DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE ALL AFRICA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
ON DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Doc: EX.CL/692(XX)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Second Ordinary Session of the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization and Local Development held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 8 to 10 August 2010;
2. RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.158 (VIII) adopted by the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2007 on the transformation of the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization and Local Development into an African Union (AU) structure within the framework of the restructured Specialized Technical Committees;
3. WELCOMES the convening of the Second Ordinary Session of the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization and Local Development as well as the progress achieved;
4. COMMENDS the Republic of Cameroon as the outgoing Chair of the Conference for its commitment and leadership in supporting and pushing forward the process of the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization and Local Development; and APPEALS to all other Member States to be more committed to that process aimed at shaping and strengthening the local dimension of the Continental Governance Programme and the Shared Values Agenda;
5. ENDORSES the following:
i) the establishment of an Africa Day of Decentralization and Local Development on 10 August of every year;
ii) the decision to draft an African Charter on the Values, Principles and Standards of Decentralization and Local Governance;
iii) the establishment of a continental Award System to acknowledge and emulate excellence in decentralization and local governance; and
iv) the Conference’s Long Term Strategic Plan 2011-2026 as an African Union Programme, including the periodic publication of an Africa Report on the state of Decentralization and Local Governance;
6. ENCOURAGES all Member States to join in the commemoration of the Africa Day of Decentralization and Local Development on 10 of August of each year;
7. REQUESTS the Commission to report on regular basis on the implementation of this Decision through the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC).