Exploring the Route of Policy Framework: “CONTINENTAL OPTIONS”

 The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;  The Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa;  The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme(CAADP)  The Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community  The Revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

 The Democracy Charter was adopted on the 30th January By April 2013, the Charter had been signed by 41 countries out of which only 17 countries had so far ratified;  The Democracy Charter aspires to address issues of poor governance and unconstitutional changes of government in Africa; It specifically deals with mismanagement of electoral processes, human rights abuses, and inadequate participation of all citizens in their governance.

 The promotion of democratic values and participatory democracy, separation of powers, holding of regular, credible and transparent elections, gender equality  All African countries must uphold the supremacy of their constitution and promote a culture of constitutionalism and the rule of law.  Promotion of transparent and accountable public administration, strengthening institutions of governance, promoting civic and voter education and ensuring multi-stakeholder political and social dialogue.  African countries will establish effective institutions for democracy, in order to consolidate civil control over the security forces.

 All women are entitled to the necessary conditions, including encouragement, for their full and active participation in the decision-making structures, and processes at all levels;  All Africans are entitled to the necessary conditions that promote citizen participation including access to information, freedom of the press and accountability of public institutions;  All Africans are entitled to regular, credible and transparent elections;

 The Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol, was adopted on 11th July 2003 by the African Union (AU).  As of April 2013, 48 countries had signed the Protocol out of which 36 have ratified. The protocol aspires to confront the continual discrimination, abuse and marginalisation of women in Africa and to reinforce their rights.

 All women and men have equal rights in a marriage and women are entitled to acquire their own property and to administer and manage it freely;  African women are protected from all forms of violence including sexual abuse and discrimination;  All women have the right to education, training and information to ensure their effective and equal participation in their development and that of their communities and countries;

 The CAADP was launched by the African Union (AU) and NEPAD and focuses on boosting the agricultural sector policies in Sub-Saharan Africa;  As of April 2013, 30 countries had signed the compacts for CAADP and 21 National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) had been developed.  CAADP is about achieving a higher path of economic growth through an Agriculture-led development agenda

 African Governments commit to provide a minimum of 10% of their national budgets to investment in agriculture, in order to achieve an annual agricultural growth of 6%;  Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are expected to lead politically and in advocacy on behalf of CAADP;

The RECs are regarded as the building blocks of the AEC. The stated goals of the organisation include the creation of free trade areas, customs unions, a single market, a central bank, and a common currency, thus establishing an economic and monetary union by 2028.

 Stabilisation of tariff and other barriers to regional trade and the strengthening of sectoral integration,particularly in the fields of: trade, agriculture, finance, transport and communication, industry and energy, as well as coordination and harmonisation of the activities of the RECs.  Integration of all sectors, establishment of an African Central Bank and a single African currency, setting up of an African Economic and Monetary Union and creating and electing the first Pan-African Parliament.

 States agree to urge one another to adopt employment policies that allow free movement of persons within the proposed AEC;  African states through the RECS commit to promoting free movement of persons, rights of residence and establishing through agreements on visa relaxation, single tourist visas, and regional passports;

 It takes on measures necessary to ensure conservation, utilisation and development of soil, water, flora and fauna resources;  It aspires to harmonise and coordinate policies in these areas with the view of achieving ecologically rational, economically sound and socially acceptable development policies and programmes

 Lack of implementation of policies;  Lack of coordination mechanisms;  Lack of control and reporting;  Disconnect between legislative powers and technocrat civil servants;  Lack of information to ordinary citizens;