JOINT PRESS RELEASE
African
Union Commission and Oxfam hold pre- Summit training to engage the
Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisation to know
and brand the AU
The
training, was jointly organised by the Directorate of Information and
Communication (DIC) of the African Union and Oxfam International, Addis
Ababa Office in view to enlighten the CSOs; the NGOs and the media on
the need to know the vision and missions of the AU and to bring in their
own contribution in their respective capacities in supporting the
development agenda of the AU Commission.
The
training aimed to familiarize the civil societies and media with the
structures and organs of the AU as well as policy making process of the
Union. Participants were briefed on their expected role to take active
part in the development of the continent. They were urged to work in
close collaboration with the Directorate of CIDO and ECOSSOC as an entry
point to the AU given their important participation in the building
process of all sectors of development. The training workshop was
conducted by experts from Oxfam International and the DIC-AUC.
Addressing
participants at the opening ceremony, Mr. Desire Assogbavi, Head of
Oxfam International liaison Office to Addis Ababa, recalled that the
African Union has been seeking to achieve a strong integration of the
continent by setting up a strong partnership between government
including the civil societies and media so that they can play their role
in narrowing the gab of misinformation. He underlined the need to
update one another through effective and efficient communication
activities.
Speaking
on behalf of Mrs. Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, Director of Information and
Communication (DIC) of the AU Commission, Mrs Esther AzaaTankou said the
DIC has engaged in a number of partnership in line with its
communication and advocacy strategy including: Oxfam, UNESCO, FES in a
bid to enhance the media landscape through creation of networks with
African journalists as well as promote the activities of the Union. A
presentation of NETPEACE, one of the networks grouping journalists
interested in covering peace and security issues in the continent was
done by Ms. Yaye Nabo Sene, Information Officer in the DIC.
Participants
also received briefings from the followings: Mr. Alimany Sesay
representing the Legal Counsel of the AU Commission addressed the issue
on the AU policies and decision making process, while Mr.
Takwa Zebulon representing the department of Peace and Security of the
AU Commission presented the issue of conflict prevention and resolution
as well as the peace and security architecture. Mr. Dismas Nkunda
representing International Refugee Rights Initiative and Ms. Jamilah
Mwanjisi representing the state of the Union (SOTU) addressed the issues
of social mobilisation in view to enable the CSOs take active part in
the AU’s development efforts.
The
training ended with a written exercise by the participants to test
their knowledge on the African Union. Certificates were awarded at the
end of the training.
