Strengthening the AU-UN Strategic Partnerships for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development in Africa

The African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, the Training for Peace Programme, Institute for Peace, Amani Africa, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, University of Ghana, and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) will convene a two-day policy and practitioner’s dialogue in New York from 13^th-14^th of October.

Background:

The international system is undergoing profound transformation as geopolitical competition, shifting power dynamics and increasingly complex security threats reshape global governance. The increasingly fragmented multilateral system has created significant challenges for collective responses to conflict, humanitarian crises, climate change and transnational security threats, raising expectations for regional organisations to maintain peace and security. As a result, the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) has become a more prominent pillar of multilateral cooperation. Guided by the Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, and aligned with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the partnership has evolved into a strategic mechanism for conflict prevention, mediation, peace support operations and post-conflict recovery. The Ninth and Tenth AU-UN Annual Conferences reaffirmed both organisations' commitment to strengthen coordination and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2719 on financing African-led peace support operations.

Despite these advancements, the AU-UN partnership operates within an increasingly demanding security environment. Protracted conflicts in Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, together with terrorism, violent extremism, humanitarian crises and climate-related security risks, continue to test regional and international peace efforts. Conversely, Resolution 2719 presents new opportunities to strengthen African-led peace support operations through more predictable and sustainable financing. Addressing these challenges will require closer AU-UN cooperation on the protection of civilians, child protection, human rights due diligence, border security and integrated responses to emerging security threats.

Four events will be hosted across key partner institutions:

• 13^th October, 09:00-12:00 (EST): Building an Effective African Union and United Nations Partnership for Peace and Security in Africa. Hosted by the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the UN and The Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN.
• 13^th October, 13:00-16:00 (EST): Converging and Utilising Special Political Missions, AU Liaison Offices, UN Peacekeeping and AU Peace Support Operations. Hosted by The International Peace Institute. Digital participation: https://ipinst-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/RV9GaUDYQi2u_c18j-eo3A#/registration
• 14^th October, 09:00-12:00 (EST): Advancing the Climate, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa. Hosted by the Royal Danish Mission to the United Nations.
• 14^th October, 13:15-13:45 (EST): Protecting Civilians in Africa (Advancing Protection of Civilians, Child Protection and Women, Peace and Security). Hosted by the United Nations.