Sometime in the year 2013 (26 May to be specific) during the 21st ordinary assembly of the African union (AU), a proposal was tabled to establish Agenda 2063. Given that the year 2013 was the 50th year of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) (the precursor to the African Union), Agenda 2063 established in 2013 for an institution that was originally established in 1963 suggests (to us at PanAfreeka) that Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework of initiatives and goals that Africa through the auspices of the AU wants to achieve over the next 50 years (i.e. from 2013 – 2063) with the benefit of hindsight of the previous 50 years (i.e. 1963 – 2013).
Agenda 2063 aims to structurally transform Africa and the goal is to build on existing initiatives such as the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), Programme for infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT), and Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The link between Agenda 2063 and the African continental Free Trade Area agreement
If African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) was a child, then Agenda 2063 is the parent, and in this family are many siblings of the AfCFTA. This is because when Agenda 2063 was adopted in 2015, it came with a set of defined aspirations, goals as well as flagship projects of which just one is the AfCFTA.
Agenda 2063 Aspirations
Agenda 2063 is built on 7 aspirations and as PanAfreekans who are confronted with the imperfections of our continent, these aspirations may seem quite far-fetched however as we do our bit to be a part of this transformation, it is worthwhile to have an idea what these aspirations are.
The 7 aspirations of Agenda 2063 are (Ref-1):
- Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
- Aspiration 2: An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and a Vision of the African Renaissance
- Aspiration 3: An African of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law
- Aspiration 4: A peaceful and secure Africa
- Aspiration 5: African with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, value and beliefs
- Aspiration 6: An Africa whose development of people driven, relying on the potential of the African People
- Aspiration 7: Africa as a strong and influential global partner
Agenda 2063 Flagship projects
In order for the 7 aspirations to stand a chance to see the light of day, the following flagship projects have also been identified and are at various levels of implementation.
- Integrated High Speed Train Network
- Formulation of an African Commodities strategy
- Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- The African Passport and Free Movement of People
- Silencing the guns by 2020
- Implementation of the Grand Inga dam project
- Establishment of a Single African Air-Transport Market (SAATM)
- Establishment of an Annual African Economic Forum
- Establishment of the African Financial Institutions
- The Pan-African E-Network
- Africa Outer Space Strategy
- An African Virtual and E-University
- Cyber Security
- Great African Museum
- Encyclopedia Africana
We hope from the above, you can get a sense that there is a lot going on. While the AfCFTA in itself made up for so many moving parts, it is one of several other flagship projects that the AU assembly and leadership have put forward as a way of shifting the beloved continent from the Africa that is to the Africa we want.
References (Ref.)First Continental Report on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 February 2020 African Union (AU) and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) |
Useful Links
For more information relating to Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area take a look at some useful Links (UL) below:
- https://afcac.org/en/images/Documentation/yd_eng.pdf
- https://www.nepad.org/agenda-2063/flagship-project/african-commodity-strategy
- https://www.nepad.org/agenda-2063/flagship-project/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta
- https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-530107183/african-commodities-strategy-value-addition-for-global
- https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/33100-wd-6a-brochure_on_single_african_air_transport_market_english.pdf
- https://afcac.org/en/images/Documentation/yd_eng.pdf
- https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/1506-the-single-african-air-transport-market-pida-brochure-2017/file.html
- https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/38223-wd-progress_report_on_the_implemenation_of_agenda_2063_eng.pdf
- https://au.int/en/treaties/african-union-convention-cyber-security-and-personal-data-protection
- https://pau-au.africa
- https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/36403-treaty-protocol_on_free_movement_of_persons_in_africa_e.pdf
- https://www.nepad.org/agenda-2063
- https://au.int/en/ti/aida/about
- https://au.int/en/ie/pida
https://au.int/en/ti/biat/about - https://au.int/en/caadp
One thought on “African Continental Free Trade Area and Agenda 2063”