The 2015 Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention

Handed by Hershel Daniels Junior to Presiding Officer Chilengi on November 21st 2015 at the Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention

We at FAU then updated this document during the Kwanzaa Accords Review of 2015 to read:

WE, signatures to this document do transmit it this day, December 28^th 2015, via the appropriate channels to the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Caribbean, the America via the OAS and United States of America.

EXPRESSING our appreciation to His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma, the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa and the African Union for the warm reception and for hosting and conducting the first Global African Diaspora Summit May 25^th 2012.

RECALLING the objectives and principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union;

ADDITIONALLY RECALLING the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted by the First Extra-Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2003, and in particular Article 3(q) which invites the African Diaspora to participate as an important component in the building of the African Union; 

RECOGNIZING the need to build sustainable partnerships between the African continent and the African Diaspora through sustainable dialogue and effective collaboration with governments and peoples of different regions of the World in which the Diaspora populations are located; 

COGNIZANT of the fact that culture and identity inform all facets of development; 

ACKNOWLEDGING the need to celebrate and preserve the shared heritage between Africa and peoples of African descent in the Diaspora; 

BEARING IN MIND that the African Diaspora represents a historical and evolving experience which calls for an approach that is sensitive to the specificities of the different regions; 

AFFIRMING the need to promote South-South Cooperation as a framework for enhancing mutual development as well as Pan-African Solidarity; 

REAFFIRMING the importance of women and youth as important pillars of our society that should be mainstreamed in all Diaspora discourses and actions; 

LAUDING the efforts undertaken thus far to support Africa and African Diaspora process including organizational efforts, measures and strategies pursued by the African Union;

FURTHER RECALLING relevant African Union Decisions including Decision EX.CL/Dec. 5 (III) on the Development of the Diaspora Initiative adopted by the Third Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Maputo, Mozambique, in July 2003, Decision EX.CL/Dec. 221 (VII) on the Africa-Diaspora Process adopted by the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in January 2006 and Decision EX.CL/Dec. 406 (XII) on the First African Union Diaspora Ministerial Conference adopted by the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January2008 on the modalities for Diaspora participation in the organs and activities of the Union and Decision Ass/AU/Dec.205(XI) adopted by the Eleventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in July 2008 on the Africa Diaspora Summit, Decision, Ass/AU/Dec 354 (XVI) of the Sixteen Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2011 on the Roadmap for the Diaspora Summit, including the convening of a Technical Experts meeting in Pretoria, South Africa in February 2011 and Decision Ass/AU/Dec 367 (XVII) of the Seventeenth Ordinary Session of Assembly of the Union on the convening of a second Ministerial Conference on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2011 as well as Decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 393(XVIII) endorsing the outcome and conclusions of the Second Ministerial Conference held in New York in September 2011.

ACKNOWLEDGE of the  importance to the African Diaspora of the establishment  of The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) under  the  provision of Articles 5 and 22 of the Constitutive Act; 

ACKNOWLEDGING ECOSOCC Statutes, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States (Assembly/AU/Dec.48 (III)). The first ECOSOCC General Assembly was formally launched on 9  September 2008 in Dar es Salaam, UR of Tanzania. 

KNOWLEDGABLE of the Structure of ECOSOCC and that under article 4 of the ECOSOCC Statutes, the Council is composed of 150 CSOs: 1  two CSOs from each Member State; 10 CSOs operating at regional level and eight at continental level; 20 CSOs from the African Diaspora, as defined by the Executive Council and covering the continents of the world; and six CSOs, in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the AU Commission and based on special considerations, in consultation with Member States. 

UNDERSTANDING that Article 4 also provides for Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora representatives to be elected on the basis of 50 percent gender equality and 50 percent aged between 18 and 35. Members are elected for four-year terms and may be re-elected once.

CONVINCED that popular participation in the activities of the African Union, as enunciated in the African Charter for Popular Participation, is a prerequisite for its success; 

GUIDED by the common vision of a united and strong Africa and by the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth, the private sector and the African Diaspora, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among our peoples; 

RECALLING  the  decision  of  the  ECOSOC Assembly  to  invite  and  encourage the  full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of the Continent, in the building of the African Union. 

CONVINCED of the need to build on these efforts and outcomes as the basis for establishing a solid foundation for the rejuvenation of the global African family as an instrument of wider renaissance; 

REALIZING the imperative of a sustained and coordinated approach and ownership of the African Diaspora related programmes and projects so as to promote their effective implementation and impact; 

COMMIT to cooperate in the political, economic and social areas outlined in this Report of the Global African Stakeholders Convention and Programme of Action, and implementation and follow-up modalities.

PLEASED that at the the inaugural session of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC that commenced in Nairobi on 21 December 2014 that the assembly then elected Mr. Joseph Chilengi of the Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice of Zambia as its Presiding Officer. He was sworn in formally into office on 22nd December 2014 at a ceremony attended by Her Excellency, Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.

THANKING for his attendance at the Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention ECOSOCC Presiding Officer Joeseph Chilengi.

EXPRESSING our appreciation to Head of Secretariat Dr. Jinmi Adisa for his support in holding the Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention.

FUTHERMORE RECOGNIZING that the work of adviser on Diaspora Relations Ms Evelyn Joe in carrying out creation of the the Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention and recognition of her skills and outstanding quality of advise and her expressed commitment to the integration and development agenda of Africa and the African Union.

THEREBY at this the Global African Diaspora Stakeholders Convention we agree to adopt, develop and report on the implement the five legacy projects as created in South Africa 25 May 2012 at the first Global African Diaspora Summit as a way of giving practical meaning to the Diaspora programme and in order to facilitate the post-Summit implementation programme. These are: a) the production of a Skills Database of African Professionals in the Diaspora; b) the establishment of the African Diaspora Volunteers Corps; c) the African Diaspora Investment Fund; d) a programme on the Development Marketplace for the Diaspora, as a framework for facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship among African and Diaspora; and e) The African Remittances Institute.

AGREEMENT between the people of the African Diaspora and ECOSOCC in regards to decisions to the five tasks given unto us the people of Africa in the sixth region, as defined by AU document,  on this day November 21st 2015, do hereby give this report to the leadership of the African Union.

1.  We have implemented phase I of the task to create the African Diaspora Volunteer Corps at au6.global with the African Civil Society Organizations (CSO).  CSO members include but are not limited to: 

• Social groups such as those representing women, children, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities and special needs 

• Professional groups such as associations of artists, engineers, health practitioners, social workers, media, teachers, sport associations, legal professionals, social scientists, academia, business organisations, national chambers of commerce, workers, employers, industry and agriculture, as well as other private sector interest groups 

• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and voluntary organisations 

• Cultural organisations 

• Social and professional organisations in the African Diaspora (in accordance with the definition approved by the Executive Council of ECOSOCC).

2. We have created an African Diaspora Skills Database Phase I which is used in the creation of the African Diaspora Volunteer Corps so as to encourage and support the development of an African Union Diaspora Volunteer programme as a framework for associating the Diaspora directly with the development of the continent and which as of this day is in operation at AU6.global.

3. We have created this day the framework for a report to be issued by May 25th 2016 on the African Institute of Remittance based on previous actions of the African Diaspora and organs and officials of the African Union since July 16 2012.

4. We have created this day the framework for an African Investment Fund based on previous actions since July 16 2012 and will use the business model of the American Community Reinvestment Fund as a guide in the creation of a global organization with an ownership structure that supports the people of the African Union. Each African country shall own 1% of the African Investment Fund through an in country public private partnership in which that countries African Union qualified civil society shall own at least 30% and the government through a private public partnership shall own up to 30%.

5.  We Africans of the Diaspora acknowledge that under Article 11 of the ECOSOCC Statutes there is established 10 Sectoral Cluster Committees as key operational mechanisms to formulate opinions and provide input into AU policies and programmes. The Committees are: Peace and Security; Political Affairs; Infrastructure and Energy; Social Affairs and Health; Human Resources, Science and Technology; Trade and Industry; Rural Economy and Agriculture; Economic Affairs; Women and Gender; and Cross-Cutting Programmes (such as HIV/AIDS, international cooperation and coordination with other AU institutions and organs). The ECOSOCC General Assembly may recommend amendments to the established Sectoral Cluster Committees. We will establish these operations in an organization which meets all of the requirements of ECOSOCC and will act in accordance with Article 5 Election of Members “African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections by May 25^th 2016 so as to elect twenty (20) CSOs (individuals only represent organizations) to the ECOSOCC General Assembly”.

The elections of the members of ECOSOCC at Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora levels shall ensure fifty percent (50%) gender equality provided that fifty percent (50%) of the representatives of the members shall consist of youths between the ages of 18 to 35

According to Article 6 Eligibility Requirements for Membership (ECOSOCC) The requirements to be fulfilled by CSOs (such as we propose) seeking membership are as follows:

1. Be national, regional, continental or African Diaspora CSO, without restriction to undertake regional or international activities.

2. Have objectives and principles that are consistent with the principles and objectives of the Union as set out in Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitutive Act.

3. Registration and status: a) Be registered in a Member State of the Union and/or; b) Meet the general conditions of eligibility for the granting of Observer Status to non-governmental organizations; c) Show a minimum of three (3) years proof of registration as either an African or an African Diaspora CSO prior to the date of submission of application, including proof of operations for those years.

4. Provide annual audit statements by an independent auditing company.

5. Show proof that the ownership and management of the CSO is made up of not less than fifty (50%) of Africans or of African Diaspora.

6. The basic resources of such an Organization shall substantially, at least fifty percent (50%), be derived from contributions of the members of the Organization. Where external voluntary contributions have been received, their amounts and donors shall be faithfully revealed in the application for membership. Any financial or other support or contribution, direct or indirect, from a government to the Organization shall be declared and fully recorded in the financial records of the Organization

7. Provide information on funding sources in the preceding three (3) years.

8. For regional and continental CSOs, show proof of activities that engage or are operative in at least three (3) Member States of the Union.

9. CSOs that discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, tribe, ethnic, racial or political basis shall be barred from representation to ECOSOCC;

10.Adherence to a Code of Ethics and Conduct for civil society organizations affiliated to or working with the (African) Union.

We will endeavor to have implemented preliminary work on the task to create the Development of a marketplace for African development in line with ECOSOCC Statues and shall report back to assembly not later than May 25th 2016 on the basis of the aforementioned 10 Sectoral Cluster Committees.

Friends of the African Union Operational Principles adopted by the Friends of the African Union on November 19th 2012.

We support the African Union [AU], it’s constitutive act and the history of the predecessor organization the Organisation of African Unity [OAU].

We support the recognition of the African Diaspora globally and legally by the AU.

We support the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its application to Africans and their condition worldwide.

We support the UN Millennium Development Goals for Africa and the economic-social uplift of Africans on the continent and in the African Diaspora as well work of the African Union in regards to increasing trade between African Nations and will incorporate the work of the International Year for People of African Descent [2011] as it was designated by the UN and Organization of American States.

We support the strategy and agenda of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) and through organization of African American Civil Society we support the legacy projects and continuing efforts to strengthen the Global African Diaspora Initiative of the AU.

We support Peace, Security and basic human dignity within Africa and around the globe, with an emphasis on stopping slavery in the AU and the African Diaspora.

We support the organization of African and peoples of African descent self-interest and uplift through a committee structure and take responsibility for organizing such in the United States of America.

We support the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of 2000 and by 2014 the creation of a new plan between the United States of America and the African Union that is supportive of the African Diaspora in the USA and would be sustainable not only in Africa but also in the host countries of the African Diaspora.

We support political empowerment of Africans as individual citizens and in free associations on cooperation and solidarity in the continent and in Diaspora.

We support the creation of the African American Diaspora Holding Company & Investment Trust who will start with creating a financial solution in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy through the US Federal Reserve and its banks.

IN ADDITION based on the 1st Global African Diaspora Convention that we will conduct a global tour based on the conversations with Ms. Joe before the first Global Africa Diaspora Convention. The name of this Tour will be the Sons and Daughters of Africa Tour a tour of the people of the African Union Diaspora. It is to be focused on spreading the word of the implementation of the African Union Global Diaspora Summit of 2912 and our joint agenda in Africa 2063.

The Sons and Daughters of Africa Tour is also meant to sensitized the Africans of the African Unions sixth region with the African Union with the organizations and its 50 years plan Agenda 2063. It will give the Diaspora sessions in the shared values that are to be used for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by her own people. It is also to mark the historic milestone of welcome of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council to the Diaspora in collaborative efforts to engage stakeholders in opportunities and the development of Africa.

So we sign as CSO’s and or their representatives

ECOSOCC was established under the provisions of articles 5 and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act. Its Statutes, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States (Assembly/AU/ Dec.48(III)).

ECOSOCC’s mandate includes:

• Contributing, through advice, to the effective translation of the AU’s objectives, principles and policies into concrete programmes, as well as evaluating those programmes
• Undertaking studies and making recommendations
• Contributing to the promotion and realisation of the AU’s vision and objectives
• Contributing to the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, good governance, democratic principles, gender equality and child rights
• Promoting and supporting the efforts of institutions engaged in reviewing the future of Africa and forging pan-African values in order to enhance an African social model and way of life
• Fostering and consolidating partnership between the AU and CSOs
• Assuming functions referred to it by other AU organs.

Under article 4 of the ECOSOCC Statutes, the Council is composed of 150 CSO’s: two CSOs from each Member State as of 52; 10 CSOs operating at regional level and eight at continental level; 20 CSOs from the African Diaspora, as defined by the Executive Council and covering the continents of the world; and six CSOs, in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the AU Commission and based on special considerations, in consultation with Member States.

Article 4 also provides for Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora representatives to be elected on the basis of 50 percent gender equality and 50 percent aged between 18 and 35.

Members are elected for four-year terms and may be re-elected once.