1. Ms. Graça Machel,
Chair of the AWEPA
Eminent Advisory Board
“The work of AWEPA is well thought
out. We are proud of what you are
doing. Please continue on this line.”
Hon. Bert Koenders,
Minister for Development
Cooperation, The Netherlands
“Looking toward the future, it is as
important as ever for AWEPA to
continue its work of strengthening
relations between Europe and Africa,
especially by engaging with European
parliamentarians to get them to
understand the concerns of African
colleagues…. It is good that AWEPA
is there working toward a better future
based on the lessons learned of the
past period. We need to ensure that
parliamentarians take up their broad
responsibilities, such
as in post-conflict
reconciliation
and achieving
the MDGs.”
Mary Robinson,
former President
of Ireland and
UNHCHR
“I’m glad that ‘Promoting Parliamentary
Democracy’ is AWEPA’s 25 year theme.
I believe it is still a central component.
There is a lot to be done. I think AWEPA
can play an important role in explaining
the role of opposition in parliament
and the role of civil society as being
central components of parliamentary
democracy.”
Desmond M. Tutu,
Archbishop Emeritus, Honorary
Chair of the AWEPA Eminent
Advisory Board
“There are many serious challenges
facing Africa in the years ahead, and
we are grateful that we will have AWEPA
with us, at our
side, as we
together seek
to confront
then.”
The Organisat ion
Strong parliaments lie at the heart of Africa’s
long-term development; they serve as the
arbiters of peace, stability and prosperity.
AWEPA strives to strengthen African
parliaments and promote human dignity. For
25 years, AWEPA has served as a unique tool
for complex democratisation operations, from
Southern Sudan to South Africa. The pillars that
support AWEPA’s mission include:
A membership skills base of more than 1500
European parliamentarians, who devote their
wide-ranging expertise to peer-learning with
African colleagues;
Long-term partnerships with African
parliamentary colleagues, which ensure local
ownership and accountability;
An infrastructure of political and parliamentary
entry points, which spans 9 African and
2 European offices as well as some 25
parliaments in Africa and 28 in Europe,
including the Pan-African Parliament and the
European Parliament.
AWEPA is an international parliamentary
association that is strictly non-partisan. AWEPA
has Special Consultative Status with the UN
Economic and Social Council and is on the list
of ODA Eligible Organisations of the OECD/
DAC.
Programmes
Institutional Capacity Building For African
Parliaments
AWEPA works with some 25 parliaments in
Africa on regional, national and provincial
levels. Capacity-building programmes enhance
the skills of parliamentarians so that they can
better execute their legislative, representative
and oversight roles. AWEPA also works in
post-conflict countries, where it strengthens
the role of parliaments in promoting peace,
reconciliation and good governance.
Thematic Programmes
AWEPA informs parliamentarians and mobilises
parliamentary action on development issues
with conferences, exchanges and publications.
An important aim is to empower parliaments
to play a major role so that Africa attains the
Millennium Development Goals. AWEPA holds
high on its agenda: the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development, Gender Equality, HIV and
AIDS, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC),
Climate Change, Peace, Poverty Reduction, and
Private Sector Development.
European Parliamentary Programmes
To keep Africa high on the political agenda,
AWEPA has established a broad membership
base of current and former European
parliamentarians. Most members join individual
parliamentary Sections. AWEPA organises
diverse activities, which include EU Presidency
Seminars on Africa and visits by African
parliamentarians to European parliaments.
Research Programmes
AWEPA conducts research on African
democracy and development, and produces
parliamentary handbooks and other tools on
development-related issues.
Become a Member
AWEPA invites current and former
parliamentarians from European countries to
become members by completing the AWEPA
membership form on the website. There is
no membership fee, and members receive
the E-Newsletter and regular news up-dates.
AWEPA regularly invites its members to
participate in activities in Africa and Europe.
Our Partners
AWEPA’s primary partners are the parliaments
it supports. AWEPA also collaborates with a
variety of organisations in capacity-building
activities and policy dialogue. AWEPA has
Memoranda of Understanding with, among
others, UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM, the NEPAD
Secretariat, the Pan-African Parliament and the
national and regional parliamentary bodies.
Our Funding
AWEPA enjoys a broad funding base. Some
twelve European governments and the
European Commission support AWEPA’s work.
In addition, AWEPA receives funding from UN
agencies, including UNDP and UNICEF.
Our Off ices
AWEPA is headquartered in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands with an office in Brussels, Belgium.
AWEPA has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya
and Cape Town, South Africa, and local offices
in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and
Southern Sudan.
Leadership
AWEPA is steered by its Executive Committee,
accountable to the Council, which represents
AWEPA’s members. Dr. Jan Nico Scholten is
President of AWEPA, and Mr. Pär Granstedt
is Secretary General and CEO. An Eminent
Advisory Board, chaired by Ms. Graça Machel,
provides policy guidance.
Mission Statement
The Association of European
Parliamentarians for Africa
(AWEPA) works in cooperation with
African Parliaments to strengthen
parliamentary democracy in Africa,
keep Africa high on the political
agenda in Europe, and facilitate
African-European parliamentary
dialogue.
P r i n s H e n d r i k k a d e 4 8 - G
1 0 1 2 A C A m s t e r d a m
T h e N e t h e r l a n d s
P h o n e 3 1 . 2 0 . 5 2 4 5 6 7 8
F a x 3 1 . 2 0 . 6 2 2 0 1 3 0
E - m a i l a m s t e r d a m @ a w e p a . o r g
We b w w w. a w e p a . o r g
AWEPA
at a Glance
Main Donors 1 9 8 4 - 2 0 0 9
Austria
Belgium
Flanders
Denmark
European
Commission
Finland
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Others
Club de Madrid
Concern
DBSA
IAVI
ICRW
IMD
Trocaire
UNAIDS
UNDESA
UNDP
UNHCR
UNICEF
UNIFEM
UNOPS
World Bank

2. 1986
AWEPAA pushes
for strengthening
of EC sanctions
AWEPAA
membership grows
beyond 1000
1987
May
SWAPO President
Nujoma addresses
AWEPAA
conference
in European
Parliament
Partner:
Southern African
Development
Coordination
Conference
(SADCC)
1988
Twin conferences
in Lusaka and
Harare on
the Sanctions
Campaign
and support to
SADCC
1989
A pril
UNSC Resolution
435 starts
independence
process for
Namibia:
AWEPAA
organises fact-finding
mission
and international
conference in
Harare
J une
German
Parliament
hosts AWEPAA
conference on
South Africa
November
Election
Observation:
Namibia
1990
F ebruar y
Nelson Mandela
released from
prison
AWEPAA
campaigns against
premature lifting
of sanctions
March
Namibia achieves
independence
AWEPAA supports
new Namibia-EU
relations
A pril
AWEPAA with
Graça Machel
host fact-finding
mission to
Mozambican
refugee camps in
Zimbabwe
J une
Nelson Mandela
addresses
European
Parliament
1991
ANC calls for the
lifting of economic
sanctions
AWEPAA begins
campaign for lifting
sanctions
J une
AWEPAA opens
membership to
Central Europe
Angola Peace
Accord signed
November
AWEPAA hosts
Archbishop Tutu
at the European
Parliament
1992
October
Mozambique
Peace Accord
signed in Rome
AWEPAA
establishes office
in Maputo,
Mozambique
1993
AWEPAA renamed
AWEPA,
Association
of European
Parliamentarians
for Africa
AWEPA membership
grows beyond 1500
J une
Electoral
Referendum
Observer Mission:
Malawi
October
Nelson Mandela
urges AWEPA to
continue its work
1994
A pril May
Election
Observation:
South Africa – end
of apartheid!
Election
Observation:
Malawi
October
Election
Observation:
Mozambique
D ecember
Election
Observation:
Namibia
1995
Partner:
SADC
Parliamentary
Forum established
Partner:
Mozambique
Parliament
November
Election
Observation:
Tanzania
1996
Partner:
Southern African
Development
Community
Partner:
South African
Provincial
Legislatures
Partner:
Burundi National
Assembly
1997
AWEPA-UNAVEM
Human Rights
Monitors in Angola
March
Partner:
Network of Southern
African Women
Parliamentarians
Partner:
National Assembly
of Tanzania
1998
Partner:
Parliament of
Uganda
1999
Elections
Observaton:
South Africa
Elections
Observation:
Mozambique,
Namibia
2000
Partner:
Parliament of
Ghana
Partner:
Transitional
Parliament
DR Congo
2001
Partner:
Parliament Republic
of Congo
2002
SADC Regional
Women’s
Parliamentary
Caucus established
Partner:
UNDP for
Millennium
Development Goals
in Africa
Partner:
ECOWAS
Parliament
Partner:
East African
Legislative Assembly
Election
Observation:
Lesotho
Network of Central
African Women
MPs established
(RFPAC)
2003
AWEPA-UNICEF-
UNAIDS
Parliamentary
Toolkit on
HIV/AIDS
Partner: NEPAD
Secretariat
Partner:
NEPAD Contact
Group of African
Parliamentarians
2004
Partner:
Nelson Mandela’s
Children’s Fund
Partner:
Pan-African
Parliament
Partner:
Transitional Federal
Parliament of
Somalia
2005
Partner:
UNIFEM
Referendum
Observation DR
Congo
2006
Partner:
Southern Sudan
Legislative Assembly
Partner:
North-South Centre
of the Council of
Europe
Elections
Observation DR
Congo
2007
Partner:
National Assembly
of Benin
Partner:
National Assembly
of Kenya
Joint Africa-EU
Strategy adopted
Parliamentary
Support to ICGLR
Nelson Mandela
receives AWEPA
Human Dignity
Award
2008
European
Foundation
for Quality
Management –
AWEPA
membership and
recognition
Pan-African
Parliament
Women’s Caucus
established
Africa-European
Parliamentary
Dialogue on
Climate Change
and Food Security
launched
High-Level Forum
adopts Accra
Action Agenda
2009
October
25th Anniversary
Conference
on Promoting
Parliamentary
Democracy
in Africa
D ecember
African European
Parliamentary
delegation to
Copenhagen Global
Climat Summit
1984
November
AWEPAA
established,
Parliament of
Denmark
1985
J une
European
Community
imposes first
sanctions on South
Africa
AWEPA
Time Line:
1984-2009
The following points
are intended to give
a general overview
of Partnerships,
Programmes and
Progress over
25 years,
supplemented by
momentus occasions
in the history of Africa
in this period.