African Parliament’s Participation in AGA Strategy 2024-2029 Raises Hopes for Enhanced Democratic Governance

The Pan-African Parliament’s active involvement in the Strategic Reflection on the African Governance Architecture (AGA) meeting signifies a momentous leap forward and ignites a renewed sense of optimism in addressing critical governance and human rights challenges across Africa. Concluding on Thursday, the meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to engage with the AGA Strategy 2024-2029, which presents a compelling vision of an Africa defined by peace, security, effective governance, and unwavering respect for human rights. This visionary strategy has garnered widespread acclaim, as it aligns harmoniously with the Union’s Agenda 2063 [PDF] and reinforces other flagship initiatives such as the AfCFTA implementation [PDF] and the pursuit of Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2030 [PDF].

The translation of the diverse platform’s vision into tangible results poses a formidable challenge that now falls upon the newly formed Technical Oversight Committee, spearheaded by the Continental Parliament. The Pan-African Parliament’s capacity and influence, essential for providing leadership and ensuring effective governance, human rights, and rule of law implementation and monitoring across African Union (AU) Member States, remains to be fully tested. It is imperative to bolster the Parliament’s authority and foster its active involvement in decision-making processes to effectively realize the objectives set forth by the AGA Strategy. Only through such measures can the AGA’s vision be transformed into concrete actions and meaningful change on the ground.

In June, the Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting (SCM) of the African Governance Architecture Support Project (AGA-SP) hosted by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) provided a platform for stakeholders to review progress, exchange ideas, and learn from one another regarding the AGA-SP implementation. Expertise France, a European Union partner responsible for implementing Technical Assistance (TA) support to the five AGA Platform Members, recommended the two-tiered governance structure for the project—the Technical Oversight Committee and the Stakeholder Consultation Meeting.

Coordination, collaboration, cooperation, and communication among AGA members are guiding principles that are vital for the success of any regional governance architecture. By fostering synergies and pooling resources, AGA members can collectively address common challenges and share best practices. However, against the background of often clashing governance practices between the EU and the member states of the African Union, effective implementation of these principles necessitates robust institutional mechanisms, regular engagements, and genuine commitment from all participating entities.

The AGA Strategy’s key objectives, such as promoting the effective implementation of shared values treaties, enhancing coordination and synergy among AGA members, and amplifying citizen consciousness and participation, are crucial for advancing democratic governance and human rights in Africa. Translating these objectives into concrete actions and initiatives that engage citizens at the grassroots level and empower their active participation in governance processes will be a critical role of the African Parliament.

Enhancing synergy with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) is another noteworthy objective within the AGA Strategy. Strengthening the connection between governance and peacebuilding efforts is crucial for fostering stability and sustainable development in Africa. Collaboration between the AGA and APSA will require effective coordination mechanisms, information sharing, and joint planning to comprehensively address the interconnected challenges of governance, peace, and security.

Establishing adequate knowledge management, communication, and information sharing mechanisms is essential to ensure the success of the AGA Strategy. These mechanisms will facilitate the exchange of best practices, lessons learned, and expertise among AGA members. Additionally, they will keep stakeholders informed about progress and challenges encountered during the strategy’s implementation. A comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework will be instrumental in assessing the AGA Strategy’s impact and effectiveness and making necessary adjustments along the way.

The principle of working modalities, encompassing leveraging member advantages, effective communication, mutual respect and trust, and promoting accountability and transparency, sets the stage for a collaborative and inclusive approach. However, it is crucial to ensure that these principles are not mere aspirations but are integrated effectively into the AGA’s operational practices. Establishing mechanisms for accountability, transparency, and dispute resolution is essential to maintain the integrity and credibility of the governance architecture.

With the unveiling of the AGA Strategy 2024-2029 and the commitment of AGA members, there is renewed hope for an Africa characterized by peace, security, and effective governance. However, the path ahead requires unwavering dedication, collaboration, and a commitment to transparency. Only by translating the lofty ideals into tangible actions and empowering citizens at all levels can the continent truly overcome its governance challenges. The Pan-African Parliament and AGA members must now forge ahead, united in their pursuit of a brighter future for Africa, where democracy, human rights, and inclusive governance prevail.