The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) participated in the 11th African Standby Capacity (ASC) Coordination Meeting, held from 15th to 19th July 2024 in Dakar, Senegal. The meeting was co-hosted by the African Union (AU) Commission and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, with support from the Training for Peace Programme (TfP) and the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD).

The meeting, themed “Ensuring Compliance and Accountability: Preventing Human Rights Violations in Peace Support Operations,” focused on integrating the recently adopted AU Selection and Screening Policy into the ASC screening workflow and broader recruitment for PSOs. It also aimed to assess the progress of ASC activities since the last coordination meeting, identify challenges, and formulate mitigating measures. Additionally, the meeting served as a vital networking opportunity among the Commission and the RECs/RMs.

Representatives from the AU Commission, ECOWAS Commission, Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force Secretariat, along with strategic partners such as UNOAU and ACCORD, gathered to discuss key issues, fostering collaboration and reinforcing joint efforts in enhancing peace and security across Africa.