VALIDATION MEETING ON THE DRAFT MAPUTO STRATEGIC FIVE- YEAR WORK PLAN ( ) AND THE LAUNCH OF THE CIVILIAN STRATEGIC SUPPORT GROUP CONCEPT NOTE

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1 AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) Fax: (251-11) union.org VALIDATION MEETING ON THE DRAFT MAPUTO STRATEGIC FIVE- YEAR WORK PLAN ( ) AND THE LAUNCH OF THE CIVILIAN STRATEGIC SUPPORT GROUP ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 5 TO 7 SEPTEMBER 2016 CONCEPT NOTE 1

2 DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE KEY REFERENCES Report of the Civilian Meeting of the African Standby Force, Lusaka, Zambia (May, 2015) Declaration of the 8 th Meeting of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS), Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (May 2015) Declaration of the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the STCDSS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (January, 2016) Report of the After Action Review of the AMANI Africa II Field Training Exercise, Maputo, Mozambique (April, 2016) Declaration of the 9 th Meeting of the STCDSS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (June, 2016) 2

3 BACKGROUND 1. In 2015, the African Union (AU) Commission in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) conducted the historic AMANI Africa II Field Training Exercise (AA- II FTX). The AA- II FTX was a watershed opportunity to validate the operational readiness of the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability. Upon completion of the AA- II FTX, the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence Safety and Security (STCDSS) was held from 13 to 15 January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to review the initial findings on the conduct of the AA- II FTX. Upon the recommendations of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff, the Second Extraordinary Session of the STCDSS declared that the ASF has attained Full Operational Capability (FOC) following successful conduct of the AA- II FTX and the confirmation of FOC attainment status by four RECs/RMs. The STCDSS Extraordinary Session also made several recommendations, including the need to continue to enhance the progress achieved in the ASF, through the development of a five- year Strategic Work Plan. 2. Consequently, the AU Commission conducted an After Action Review (AAR) on the AA- II FTX, from 4 to 8 April 2016 in Maputo, Mozambique. The AAR produced a report on the concrete achievements, challenges and made recommendations on the enhancement of the ASF, based on the conduct of the AA- II FTX. The AAR also provided an opportunity revise the draft Five Year Work Plan on the ASF as well as to receive preliminary inputs from the RECs/RMs and training centres on the document. These inputs were used as a basis of further revision of the draft work- plan. 3. The further revised work- plan was presented to Experts during the 9 th Ordinary Meeting of the STCDSS held in Addis Ababa from 1 to 4 June On the basis of this presentation, it was recommended that, a. The Draft Maputo Work Plan should include indicators, deliverables and timelines. b. The Work Plan should also take into account existing work plans developed by the various RECs/RMs. c. The AU, the Member States and the RECs/RMs should mobilise resources for the effective implementation of the Work Plan. d. The revised draft Maputo Five Year Work Plan should be considered in a meeting between the AU and RECs/RMs before the end of 2016 and be submitted to the next STCDSS meeting for their consideration and approval. 4. It is against this background that the AU Commission through the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the Peace and Security Department is convening a two- day validation meeting to finalise the Draft Maputo Five Year Work Plan on the ASF. 3

4 5. In addition to the validation meeting, and in order to maximize limited resources, this meeting will provide an opportunity to officially launch the Civilian Strategic Support Group (CSSG), a coordination mechanism aimed at enhancing the civilian dimension of the ASF. The CSSG was established following the decision by the 8 th Meeting of the STCDSS to enhance and articulate the role of civilians in high intensity operations. Subsequently, a meeting of civilian focal points of the RECs/RMs and Training Centres was held in Abuja from 7 to 8 March in Abuja, Nigeria to develop a Terms of Reference of the CSSG. The Terms of Reference was subsequently finalised, which is the basis upon which this platform will be launched. OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP 6. The Workshop will seek to achieve the following objectives: a. Review the draft Maputo Five Year Work plan on the ASF, taking into consideration the recommendations made during the 9 th STCDSS Meeting and other relevant decisions. b. Generate inputs from the RECs/RMs on the basis of their respective work- plans in order to develop a comprehensive document. c. Agree of the time- lines for the approval, implementation modalities and periodic review of the draft work plan. d. To review progress made and launch the Civilian Strategic Support Group (CSSG), which was officially authorised through the 8 th Meeting of the STCDSS. PARTICIPANTS 7. The meeting will be composed of representatives from the PSOD and RECs/RMs. The Ag. Director of Peace and Security and the Head of PSOD will lead the meeting shall participate lead the discussions on the AU Commission side. It is strongly encouraged that the highest possible technical representation from the RECs/RMs participates in this workshop in other to promote the required ownership and institutional mainstreaming of the document. 8. Two participants from each RECs/RMs will be invited to participate in this workshop. Accordingly, the AU Commission with the support from ACCORD will cover the costs of air tickets, meals, and accommodation. Other costs, or additional participation from the RECs/RMs shall be borne by the participating RECs/RMs. 4

5 EXPECTED OUTCOMES 9. This workshop will lead to the finalisation of the draft Maputo Work Plan on the ASF based on the inputs made by the invited experts. This Strategic Work Plan will benefit from the strengths and gaps identified in the implementation and evaluation of previous ASF Roadmaps. Most importantly, the ASF Strategic Work Plan will seriously take into account the new and emerging realities in the areas of peace and security as well as peace operations in Africa, as well as strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to resolve conflicts in Africa. 10. Additionally, the workshop will present an opportunity to review the progress made and officially launch the CSSG as decided by AU Member States. TIME AND VENUE 11. The workshop will be held from 5 to 7 September 2016, at the AU Commission Compound, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. FOCAL POINT: Dr. Jide Okeke Head of Policy Development Unit, Peace Support Operations Division Peace and Security Department African Union Commission Addis Ababa, Ethiopia okekej@africa- union.org ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT: Ms. Sabela Abebe AbebeS@africa- union.org 5