused on increasing the African Union’s relevance to citizens
Establish a troika of the outgoing, current, and incoming African Union chairpersons

17. THANK YOU