AU, UNDP launch year-long project

Addis Ababa, Jan 31 : The African Union (AU) Commission and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have kicked off a year-long project to mark the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the bloc.
The year-long initiative, dubbed “AU at 20: A Renewed Call to Action for the 21st Century”, envisaged to mark the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the AU towards charting a renewed call to action towards achieving continental and global development aspirations, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Endorsed by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the project will undertake a data-driven study to assess progress and chart a renewed call to action towards achieving Agenda 2063 (The Africa We Want) and the UN’s Agenda 2030,” an AU statement issued on Friday read.
The year 2022 will mark 20 years since the Durban Summit, which established the AU, the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
“Since then, the continent has experienced rapid economic growth and developed normative frameworks on development, peace and security, and governance,” the AU said.
The 55-member pan-African bloc, however, stressed that the continent “is yet to fully consolidate the successes of recent years and address persistent economic, governance and societal challenges”.