African Union Liaison Office
In the five years since it was established, the African Union (AU) has assumed roles and responsibilities much broader in scope and complexity than its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity – including efforts to mediate and settle crises in Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Given that the majority of the humanitarian crises are in Africa and that close to three quarters of OCHA’s offices are in the continent, the establishment of the AU Liaison Office in Ethiopia is intended to enhance strategic partnerships with the AU and respective regional organizations, particularly the Regional Economic Commissions.
OCHA’s functions relate particularly to the AU Commission’s Departments and Directorates for Political Affairs, for Peace and Security and for Rural Economy and Agriculture. This lays the foundation for four main areas of collaboration between OCHA and the AU: policy development and protection of civilians; emergency response coordination; advocacy and information management; and external relations and resource mobilization. OCHA and the AU will benefit from effective mutual engagement by focusing on humanitarian response through the establishment of processes, deliberations and better policies.
The liaison office will facilitate OCHA’s engagement with the AU by serving as a conduit between the organization and OCHA at the field, regional and international global level. The Office will seek to improve the understanding of humanitarian coordination tools and financing mechanisms. The liaison office will enhance AU preparedness planning and emergency response capacity in support of its Member States by improving the AU’s understanding of humanitarian preparedness structures and tools.
Given OCHA’s recognized leading role in humanitarian policy, advocacy and information management, the liaison office will monitor, in cooperation with relevant OCHA sections, regional and field offices, critical humanitarian challenges, issues and trends at the continental level; and will bring them to the forefront of the AU and relevant stakeholders. The liaison office will contribute to the development of an AU strategy for the dissemination of humanitarian principles, tools and the promotion of protection of civilians.
Key Objectives, Outputs and Indicators
