The African Governance Architecture (AGA) is a mechanism for dialogue between stakeholders that are mandated to promote good governance and bolster democracy in Africa. In the book entitled The African Union Law (Ed. Berger Levrault, 2014, p. 29) Blaise Tchikaya established the link between conceptual platform called AGA and the modernisation of International Law applicable to African states. The AGA is fundamentally one aspect – probably the most significant – of recent international law of governance. Furthermore, it is a key actor in promoting the domestication and implementation of the objectives outlined in the legal and policy pronouncements in the African Union (AU) Shared Values. Established in 2011 AGA is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the AU Headquarters with the AGA Platform Members based Africa wide. In February 2016 the rules of Procedure on how the AGA legally functions were adopted by Member States during the African Union Summit.
History The discussion of a “Pan-african Architecture on Governance” began with the 16th Ordinary Session of the African Assembly which focused on the theme of the Shared Values of the AU. This Session was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2011 and adopted a mandate that would establish a "Pan-African Architecture on Governance". In order to give effect to the Assembly decision on the Establishment of the Pan-African Governance Architecture, the African Union Commission (AUC) established the African Governance Architecture (AGA) as a platform that promotes interactions between stakeholders who work on promoting good governance and strengthening democracy in Africa, in addition to translating the objectives of the legal and policy pronouncements in the AU Shared Values (see below for more information).
With 2012 being the year of AU Shared Values the diverse charters of the AU were pushed to becoming an integral guide to the activities to both the Organs and Member States of the African Union. As a result, the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), an integral document stipulating the functions of the AGA, was put into force after being adopted in 2007.
On the 14 of June the AGA Platform was established in Lusaka, Zambia in order to create a space within the AGA structure where the diverse stakeholders and organs of the AU working in the field of Democracy, Elections and Governance work together to implement and domesticate the AU Shared Values.
In 2013 both the Platform and Secretariat became operational and finally for the 26th ordinary Session of the AU assembly (Jan 2016) the Rules of Procedure were legally adopted giving the AGA a legal guide on its activities.
Goals and Purpose/Mandate
Goal
The overall goal of the AGA is to strengthen good governance and consolidate democracy in Africa.
Objectives Source:
Accelerate the ratification, domestication, implementation and monitoring of African Shared values instrument
Deepen synergy, coordination, cooperation and harmonization of shared values instruments among AU organs, institutions and RECs on democracy, governance, human rights and humanitarian affairs.
Enhance the capacity of AU organs, institutions and RECs to support Member States to strengthen governance and consolidate democracy through implementation of shared values agenda
Enhance popular participation and citizen engagement in attainment of democracy, governance and respect for human and peoples’ rights
Coordinate evaluation and reporting on implementation and compliance with AU norms on governance and democracy as envisaged by article 44, 45 and 49 of the ACDEG.
Foster dialogue and share comparable lessons on trends, challenges, opportunities and prospects for improving governance and democracy among Member States
Generate, manage and disseminate knowledge on African shared values agenda, good governance and democracy in Africa.
Facilitate joint engagement and deepen synergy with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) in strategic interventions: preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention and post-conflict, reconstruction and development in Africa.
AGA Structure
Four interrelated components make up the structure of AGA:
Norms & Standards Source:
The AGA is structured around a normative framework that is set up by the African Union Shared Values. AGA is based on objectives and principles that have been defined in the various AU Shared Values instruments that AU Member States have signed and ratified and thus committed to, including but not limited to the following:
Name of instrument Short descriptionConstitutive Act of the African Union Establishes the African Union and defines its objectives, in particular a commitment to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance.African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance Expands upon the constitutive act, committing Member States to the adherence of universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights. It promotes the adherence to rule of law, the holding of free and fair elections, and the rejection of unconstitutional changes of government.African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights Recognizes the rights, duties and freedoms that accrue to all Africans and commits Member States to undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to those rights.OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa Defines the term “refugee” and ensures that those seeking asylum shall be protected.African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Recognizes the freedom from discrimination, inherent rights, and the necessity of protecting children under the law on the continent.Protocol to the African Charter establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Provides for the functions, responsibilities and jurisdiction of the Court, along with the process for submitting to the Court.Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa Requires State Parties to combat all forms of discrimination against women through appropriate legislative, institutional and other measures. It also commits State Parties to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of women and men to achieving the elimination of harmful cultural and traditional practices and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes, or on stereotyped roles for women and men.African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration Aims to ensure quality and innovative service delivery that meets the requirements of all users while encouraging the efforts of Member States in modernizing administration and strengthening capacity for the improvement of public service.African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa Establishes a legal framework for preventing internal displacement, and protecting and assisting internally displaced persons in Africa, while providing for durable solutions to displacement.Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice & Human Rights Aims at merging the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Court of Justice of the African Union. It specifically establishes the Court and defines its organization, jurisdiction and procedures.Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union Establishes a standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the continent.African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption Acknowledges the damaging effects of corruption on the continent and promotes the development of mechanisms required to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offenses in the public and private sectors.African Youth Charter Protects young people from discrimination and ensures freedom of movement, speech, association, religion, ownership of property and other human rights, while committing to promoting youth participation throughout society.Algiers Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes Addresses the importance of strengthening the capacity of the AU to deal with the scourge of unconstitutional changes of government.Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government Affirms and updates the Algiers Declaration, committing to the AU's rejection of unconstitutional changes in government.OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections Provides for democratic elections as a basis of the authority of any representative government and states the principles for such elections, including guidance for observers and monitors.Conference on Stability, Security, Development and Democracy (CSSDCA) Memorandum of Understanding Reaffirms the fundamental link between stability, human security, development and cooperation in a manner that reinforces each other.African Union Post-Conflict and Reconstruction Policy Framework Sets out an African agenda for post-conflict reconstruction which aims to, among other things, address the nexus between the peace, security, humanitarian and development dimensions of post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding.New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic & Corporate Governance Commits to ensuring that Heads of States’ respective national constitutions reflect the democratic ethos and commits support to democracy and good political governance, economic and corporate governance, socioeconomic development and the African Peer Review Mechanism.Memorandum of Understanding on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Establishes partnerships with the States who have signed on to APRM and commits to implementing the shared commitments as established in the Constitutive Act.Kigali Declaration on Human Rights in Africa Reaffirms the principle that all human rights are universal, indivisible, inter-dependent and inter-related. It reaffirms Member States commitments to upholding and protecting these rights as noted.Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa Reaffirms the commitment to gender equality and agrees to accelerate the implementation of measures to combat discrimination and ensure the full and effective participation of women in peace processes.Declaration on the Theme of the 2012 Summit “Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values” Establishes AGA and commits the African Union towards implementing and affirming its Shared Values.
AGA Platform Sources:
The AGA Platform consists of institutions and AU Organs with a formal mandate on governance, democracy, human rights, elections and humanitarian assistance. The Platform envisions to harmonize the shared instruments and coordinate joint initiatives in governance and democracy. The members are: