Strengthening the capacity of African Countries to design and implement policies that promote the nexus between peace, security, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance for an accelerated implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals [Phase II]
Other partners: African Union – African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), African Union Commission (AUC).
Specific partner countries, one per subregion, will be selected.
Synopsis
Objectives
The project aims to enhance the understanding of African countries of the implications of the nexus between peace, security, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance, and strengthen their capacities to design and implement policies that leverage the positive impact of the nexus for achieving sustainable development and durable peace in Africa.
Components
To foster nexus programming and building the capacity of African policymakers, the project applies an approach in two steps: first, the generation of knowledge, data and evidence about the nexus; second, the provision of support and capacity building to Member States based on the knowledge generated.
Main achievements
The project organized two UN Academic Conferences in New York: “Redefining African Features: The State, Resilience and Pathways to Progress” (December 2023), facilitating dialogue among academics, Member States, and the UN Peacebuilding Commission; and “Power, Justice, and the People: Human Rights and the Rule of Law for Africa’s Transformation” (December 2024), which concluded with policy recommendations to better integrate human rights and the rule of law into Africa’s development. A dedicated webpage and policy recommendations on conflict prevention and governance were produced.
The project also delivered 12 knowledge products, including policy papers, UN Country Team briefings, and videos. In 2023, a webinar on “The Future of Social Protection in Africa: From Cash Transfers to Innovative Solutions” was launched, followed by the 2024 launch of a Massive Open Online Course titled “Peace and Development Nexus in Africa: Governance, Financing, and Country Systems.”
At the 3rd International Seminar on Good Practices in School Feeding among the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) in São Tomé and Príncipe, the project provided strategic guidance on leveraging homegrown school feeding programs for sustainable development and peacebuilding, resulting in a pledge by CPLP nations to expand these programs.
Finally, a Tableau-based dashboard, the Minimum Viable Product, was developed to integrate datasets on governance and financial sustainability.
Impact
The project increases the awareness and understanding by UN entities, African Member States and the wider international community of the implications of the nexus approach on specific policies and, consequently it results in an increased focus toward nexus-sensitive planning and programming in the short-term, and a reduction of unrest and instability in the medium and long term.
