The political and socio-economic integration of the African continent: The role of the Pan-African Parliament

"The Issue of Political and Socio-economic Integration of the African Continent: The Role of the Pan-African Parliament” is a continential conference that will contribute to a better understanding of the importance of functional approaches and the democratic dividends of integration processes. 

The three-day conference also will encourage proactive reflection on the role of the Pan-African Parliament in these processes. The knowledge-sharing and exchange of ideas on political and socio-economic integration, will enable participants to delineate a plan that can serve as a basis for further action at numerous different levels.

Participants will discuss the role of shared values and the new developmental approach to natural resource governance in Africa as a catalyst for bolstered linkages between sustainable democracy, transformative development and continental integration, within the framework of the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of the AU Agenda 2063 for Socio-economic Transformation of Africa, and of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of its contribution to the celebration of 10 years of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA, AWA) is organizing the conference—under the leadership of the Pan-African Parliament and in partnership with the African Capacity Foundation (ACBF), the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF) and the African Mining Development Center of ECA (AMDC).

Article 2, al 7 of the ACDEG states “Encourage effective coordination and harmonization of governance policies amongst State Parties with the aim of promoting regional and continental integration”. The objectives of the continental conference are therefore to:

1. Assess the progress made so far and identify the challenges to achieving continental integration;
2. Reflect on the status of ratification and implementation of African Union (AU) legal instruments on Human Rights and on their role in political integration of the Continent;
3. Share best practices of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) and regional parliamentary organs, the synergies between them, and their capacities for an enhanced ownership of the shared values of the African Union, with a view to establishing a continental political union;
4. Sensitize members of the Pan African Parliament and the regional parliamentary bodies to the New Developmental Approach to Natural Resources Governance, within the context of AU’s African Mining Vision (AMV), as a vehicle to socio-economic integration;
5. Familiarize members of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) and regional parliamentary bodies with AU’s AMV and its linkages to sustainable, democratic, inclusive, participatory, and domestically-based transformative development, regional integration and a continental free trade area;
6. Disseminate and popularize the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance – particularly to parliamentarians from the PAP and regional parliaments.

The conference will gather approximately 200 persons from across the continent—including parliamentarians from the PAP and regional parliaments, representatives of AU organs, regional economic communities, political parties, election management bodies (EMBs), civil society actors, media, academics, and development partners. They will represent a balanced gender and inter-generational mix that will allow for an open exchange of varying experiences and perspectives.

Participation in the dialogue is by invitation only.