AFRICAN UNION AGENDA 2063

Faith Leaders that attended the consultation on the Agenda 2063

Statement of Affirmation and Commitment of Faith-Based

Organisations in Africa on the Agenda 2063
Being a Statement issued at the end of the African Union Consultation with African Faith-Based
Organisations on the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, held on 5th and 6th November 2014
at the Desmond Tutu Conference Centre Nairobi, Kenya, organised by the African Union
Commission (AUC) in partnership with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).
Preamble
The religious groups are a major component of the African society. This is evident in the popular
view that Africa is a religious continent and that its people, are religious as well. Religion and
religious expressions play a profound role in the construction of the African identity and social
interaction. It becomes imperative for the African Union to seek for the inputs and collaboration
of faith-based organisations in mapping strategy for a future desired for the continent. It was
against this background that this consultation was convened.
Acknowledgement
We, the religious leaders present unanimously commend the African Union for such a visionary
action of developing the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want as a step in the right direction and
most timely. We also appreciate the AUC working in collaboration with African Development
Bank, Economic Commission for Africa and New Partnership for Africas Development for the
initiative to involve faith-based organisations in the whole process of dreaming of a future for our
beloved continent;
(cont.)
www.aacc-ceta.org Tel: +254 - 20 - 4441483, 4441338/9 Fax: +254 - 20 - 4443241, 4445835
Email: secretariat@aacc-ceta.org
General Secretariat: Waiyaki Way P.O. Box 14205-00800 Westlands Nairobi Kenya

We acknowledge the urgent need for the Agenda 2063 as a blue print by Africans for Africas
development agenda for the next 50 years;
We acknowledge that, as religious leaders, we have a critical role to play towards the realization
of the Agenda 2063;
We acknowledge that the letter and spirit of the Seven Aspirations of the Agenda 2063 resonate
well with both our spiritual values and social realities;
We acknowledge with deep gratitude the role played by the AACC in facilitating this meeting
and offering hospitality to us.
Observations
We observed that:1. To a great extent, the Agenda 2063 has addressed the contestations of the kind of Africa we
want;
2. The ownership and commitment to the Agenda 2063 by the African political leadership is
critical for its successful implementation;
3. Contributions made in other initiatives especially the Millenium Development Goals and Post2015 Development Agenda are closely related to the Agenda 2063, therefore proper alignment
should be done for broad impact;
4. It is difficult to foster a culture of peace in an atmosphere of increased militarization in the
continent.
Recommendations
1. The Agenda 2063 framework should be simplified for easy understanding and usage;
2. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Agenda 2063, a Monitoring and
Evaluation system should be put in place to track progress at the country level;
3. Appropriate measures should be taken to tackle challenges such as corruption, youth
unemployment, land grabbing, gender inequality, religious extremism, and militarization of the
state, in order that the continent achieve the Aspirations of Agenda 2063;
4. Acknowledge and harness the huge potential of women and youth to contribute immensely
towards the realization of Agenda 2063;
5. Civic education should be integrated in educational curricula at all levels;
6. We recommend for genuine and timely solidarity with those in difficult situations and
challenging moments in the spirit of Pan-Africanism;
7. To effectively mobilize Africans in Diaspora to work actively towards the realization of the
Agenda 2063;
8. To establish a permanent platform/forum where religious leaders and AUC meet periodically
to discuss and assess the progress of the Agenda 2063.
Commitments
We as religious leaders commit ourselves to;
1. Participate fully in the realization of the Aspirations outlined in Agenda 2063 and in driving
the Pan-African agenda;
2

2. Vehemently oppose all forms of politicization of religion and religious extremism;

3. Deliberately work in collaboration with each other to prevent conflicts and entrench a culture of
peace and reconciliation;
4. Mobilize our constituents to intentionally work towards the realization of the Agenda 2063;
5. Be in solidarity with each other especially the people in difficult situations and challenging
moments;
6. Practice what we preach in accordance with our religious values of love and good neighborliness.

We hereby affirm our commitment to the foregoing statement

on this day 6th November 2014