REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM

1. REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM REPORT OF THE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION S CLUSTER 14-15 NOV 2012

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE ACC AND CHALLENGES Goal • The goalof the ACC is to ensure the promotion of the work of AU/NPCA through capacity building, and to mobilize African and international support to the implementation of AUC and AU/NPCA priority objectives. Challenges faced by the ACC • The level of cooperation between the ACC and the rest of the clusters remains a key challenge. • Another major constraint faced by the cluster is the lack of specific resource allocations which makes it difficult to plan and implement activities. • the issue of clearly identifying who the beneficiary of the UN intervention under the Ten Year Capacity Building Program (TYCBP) are needs to be accepted throughout the RCM

3. priority activities: 2013 The ACC has decided to focus on a few, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound deliverables for 2013. It will • Help to build the capacity of the AU to effectively brand its visual identity as well as rebranding Africa though use of the most appropriate tools and networks • Support the upgrading of skills within the AU communication offices through attachments and/or exchange programmes. Skills include writing, filming, photography, social media • Support in finalising the AUC communication strategy • Provide technical support and expertise in the production of a video documentary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the OAU and the 10 years of the AU • Assist in publicising the news and feature stories of the AU through the UN radio and TV network

4. recommendations • All cluster activities should be guided by the priorities set by the AU/NPCA • Focal points for communication in each of the clusters are necessary. . Every cluster should improve and strengthen internal communication. • It is essential to empower communication focal points by providing them with concrete tools of communication • With minimum funding, it is felt that the ACC could create a newsletter or a web platform where ideas could be shared in real time using contributions from every cluster. • Develop a resource mobilization strategy for ACC, but within the overall resource mobilization efforts of the RCM as a whole • This forum should re emphasise that the TYCBP is aimed at all of the African Union

5. www.au.int African Union Commission

6. MAIN ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN SINCE OCTOBER 2011 • For the third year in the row, the cluster organized a briefing for UN Member States on the work of RECs • DIC and ECA collaborated in the coverage of major meetings and training of media • July 2012, the cluster organized an expert group meeting on the role of RECs in peace and development in Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon. • DPI’s Africa Section offered to help the African Union and NEPAD Agency publicize their news or feature stories • ECA continued the weekly publication of NEPAD Today • ECA and NEPAD Agency co-published “A Decade of NEPAD: Deepening African Private Sector and Civil Society Ownership and Partnership” • Some UN officers participated in the AUC Communication Strategic Planning workshop • DIC started distributing its newsletters to cluster members • UNOAU provided expert to make proposals on improve • A manual for African journalists is under production