The AU holds a Special Session on Ouaga+10 in Namibia

The ILO attends the Special Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs' Commission to evaluate the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment Promotion and Poverty Alleviation in Africa.

23 April 2014

Background

The Special Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission takes place at a time when the African Agenda for the next 50 years (AU Agenda 2063) is being developed. The Special Session also convenes at a time when Africa is defining a Common position regarding the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
The 9th Ordinary Session of the AU LSAC (Addis Ababa, April 2013) decided to convene the Special Session in Windhoek, Namibia, from 23-25 April 2014 to evaluate the implementation – ten years later - of the 2004 Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment Promotion and Poverty Alleviation.

Objectives

To provide opportunity for a High Level Participatory Evaluation/Assessment of the Ouagadougou 2004 Declaration and Plan of Action;
To facilitate building of Agreement/Consensus on the current and future challenges of labour markets and policy perspectives at all levels;
To adopt a Revised Policy Framework for the next decade on Labour, Employment and Social Protection: A new Declaration, Plan of Action and Follow-up Mechanism;
To discuss modalities for preparation of the Extraordinary Summit in September 2014.

Key priority areas themes for policy debate:

Youth and Women’s Employment
Social Protection and Inclusive Growth, Informal Economy, Social Economy and Rural Employment
Productivity, Competitiveness and Social Dialogue
Labour Market Governance
Labour Migration and Regional Economic Integration
Partnership and Funding for implementation of employment policies

Expected outcomes:

The Declaration on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development
The Plan of Action on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development
The Follow-Up Mechanism on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development

Participants:

AU Member States with tripartite delegations
Regional Economic Communities
Pan African Parliament
ECOSOCC
NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)
international partners
Non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations

English