1. November 2009Design: MIS Division CALL FOR ACCELARATED ACTION TOWARDS AFRICA FIT FOR CHILDREN, AND ITS M&E FRAMEWORK, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AU COMMISSION

2. Overview 1.Vision and Mission of the DSA 2.Structure of the DSA 3.Stakeholders of the DSA 4.Plan of Action on Africa Fit for Children and Call for Accelerated Action 5.The Call and Monitoring and Evaluation 6.Conclusion

3. VISION OF THE AUC, AND DSA VISION OF THE AUC: The AUC Strategic Plan for 2009 – 2012 visualises “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena.” Vision of the DSA The DSA envisions “a high standard of well- being, social justice and empowerment for all African peoples.”

4. MISSION OF THE DSA The Mission of the DSA is to promote ‘a holistic and human-centred approach to socio-economic development, as well as, intra- and inter-sectoral coordination of the social sector with a view to alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life of the African people, in particular the most vulnerable and marginalized.’

5. STRUCTURE OF THE DSA AUC: CHAIRPERSON, DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON, 8 COMMISSIONERS (INCLUDING COMMISSIONER FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS) Department of Social Affairs: Directorate Division: Health, Nutrition & Population Division: HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria Division: Labour, Employment & Migration Division: Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups & Drug Control Division: Culture & Sports Secr. ACRWC CELHTO ARI ACALAN

6. Primary target groups of the DSA Programmes are Decision-makers and organisations that influence policies, investments and behaviour Secondary target groups is the African People themselves as they take up more active involvement in their civic roles and responsibilities to influence their present realities, and the future for themselves and their children DSA works with Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Partner National, Regional and International Organisations, UN agencies, NGO’s, CSO’s and development agencies. STAKEHOLDERS OF THE DSA

7. The Plan of Action For Africa Fit For Children and Call for Accelerated Action The Plan of Action Towards Africa Fit for Children was also adopted in 2001 at the 1 st Pan African Forum on Children in Cairo, Egypt. The Plan of Action is a very detailed policy document that focussed on 10 priority areas (namely: Overall Framework; Enhancing Life Chances; Overcoming HIV/AIDS; Realising the Right to Education; Realising the Right to Protection; Participation of Youth and Children; Actions at all levels; International Partnership; Follow-up Actions and Monitoring; and Call to Action) to assist Member States in strengthening the rights and welfare of children in Africa. The 2 nd Pan African Forum took place in 2007 also in Egypt and at that time following an evaluation that the DSA had prepared for the above-mentioned Plan of Action, the report of the evaluation showed that Member States had not implemented most of the priority areas of the Plan and there was need for more action and commitment to improving the lives of children.

8. The main outcome of the 2 nd Pan African Forum was the Call for Accelerated Action to which Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the Plan of Action and other child related policy instruments such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; The Call is an initiative that Member States committed to among others, seriously address the state of children in their respective countries and invest more in children particularly those most vulnerable, this is based on the 8 priority areas stated in the Call; Call (continued)

9. The Call and Monitoring and Evaluation The Call has eight thematic areas as follows: (i)Enhancing Life Chances, ii)Realising the Right to Education, iii)Realising the Right to Protection, iv) Legislative and Policy Frameworks, v) Institutional Framework, vi) Mobilizing And Leveraging Resources For Africa Fit For Children, vii) Overcoming HIV/AIDS, viii)Realising the Right to Child Participation); Within the Call for Accelerated Action, it was recognised that the Plan of Action lacks a monitoring and evaluation framework and in the Monitoring and Evaluation section of the Call, AUC was tasked to create a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to be sent to Member States for Progress reporting on the Call. The Framework was adopted at the 2 nd AU Conference of Ministers of Social Development in November 2010 in Sudan, it was then prepared with the assistance of African Child Policy Forum and finalised and sent to Member States in 2011. The report of responses from the M&E framework will be presented as a key to the 3 rd Pan African Forum due to take place in early 2012.

10. The AUC has been promoting the area of child protection specifically on Harmful Traditional Practices and collaborated with different partners to find ways to mitigate and ultimately eliminate these practices and recognizing positive culture practices in the Pan Conference On Celebrating Courage And Overcoming Harmful Traditions from 5-7 October 2011. HTP will be continue to be part of the agenda at the 3 rd Forum. The 3 rd Pan African Forum will address three subthemes namely: child protection, child participation and child provision. The Forum will look at two reports, the report from the responses of the M&E Framework received from Member States and Cairo Plus 10 report which will have inputs from all stakeholders in the Call. Accountability from Member States and other stakeholders will also a crucial sub-theme in the Forum;

11. Thank You November 2009Design: MIS Division