AU and UN Strengthen Strategic Partnership at the 10th High-Level Dialogue on Africa’s Development and Global Governance

Date: 13th May 2026

Venue: AU headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) partnership remains one of the most strategic multilateral collaborations advancing peace, security, sustainable development, governance, and human rights across the African continent. The AU-UN partnership has continued to strengthen coordination mechanisms and joint frameworks aimed at addressing Africa's evolving political, socio-economic, humanitarian, and security priorities.

The AU-UN Annual Conference was established as a high-level platform for strategic dialogue between the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to review progress, deepen collaboration, and provide political direction on continental and global priorities affecting Africa. Since the inaugural conference convened in New York on 19 April 2017, the partnership has progressively evolved through strengthened cooperation in peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, governance, humanitarian response, and institutional coordination.

The first AU-UN Annual Conference underscored the importance of the strategic partnership between the two organizations in promoting sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, and good governance across Africa. The meeting also highlighted the strong synergies between Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda, recognizing the interconnectedness between development, peace, security, and governance as central pillars for Africa's transformation. Through the Joint AU-UN Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security signed in 2017, the two organizations committed to closer cooperation in conflict prevention, mediation, sustaining peace, addressing root causes of conflict, counter-terrorism, humanitarian response, climate resilience, and strengthening women's and youth participation in peace processes.

Over the years, the AU-UN Annual Conference has become a strategic platform for strengthening Africa's voice in global governance while promoting coordinated responses to emerging continental and international challenges. The conferences have contributed significantly to advancing joint peace operations, mediation efforts, humanitarian coordination, sustainable financing discussions, climate action, migration governance, women and youth empowerment, and the operationalization of flagship continental initiatives under Agenda 2063.

Since 2017, the AU-UN Annual Conference has been marked by continuous engagements and strengthened collaboration between both organizations, including:

• 1st AU-UN Annual Conference (2017): Strengthening the strategic partnership between the African Union and the United Nations on peace, security, sustainable development, governance, and human rights.
• 2nd AU-UN Annual Conference (2018): Advancing the implementation of the AU-UN Framework on Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030.
• 3rd AU-UN Annual Conference (2019): Strengthening conflict prevention, mediation, humanitarian coordination, and sustaining peace initiatives.
• 4th AU-UN Annual Conference (2020): Coordinating continental and global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic recovery.
• 5th AU-UN Annual Conference (2021): Enhancing resilience, health systems strengthening, and sustainable recovery mechanisms.
• 6th AU-UN Annual Conference (2022): Accelerating climate action, peacebuilding, and inclusive development across Africa.
• 7th AU-UN Annual Conference (2023): Strengthening cooperation on governance, humanitarian response, and youth empowerment.
• 8th AU-UN Annual Conference (2024): Promoting integrated approaches to peace, security, development, and regional integration.
• 9th AU-UN Annual Conference (2025): Advancing multilateral partnerships for sustainable peace, economic transformation, and Africa's global representation.

ABOUT THE 10TH AU-UN ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Rooted in the shared vision of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 10th AU-UN Annual Conference reflects the enduring commitment of the African Union and the United Nations to deepen strategic cooperation in advancing Africa's peace, security, governance, development, and human rights priorities. The conference convenes at a defining moment as Africa continues to address interconnected challenges requiring coordinated, inclusive, and innovative multilateral solutions. It recognizes that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without inclusive development, accountable governance, strengthened institutions, and expanded opportunities for women and young people.

The conference also reinforces the importance of aligning continental and global frameworks, particularly Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, while promoting integrated implementation approaches across AU Member States and regional economic communities. Through strengthened institutional coordination, policy coherence, data systems, financing mechanisms, and joint programming, the AU and UN seek to enhance impact and accelerate Africa's transformation agenda.

The conference will also provide a forum for discussions on strengthening Africa's voice and representation in global governance and decision-making, mobilizing sustainable financing for development and peace support operations, enhancing humanitarian coordination, advancing gender equality, empowering youth, and leveraging technology and innovation for sustainable development.

OBJECTIVES OF THE 10TH AU-UN ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The overall objective of the 10th AU-UN Annual Conference is to strengthen strategic cooperation and coordination between the African Union and the United Nations in advancing Africa's peace, security, governance, human rights, humanitarian, and sustainable development priorities in line with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The conference will:

• Strengthen institutional collaboration and coordination between the African Union and the United Nations across key thematic areas.
• Promote integrated approaches linking peace and security, human rights, humanitarian response, and sustainable development.
• Advance the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals through coordinated programming and policy alignment.
• Enhance cooperation in conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts across Africa.
• Promote stronger coordination on humanitarian response, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction.
• Strengthen collaboration in addressing terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit arms flows, and emerging security threats.
• Enhance women's and youth participation in peace, governance, and development processes.
• Promote evidence-based policymaking, integrated monitoring systems, and strengthened data ecosystems.
• Strengthen support for regional integration, trade facilitation, and Africa's economic transformation agenda.
• Enhance resource mobilization and sustainable financing mechanisms for development and peace support operations.
• Promote Africa's effective representation and participation in global governance and decision-making processes.
• Strengthen multilateral partnerships and collective action towards achieving The Africa We Want.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

It is expected that the 10th AU-UN Annual Conference will yield the following outcomes, among others:

• Enhanced strategic partnership and institutional coordination between the African Union and the United Nations.
• Strengthened cooperation frameworks supporting peace, security, governance, human rights, and sustainable development across Africa.
• Improved coordination on conflict prevention, mediation, humanitarian response, and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Increased alignment and harmonization of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030 implementation mechanisms.
• Strengthened support for women and youth inclusion in governance, peace, and development processes.
• Enhanced collaboration on climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and sustainable recovery efforts.
• Improved coordination on counter-terrorism, migration governance, and transnational security challenges.
• Strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks for continental and global development agendas.
• Increased cooperation on sustainable financing mechanisms and resource mobilization.
• Reinforced Africa's voice and participation in international governance and policy platforms.