African Union
African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development
- Published
- Commenced on 13 January 2019
- [This is the version of this document at 27 June 2014.]
Chapter 1
Definitions, objectives, scope and values
Article 1 – Definitions
In this Charter, unless otherwise stated, the expressions below shall have the following meaning."AU" means the African Union"Assembly" means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union"Charter" means the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development"Commission" means the African Union Commission"Constitutive Act" means the Constitutive Act of the African Union"Decentralisation" means the transfer of power, responsibilities, capacities and resources from national to all sub-national levels of government with the aim of strengthening the ability of the latter to both foster people’s participation and delivery of quality services."Local development "means the mobilisation of local, national and global human, economic, socio-cultural, and political and natural resources for the improvement and transformation of livelihood, communities and territories at the local level."Local economic development" means an element of local development which emphasises the mobilisation of endogenous resources and local knowledge and skills in a manner that attracts investments to generate inclusive economic activities and growth and promotes the equitable redistribution of resources." Local Governance" means governance processes and institutions at the sub-national level, which includes governance by and with local governments or local authorities, civil society, and other relevant actors at the local level."Local Public Official" means a locally elected representative of a local government or local authority."Member States" means Member States of the African Union" Ministers" means Ministers of the central government or any authority of the central government responsible for decentralisation, local governance and local development"Regional Economic Communities" means regional integration blocks of the African Union"State Party" means any Member State that has ratified or acceded to the Charter and deposited the instruments of ratification or accession with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission"STCs" means the Specialised Technical Committees of the African Union"Sub-national level" means all levels of government below the national levelArticle 2 – Objectives
The objectives of the Charter are to:Article 3 – Scope
This Charter covers:Article 4 – Core values
This Charter shall be informed by the following values:Chapter II
Principles
The following principles shall underpin the approach to decentralisation, local governance and local development in Africa:Article 5 – Local governance
Article 6 – Subsidiarity
Article 7 – Resource mobilisation and local economic development
Article 8 – Diversity and differentiation
Without prejudice to observance of this Charter:Article 9 – Legality
Article 10 – Inclusion, equity and equality
Article 11 – Shared responsibility and complementarity
State Parties shall ensure that:Article 12- Participation
Article 13 – Representation
Article 14 – Transparency, accountability and ethical behaviour
Article 15 – Mainstreaming gender, youth and disability
Article 16 – Efficiency
Article 17 – Solidarity, cooperation and partnership
Chapter III
Mechanisms for implementation
Article 18 – Follow-up mechanisms
To give effect to the commitments contained in this Charter, the actions listed below shall be taken at the following levels:Article 19 – Reporting
Article 20 – Recognition, award system and commemoration
Chapter IV
Final clauses
Article 21 – Safeguard provisions
Article 22 – Settlement of disputes
Article 23 – Signature, ratification or accession
This Charter shall be open to all Member States of the Union, for signature, ratification or accession, in conformity with their respective constitutional procedures.Article 24 – Entry into force
This Charter shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of the receipt by the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union of the fifteenth (15th) instrument of ratification.Article 25 – Amendment
Article 26 – Depository
Last updated: 2022-03-25
Country 55 | Signature Date 18 | Ratification Date 8 | Deposit Date 8 |
---|---|---|---|
Algeria | |||
Angola | |||
Benin | 2016-09-23 | 2019-09-05 | 2019-09-26 |
Botswana | |||
Burkina Faso | 2019-08-19 | 2019-10-30 | |
Burundi | 2016-12-08 | 2017-01-18 | |
Cabo Verde | |||
Cameroon | 2016-10-04 | 2020-01-31 | 2021-06-09 |
Central African Republic | |||
Chad | 2015-06-14 | ||
Comoros | 2018-01-29 | ||
Democratic Republic of the Congo | |||
Djibouti | |||
Egypt | |||
Equatorial Guinea | |||
Eritrea | |||
Eswatini | |||
Ethiopia | |||
Gabon | |||
Gambia | |||
Ghana | 2016-01-28 | ||
Guinea | 2018-12-13 | ||
Guinea-Bissau | 2015-01-31 | ||
Ivory Coast | |||
Kenya | |||
Lesotho | |||
Liberia | |||
Libya | |||
Madagascar | 2016-01-30 | 2017-02-07 | 2017-04-13 |
Malawi | |||
Mali | 2017-02-07 | 2019-05-03 | 2019-05-29 |
Mauritania | 2015-02-26 | ||
Mauritius | |||
Morocco | |||
Mozambique | |||
Namibia | 2016-12-05 | 2016-12-15 | |
Niger | |||
Nigeria | |||
Republic of the Congo | 2015-06-12 | ||
Rwanda | 2019-05-10 | ||
Sao Tome and Principe | 2016-01-29 | ||
Senegal | |||
Seychelles | 2019-10-10 | 2021-09-15 | |
Sierra Leone | 2016-01-29 | ||
Somalia | |||
South Africa | 2021-08-25 | ||
South Sudan | |||
Sudan | |||
Tanzania | |||
Togo | 2019-04-02 | ||
Tunisia | |||
Uganda | |||
Western Sahara | 2018-07-02 | ||
Zambia | 2016-01-29 | ||
Zimbabwe |