High-Level Seminar on the operationalization of the AU Peace Fund
26 May 2016
The event was hosted by the African Union at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York with support from NUPI. The aim of the seminar was to share emerging ideas with a variety of senior African experts on ways in which the AU Peace Fund can be strengthened and sustainably financed in line with decisions adopted by the AU Assembly. The Peace Fund is an integral part of the African Peace and Security Architecture, established to provide the necessary resources for peace support missions and other operational activities related to peace and security. The resources of the Peace Fund are to be made up from financial appropriations of the regular budget, voluntary contributions from Member States and other sources from within Africa, including the private sector, civil society and individuals, as well as through appropriate fund raising activities. However, the operationalization of the Peace Fund has faced significant challenges. To date, Member States contributions to the Peace Fund have been insufficient. Peace and security activities, in particular Peace Support Operations (PSOs), have largely been funded by external partners with limited predictability or sustainability. It was in this context that, in 2015, the Assembly of the African Union adopted a decision in which they committed themselves to increasing their contributions to the Peace Fund, and to covering 25% of the cost of the AU’s peace and security budget (especially Peace Support Operations), a goal to be achieved by 2020. Dr. Kaberuka was appointed as High Representative for the Peace Fund in January 2016, in order to assist the African Union to realize this goal. He shall be submitting a report to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016, outlining a roadmap for attaining this goal. Participants included: Representatives at expert level from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Experts, AU PSOD and AU High Representative Team.