On 19 October, the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Office to the African Union, the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, and the World Bank, launched the fourth phase of the African Union Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Capacity Programme by signing the Partnership Framework for 2023 to 2025 in Addis Ababa.

The programme aims to create sustainable disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration capacities within the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, and African Union Member States.

The African Union Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Capacity Programme focuses on enhancing disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) capacities on the African continent, as well as supporting national and regional initiatives.

In 2013, the project started with the first Partnership Framework among the African Union Commission, the UN, and the World Bank to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of Member States and peace support operations in designing and implementing DDR and related activities.

The first phase of the African Union Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Capacity Programme included building the DDR capacity of the African Union Commission, organizing sensitization and training workshops, establishing online and physical resource centres, and developing DDR Operational Guidance Notes.

The second phase consolidated the activities of the initial phase by emphasizing the operational support to African Union Member States and peace support operations.

The third phase underlined the importance of strategic and demand-driven interventions at the national and regional levels, focusing on strengthening local partnerships.

The main objective of phase four, in line with previous phases, is strengthening the institutional and operational capacities of Member States and peace support operations in designing and implementing DDR and related activities under African Union guidance.

This will be accomplished via the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms and other key institutions engaged in conflict prevention and response with DDR as an entry point.

To achieve this objective, the African Union Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Capacity Programme is divided into four mutually reinforcing pillars:

  • analysis and research

  • knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation

  • capacity building

  • operational support