EVENT: Action4Peace Forum 2020
THEME: “Action for sustainable Peace in Africa”
DATE: December 1–5, 2020
VENUE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ORGANIZER: African Artist Peace Initiative (AAPI)
African Artist Peace Initiative (AAPI) believes that the most viable and sustainable way to promote long lasting peace is to inculcate the culture of peace and non-violence in the minds of the African citizenry and most especially the young (who are not only the future leaders, but the leaders of today). Genuine elections are an essential basis for sustainable development and a functioning democracy.
AAPI believes that actions supporting the right to participate in genuine elections can make a major contribution to peace, security and conflict prevention, which is a major challenge in all parts of Africa. The ‘‘Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives 2020-2030’’– will create a platform in which non-state actors can co-create and pilot concrete peace-building initiatives at the grassroots and national levels. The annual forum will retool and explore creative means of peace education, social justice, democratic culture and non-violent conflict resolution strategies in Africa, using the AU and UN peace mechanisms as a prefix.
The present day situation calls for radical changes in democratic processes and sustainable development; the decade long Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives Campaign– intends to address the two kinds of realities: the ”world of depression” where everything is moving according to the wishes of those in authority or power, and the ”world of civilization and equality” where laws, rules, money, power, authority, influence and so-called development controls the total activity of human activities.
This campaign will inspire the thoughts and actions needed to achieve sustainable peace in Africa; through the nexus between critical & creative thinking and the urgent need for a peaceful and secured Africa for all.
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Action for Peace Forum and Initiative 2020 activity description
The strategic policy direction and programmatic actions required to implement this campaign are immediate, deliberate and multi-sectoral. The proposed forum and initiatives for 2020 and beyond, has five (5) interventions or action factories. These activities has been identified as key priority area’s of intervention in line with AAPI’s long term strategic plan in an attempt to create ”An Africa fit for all; where justice, peace and security prevails”. The proposed pilot initiatives will organize and champion deliberate coordinated non-state actors strategic interventions and collective voices in reinforcing the ”AU Silencing The Guns by 2020 Campaign and the joint ”Pan-African Culture of Peace in Africa Initiative” – spearheaded by the African Union and UNESCO. Initiatives developed and piloted will feed into the Annual TANA Forum organized by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) Addis Ababa University and the Biannual Pan-African Forum on Culture of Peace – organized by UNESCO and African Union Commission (AUC).
Side events during the first Action for Peace Forum and Initiative 2020
Cinema for Peace:-African Cinema and Films have been used in recent times to raise awareness about sensitive issues not usually discussed in public or formal settings. The 4th Cinema for Peace will screen African films related to culture of peace and social justice issues.
Music for Peace Concert:-Music is a universal language for dialogue, socializing and edutainment. African music is consumed all over the world and can be a strategic tool to communicate messages on peace-building and change of mindsets on socio-political challenges that leads to conflict. The 3rd Music for Peace Concert will feature AAPI Music for Peace Ambassadors across Africa and Diaspora in a staged concert in Addis Ababa.
Friendly football match (Ethiopia and Eritrea female teams):- Football (soccer) is the sport that attracts the greatest number of people around in Africa, practiced in over 270 countries. Its massive appeal, goes beyond the likes of football fans and players, it also involves large private investments, political interests, and a complex network of relations between different levels of society. Therefore, football is not strictly limited to the field, but is actually a social phenomenon. In any case, the place that football holds and the impact it produces depends on the general social context. Sports for Peace embodies the uniting principles of participation, inclusion and global citizenship. The Friendly Football Match between the female teams of Ethiopia and Eritrea will further contribute to strengthening the peace-building and reconciliation process of both nations.
The 5th Africa Humanitarian and Peacemakers Award (AHPA):- The prestigious Award is given to deserving individuals and/or organizations that have dedicated their work in promoting and championing a ‘’Culture of Peace’’ as defined by UNESCO, tolerance and understanding. Past recipients of the award includes: Roskilde Festival of Denmark (2016), H.E. Madam Bineta Diop, African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (2017), Amb. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage in Africa and Secretary General of the World Young Women Christian Association (2018), H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and H.E Isaias Afwerki, President of the State Eritrea (co-recipients, 2019). H.E. Amb. Kwesi Quartey, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission will be the recipient of AHPA 2020. The Award is in recognition of his consistent efforts in championing partnerships for peace, African cultural heritage and Pan-African values in Ghana Africa and the Diaspora.
Launch of Action for Peace Africa Fund (APAF):-The biggest challenge undermining peace-building efforts in Africa is the lack of innovative financing. The launch of a funding facility to support peace initiatives developed from the decade long campaign, Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives 2020-2030, will accelerate peace-building actions at the grass-roots and national levels. APAF will be managed by an independent board of trustees elected from the delegates of the Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The board will consist of seven (7) elected members, mandated to serve for five years (2020-2025). A partnership relationship will be developed with the Africa Peace Fund of the African Union.
Action for Peace Forum and Initiative 2020 Implementation Strategy
The activities of the forum will be implemented in a systematic approach through strategic planning meetings, stakeholders’ consultations and partnership engagement activities. A Technical Organizing Team (TOT) will be set-up by AAPI comprising key stakeholders and supported by the AAPI Secretariat and partners. Gender and Non-Discrimination is one of the core values of AAPI. Technical Organizing Team, Co-Chairs of Action Factories for Peace Initiatives, Forum Facilitators and Rapporteur Teams will be experienced experts in contents and knowledge management, facilitating skills and creative communications approaches. They will ensure and continually reinforce compliances and sensitivity to gender, non-discrimination and cultural concerns. As possible, TOT will promote professionalism, transparency and accountability during the activities of the forum and proposed peace initiatives.
A resource mobilization strategy will be developed to support the operations of the Action for Peace Africa Fund (APAF). AAPI will build synergies and partnerships with potential partners and collaborators. In order to reduce the dependency on external supports and ensure actions for peace initiatives are sustainable: Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives 2020-2030 will be sustained and supported through the funding mechanisms of APAF.
Monitoring and evaluation will be an ongoing process through-out the life circle of the decade long campaign. Evaluation and monitoring would be done continuously to ensure the proper implementation of the action for peace pilot initiatives at the national level. Internal monitoring and evaluation would be conducted to measure campaign impact. An effective supervision system will be put in place to manage and systematically monitor progress, assure compliance with the pilot initiatives, and initiate corrective action when shortfalls are identified.
An annual African Partnership for Peace (APP) policy-influencing meeting will be organized on the margins of the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa; to engage the African Union member states by showcasing results, good practices and seek further partnerships for the Action for Peace Forum and Initiatives 2020-2030 Campaign.
About African Artist Peace Initiative (AAPI)
African Artist Peace Initiative (AAPI) is a pan African movement of artists, activists, arts-tivists and peace-tivists (AAAP), using creative arts, creative communications and cultural diplomacy (CCC), as a tool to champion the culture of peace and social justice in Africa. AAPI was formed in 2014, and officially launched in January 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the margins of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit.
Source: AAPI