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Partnership for Africa's Development: Progress in implementation and international support", the following issues are slated, pursuant to GA Res 59/254, 59/ 255:

UNFPA's partnership with the AU, RECs and Regional Institutions in the context of the NEPAD and AU's strategic programme framework

Results to Date (chorological order starting from the most recent output)

  • AU Ministers of Health approved a continental RH Policy Framework.

  • The requirement analysis of AU's development database is nearing completion

  • Cooperation project agreement with the African Union Commission for $1.2 million has been approved. The project aims at Strengthening AU's institutional and technical capacity.

  • UNFPA supported the AUC's Department of Social Affairs in undertaking MDG+5 review (intended contribution to the GA Review of MDG+5 in September 2005. The MDG Review Report has been widely disseminated.

  • As a result of relentless policy dialogue, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the UNFPA and the African Union. This MOU is to make the basis of all other agreements with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

  • UNFPA participated in consultation meetings on AUC's role in intensifying the struggle against HIV/AIDS. It provided technical inputs to the Draft HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (2005-2007) and to the Strategic Plan of AIDS Watch Africa(AWA)

  • UNFPA participated in brainstorming sessions on the mission and vision of the African Union Commission (AUC). It also sponsored and participated in a retreat on the Strategic Orientation of the Department of Social Affairs. This coupled with continued policy dialogue contributed to the inclusion of gender mainstreaming, youth development and empowerment, family, reproductive health and population issues in the AU strategic programme framework covering 2004-2007.

  • Through a financial and technical support to the AU Gender Directrater, Gender Focal Persons from the RECs, ECA, NEPAD Secrtariat, ECA (among others) convened to brainstrom on the strategic framework of AU's gender policy. Moreover, they group agreed to establish the "AU-Inter-REC Coordination Committee on Gender and Women's Development".

  • The harmonization of reproductive health policies in EAC partner countries has been agreed by the respective Ministers of Health.

  • UNFPA supported the AUC in developing the continental position on the African Family; the AU position paper was a contribution to the GA observance of 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in September 2004. Technical input was also provided for the Implementation Plan of Action. (Other contributions included inter alia technical inputs to the expert group meeting and to the analytical paper on "African Family in the New Millennium: Prospects and Challenges"

  • UNFPA supported the AUC in producing the first ever State of the African Population Report.

  • Financial contribution was mad to AU conferences such as (a)the Labour and Social Affairs Commission, (b) General Assembly of the African Population Commission which is in the process of being revitalized and (c) Arican Minsterail Confrence on Housing and Urban Development.

  • Rapid Capacity assessment for WAHO, IGAD,ECA and SADC was undertaken and areas of priory support have been identified.

  • A report on "Selected Positive Cultural Practices" in Africa (with examples from 30 African Countries is under final review) is under review for publication. The selected practices are associated with social support systems linked with poverty reduction, women's empowerment etc.

Undergoing initiatives

  • A letter of understanding on formal partnership agreement between the EAC and UNFPA is in its final stages.

  • Technical in put is being provided to the AUC, inter alia, for the following: (a) review and developing of strategies for strengthening African Health Systems, (b) identification of model health projects (best practices); (c) developing strategies for operationalization of the Road Map on acceleration of the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality in Africa.

  • A letter of understanding between WAHO (West African Health Orginazation, part of ECOWAS) and UNFPA is being discussed between the two organizations.

Planned activities are mostly in the project proposal awaiting AD's approval but the following could be mentioned by way of examples (not exhaustive) only.

  • Support to the Special Session of African Ministers of Health on SRH (September 06)

  • Support to the African Union with respect to Pan African Youth Charter; (in collaboration with EAC); and related African Youth Experts Meeting and Youth Forum (first week of December).

  • Gender Policy formulisation

  • Support to AU Advocacy on Human Rights and HIV/AIDS

  • Support to the African Cultural Congress (December 05)

  • Agreement on priority areas of support to IGAD;

    Support NEPAD Secretariat in mainstreaming RH and HIV/AIDS across all sectors as well as develop M & E indicators for APRM

  • Support NEPAD Secretariat in its efforts to sensitize and develop the capacity of NEPAD Advisors, professional staff and Management on gender issues

UNFPA support ECA and other regional and sub-regional institutions in the context of NEPAD and the AU programme

  • Financial and Technical contribution to ECA for (a) the Beijing+10 support (b) Preparation for the African Development Forum V - Focussing on Youth.

  • UNFPA collaborated with ECA in the production of a technical paper on the linkages between population, environment and poverty reduction. (the Paper was presented to the Conference of Africa Finance Ministers)

  • Financial contribution to the IPPF Africa with respect to the sub-regional reviews of progress towards improved reproductive health (in the context of the ICPD at 10)

  • Financial contribution to the Pan African Child Policy Forum regarding the International Conference on the African Child and Family