Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD)

Background

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) is a priority area of the African peace and security agenda. Since the transition from the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU), African leaders have progressively put in place mechanisms and institutions, at regional and continental level, to prevent violent conflict and attend to and resolve those that have already occurred. In each conflict situation the AU and regional organisations continue to make efforts to facilitate negotiations for peaceful resolution and encourage peaceful co-existence. The result has been a steady decline in the number of active conflicts on the continent.

The risk of resumption of conflict in many situations is high, and a combination of local, regional and international factors create numerous obstacles to successful post-conflict reconstruction. Africa’s future has become increasingly dependent on the continent’s ability to undertake successful PCRD activities that consolidate peace and pave the way for growth and regeneration. In recognition of this imperative, the AU adopted a policy framework for PCRD at its 7th Summit in Banjul, the Gambia in June-July 2006. SaferAfrica supported and assisted the AU in developing the policy framework.

Activities

Ongoing/ Planned Activities

Support the AU in the implementation of the Banjul decision adopting the PCRD policy framework:

Support implementation of the PCRD policy at regional level and national level.
Support AU in popularising the AU Policy on PCRD, as adopted at the AU Summit in Banjul.
Support the AU in the creation of a resource pool of African expertise on PCRD

Support harmonisation of the agenda and actions of international actors engaged in PCRD with the AU Policy Framework
Provide ongoing support to actors at national, regional and continental level in the implementation of the PCRD policy by leveraging the support of an expert network on PCRD.

Past Activities

SaferAfrica provided support to the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission, which led to the adoption of the policy on post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) by the Executive Council at the AU Summit in Banjul, Gambia in June 2006.
Support to the AU took the following forms:

Co-hosted and facilitated the 4th Brainstorming Retreat of the AU Peace and Security Council and other Member States’ Permanent Representatives on PCRD in Durban, South Africa on 4-5 September 2005.
Participated in and facilitated the Continental Experts meeting on PCRD, on6-7 February 2006. This meeting deliberated on all of the principles, constitutive elements and mechanism for the implementation of an AU PCRD policy.
Participated in Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD) Meeting on PCRD, in February 2006. This meeting focused on three areas, namely: Security, Political Governance & Transition, Community Reconstruction and Socio-Economic Development.
Participated in and served as a resource person at the AU-CSO meeting on 5-7 April 2006 that reviewed and inputted into the draft Policy Framework on PCRD
Participated and facilitated AU-CSOs meeting and deliberation on their role in PCRD (April 2006)
SaferAfrica was a resource organisation to the Peacekeeping, Reconstruction and Stability Operations conference, organised by IQPC in March 2006. SaferAfrica also presented at the IQPC conference on PCRD in May 2006.
Facilitated Continental Governmental Experts meeting on PCRD on 8-9 June 2006. This meeting considered the draft policy document and made recommendations.
Expert facilitation of meeting of the UN-Affiliated University for Peace on PCRD, in June 2006. This meeting focused on, and jumpstarted the roll-out of one of the critical elements of PCRD.
Led drafting team that finalised draft policy framework, in line with recommendations coming out of the governmental experts meeting. (June 2006)