Effective Results-Based Management And Strategic Planning For The Bureau And Bureaux Of The Pan-African Parliament
June 22, 2024
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has recommenced its activities, marking the occasion with a joint workshop for the PAP Bureau and the Chairpersons of the Permanent Committees (Bureaux). This workshop is aimed at addressing the continent’s strategic goals and overcoming operational challenges. The workshop is being held ahead of the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) scheduled for 24 June to 5 July 2024 in Midrand, South Africa.
Central to the workshop was a presentation by Mrs. Botho Keba Bayendi, Director of Strategic Planning and Delivery at the African Union Commission. Mrs. Bayendi provided an in-depth overview of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s ambitious blueprint for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse of the future. She detailed the 10-Year Implementation Plan and highlighted several Continental Moonshots aimed at accelerating progress in key areas such as infrastructure development, economic growth, and technological innovation.
To address the apparent gaps in planning and execution, Dr. Dr. Remember Miamingi from Integrate Africa Advisory delivered a comprehensive session on result-based planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation. Dr. Miamingi emphasized the importance of aligning resources with outcomes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the AU’s initiatives.
A critical issue discussed during the workshop was the funding of the Pan-African Parliament and the African Union. It was revealed that Member States’ contributions constitute only about 6% of the overall budget, with over 90% being funded by external partners. This heavy reliance on external funding has raised concerns about the sustainability and autonomy of the AU’s programs.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) argued that the crux of the problem lies not in the budget itself but in the political will and governance issues within Member States. These MPs stressed the need for stronger political commitment to ensure that the AU’s objectives can be met effectively.
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Structure and Functions of the Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament’s organizational structure includes the Bureau and Permanent Committees, which are vital to its operations. The Bureau, composed of a president and four vice-presidents representing the five AU regions, oversees the management and administration of the Parliament and its organs.
The PAP has ten Permanent Committees and one ad hoc committee, each with mandates that mirror those of the AU Specialized Technical Committees. These committees can have up to 30 members each and cover a wide range of critical areas:
Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism, and Human Resources
Committee on Cooperation, International Relations, and Conflict Resolution
Committee on Gender, Family, Youth, and People with Disabilities
Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs
Committee on Trade, Customs, and Immigration Matters
Committee on Health, Labour, and Social Affairs
Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science, and Technology
Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline
Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment
Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA)
The Pan-African Parliament is guided by the Protocol to the Abuja Treaty and its Rules of Procedure. Its primary objectives and functions include:
Facilitating and overseeing the implementation of AU policies, objectives, and programs.
Promoting human rights, democratic institutions, good governance, transparency, and the rule of law across AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Member States.
Raising awareness among Africans about the AU’s objectives and programs, fostering continental solidarity, cooperation, and development.
Contributing to the harmonization and coordination of Member States’ legislation.
Coordinating RECs’ policies, measures, programs, and activities.
Preparing and adopting its budget and Rules of Procedure.
Electing its Bureau members and making recommendations on the AU budget.
Composition of the PAP
The Parliament comprises five members from each Member State that has ratified the Protocol establishing it, including at least one woman per Member State. This structure ensures that the diversity of political opinions within national parliaments is reflected in the PAP.
