The document provides an annual review of the work of the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU) in 2013. The OI-AU works to promote active citizenship in AU affairs and address peace, security, and humanitarian issues. In 2013, key activities included convening civil society discussions on conflicts in DRC and Mali, supporting citizen engagement with AU summits and meetings, conducting advocacy on peace and conflict issues, and providing information and training to journalists and civil society. Going forward, the OI-AU will launch a program on extractive industries in Africa and continue supporting citizen participation in AU processes.

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Raising Citizens’ Voices & Enlarging the Space
OXFAM International
Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU)
Annual Review 2013

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
This is the Annual Review 2013 of the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU) formally
established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Union and a Host
Agreement with the Government of Ethiopia.
Liaison Office with
The African Union

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Raising Citizens’ Voices & Enlarging the Space
Introduction
Besides representing the Oxfam confederation to the African Union, the Oxfam International Liaison
Office with the African Union (OI-AU), operating under Oxfam International’s Secretariat, carries out
two main programmes: 1/ Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union and 2/ Peace, Security
and Humanitarian Affairs. From January 2014, the Office will launch an additional programme: “Making
African Extractive Resources Work for Africa”.
In this review, you will find the highlights of our work this year to implement the OI-AU strategy. This has
been achieved by working in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Oxfam Pan Africa units
in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa and Oxfam programmes in 35 African countries, various partners and
allies in and outside the African continent and in synergy with the Oxfam Advocacy offices in New York,
Brussels, Geneva and Washington DC.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the committed and dynamic team of staff, associates
and volunteers who made our year’s success happen.
I would also thank the African Union leadership and
our various friends and allies at the Commission as
well as in the various embassies for their strong
collaboration over the year.
Finally, I thank the Government of Ethiopia, especially
the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their
support and the facilitation of our operation in Addis
Ababa. Désiré Y. Assogbavi
Resident Representative and Head of Oxfam
Liaison Office of the African Union

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
OI-AU Mandate:
1. Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union: To support civil society organizations and ordinary
citizens of Africa to engage with the African Union and be part of the policy debates that affect their life.
This role is in line with the African Union’s vision of a people driven organization, and to build an integrated,
prosperousandpeacefulAfrica,anAfricadrivenandmanagedbyitsowncitizensandrepresentingadynamic
force in the international arena.
2. Saving lives now and in the future: Peace, Security and Humanitarian issues Direct
engagement with the African Union’s peace and security organs in terms of policy
advocacy building on Oxfam’s operational presence in a number of conflict affected
countries including Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Mali, Somalia etc.
3. Representation of Oxfam to the African Union and management of the confederation relationship
with the African Union and its organs and member states in the framework of the existing
Memorandum of Understanding between Oxfam International and the African Union Commission.
Our Theory of Change!
Change will happen when African citizens are informed, empowered and enabled to influence policies,
practices and to use mechanisms to hold their leaders accountable
Over the year 2013 our key achievements are the following:

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Peace , Security and Humanitarian Affairs
Oxfam’s global Rights in Crisis campaign aims to support the rights of people caught in emergency and
humanitarian crisis situations. In Africa, five countries have been identified as priorities due to ongoing
conflict or continued instability: DRC, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. At OI-AU, much of our
work relates to these countries and the RiC campaign; acting as a link between the work of the country
teams and the African Union Commission and Peace and Security Council/Department. In 2013 Oxfam
reach approx. 2 million people across these countries and thus connecting and effectively engaging
with the AU is crucial to our efforts to push for their interests.
Mary Robinson addressing members of civil society organizations during a forum hosted by OI –AU in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
Strategic consultation with UNSG special envoy to DRC, Ms Mary Robinson and African CSOs in Addis
OI-AU convened a consultative meeting between H.E Mary Robinson, Special Envoy of the UN
Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region (GLR), and CSO representatives on the sidelines of
the 21st AU summit in May 2013, where 26 CSO representatives discussed issues around the DRC
framework agreement.

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
Engagement with the Peace and
Security Council/Department of the
AU
On World Humanitarian Day, OI–AU brought a
representative of a partner organization from the
DRC to directly address the special session of
the Peace and Security Council on the protection
of civilians and gender based violence in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Claudine Tsongo from DRC and OI–AU then
submitted recommendations to the PSC Chair
of the month which, among other things, called
upon the PSC to encourage the 11 signatory
states to the DRC Peace and Security Framework
Agreement to remain politically engaged in finding
lasting solutions to the conflict and uphold their
commitments. The recommendations also called
upon DRC’s neighbours to actively promote a
regional solution to the conflict.
the Africa Solidarity Initiative
OI-AU participated in the AU strategy gathering
in South Africa to formulate strategies for the
implementation of the African Solidarity Initiative
(ASI), which aims to mobilize and enhanced
support from within the continent for post-conflict
reconstruction and development in countries
emerging from conflict, with a view to consolidate
peace where it has been achieved.
Annual Review 2013

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Women and Children in Situations of Violent
Conflict in Africa
Muleya Mwananyanda,
Oxfam’s Rights in Crisis
Africa Campaign and Policy
Manager addressed the
Peace and Security Council
of the African Union during
its two open sessions on
“women and children in situations of violent
conflict in Africa”.
Conflict Area Partners Engaged with AU
Official and Ambassadors
OI–AU facilitated a number of high level dialogues
between Conflict affected partners from Mali,
DRC, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia and other
key targets including AU , EU officials and other
development partners in May
OI-AU assisted the African Union Peace and
Security Department with institutional support
for the publication of its “Make Peace Happen’’
campaign materials.
Africa Support to Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
The Oxfam ATT Team and their Control Arms partners
were accompanied to various lobby meetings with a
number of African ambassadors in Addis Ababa, in a
bid to secure their countries’ sup- port for a strong
ATT.
African Union Actions Against Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA)
OI–AU, in collaboration with the Oxfam team in DRC and
the Institute for Security Studies, jointly organized a
high-level seminar on AU actions against LRA. Over 60
stakeholders, mostly diplomats, AU Commission staff
and CSOs participated in the seminar. OI-AU brought
Father Ernest Sugule from the DRC-based ‘’Solidarité et
Assistance Integrale aux Personnes Déplacées (SAIPED)
and Pascal Konan from the AU Conflict Management
Division.
Annual Review 2013

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
Annual Review 2013
Over 200 delegates visited the Oxfam and
AUC Exhibition on Mali and DRC Conflicts
OI– AU and the AU Commission co-hosted a photo
exhibition on DRC and Mali on the side-lines of
the Heads of State Summit in January 2013. The
exhibition attracted over 200 visitors. Oxfam also
launched a paper on Mali. The then Commissioner
for Peace and Security of the African Union, H.E
Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, personally
officiated both the photo exhibition and launch of
the Mali paper.
Commissioner Lamamra during the exhibition
Active Citizenship in the
Affairs of the
African Union:
Oxfam International Executive Director, Mrs.
Winnie Byanyima, and the Oxfam Director of
Advocacy and Campaigns, Celine Charveriat,
conducted lobby meetings with High Level Officials
including Ambassadors of Uganda, Tanzania,
Togo, Zimbabwe, the AU Commissioner for Rural
Economy and Agriculture, EU Delegation to AU, the
UK embassy and other stakeholders during their
visit to Addis Ababa

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Oxfam Int. ED Winnie Byanyima (2nd left) with Uganda Amb.
to the AU (3rd left)
Understanding the African Union Training for journalists and cSOs
60 CSO leaders and media representatives received training in May and December on the structures
and functioning of the African Union. These trainings were jointly organized by Oxfam and the African
Union Commission Directorate of Information and Communication with the support and the participation
of other department of the AU Commission such as the Legal Affairs Department and the Peace and
Security Department, CIDO, Rural Economy and Agriculture, the Cabinet of the Chairperson etc.
Over 2013, more than 100 CSOs representatives
received targeted technical, financial and
logistic support from OI-AU to engage with the
20th and 21st Summits of the African Union as
well as a number of ministerial and technical
experts meetings and bilateral engagements
with country representatives.

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
OI-AU gave institutional and logistic support to
the African Youth Decade Alliance to engage
the African Union with the ongoing Africa Youth
Decade Program
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU, OI–
AU, together with Femme Africa Solidarité (FAS),
co–hosted an African inter-generational dialogue
alongside the AU summit in May.
15 African organizations were supported to engage
with the Tokyo International Conference for African
Development (TICAD) in Japan, July 2013.
25 Students from the School of Diplomacy of Seton
Hall University, New Jersey, USA on a study visit of
Ethiopia received a briefing on peace and security
issues in Africa from the OI-AU Team, supported by
Oxfam in Somalia.
Crisis Action received support through the year to
bring delegations from Sudan and South Sudan
to Addis Ababa for lobby meetings at the African
Union Commission & Embassies.
International Day of Peace 2013
To mark the International Day of Peace, OI-AU and the
AU Peace and Security Division jointly organized a public
seminar titled: “Peace and Solidarity in Africa, whose
responsibility?”
Thanks to a joint effort of our IT and Communication
Team with the AU Communication department, this
was the first event organized from the AU Commission
thathadaliveonlineparticipationofcitizensaroundthe
continent.OnTwitter,431AfricanCitizensfromallregions
followed the debate live and sent tweets, comments
andquestionsdirectlytopanellists(projectedliveonthe
screen during the conference). The event had over 2000
views on the live stream that is still running on http://
www.peaceau.org.
The over 100 participants included Ambassadors, policy
makers, research institutions, AU Staff, NGO partners,
students, youth representatives and members of the
public.

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Raising Citizens’ Voices & Enlarging the Space
H.E. Amb. Joram Mukama Biswaro of United Republic of
Tanzania with Head of OI-AU during his visit to the office
Ensuring Impact…
Following our unprecedented exhibition on Mali and DRC, both conflicts were widely discussed by the
African Union Summit and subsequent important decisions were taken by the Heads of States and
Governments.
The Assembly of the AU, in May 2013, “requested the Commission and the Peace and Security Council to
take all necessary steps to enhance interaction with CSOs”.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union adopted key recommendations proposed by Oxfam
and partners on the issue of peace and development and the protection of women and children in
conflict.
During May 2013
AU Summit, Oxfam ED Winnie Byanyima was on hand to launch the “50 voices, 50 places” documentary.

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
In it, 50 ordinary citizens from Mali, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia
recount their experiences of conflict and hopes for the future.
The majority of African governments have supported the adoption of the
first unprecedented legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the UN as
a result of Oxfam’s campaign.
Over 400 citizens across Africa and the diaspora 50 different places in the conflict affected areas of
Mali, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia ex-pressed their hopes, fears and demands through direct
discussion with policy makers. Participated online to the discussion of peace and security issues in
Africa. In addition, over 2,000 citizens watched the live stream of the international day of peace seminar.
Over 5,000 people have had access to the AU Compendium; the first comprehensive guide to the African
Union Commission published by the OI-AU.
Over a thousand subscribers receive OI-AU weekly updates and alerts
on the AU activities and engagement opportunities.
Fifty voices
fifty placesFifty years gone by, looking to the future with hope

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Facing the Future …
A number of new developments in Africa, at the African Union and within the Oxfam Confederation will
drive our future. They are:
In Africa:
Economies continue to grow but there is widening inequality, governance challenges in a number
of countries and increasing peace, security and humanitarian issues unregulated exploitation of
extractive resources in Africa and illicit capital flow.
At the African Union:
• Increasing demand for accountability and implementation of on AU decisions, protocols
and treaties at national level.
• New strategic plan of the African Union with the following area of priorities:
• More recognition of Non-State Actor space within the AU processes
• Progressive decisions but still largely unimplemented
Within Oxfam :
• New Oxfam Strategic Plan matching a number of AU priorities including active citizenship,

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
agriculture, extractive industries and illicit capital flow, gender equality etc.
• New Executive Director of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima
• Decision to move its leadership’s center of gravity closer to states in the global South.
Making African Extractive minerals work for Africa
Building on Oxfam 15 years’ experience working on extractive industries, OI-AU will launch an extractive
industries programme in Addis with the appointment of a Senior Policy Advisor for Extractive Industries
to work on advocacy, campaign and research on extractive industries and transparency issues. In the
preparation of this, Oxfam has had a number of interactions with the AUC’s Department of Trade and
Industry to discuss the scope of Oxfam’s work on natural resources and how that could fit within the new
AUC Strategic Plan. Oxfam was also invited participate to the 3rd Session of African Union Conference of
Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development, in December 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique.
OI-AU had also had a discussion with the AU Advisory Board on Corruption to
consider an eventual program that looks at the role of extractive industries
on development in Africa.
Pan-African Professional in Residence
As part of our Active Citizenship Programme, George Asiimwe (Ugandan),
Campaigns, Advocacy and Lobby for the Eastern and Southern Africa Small

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Raising Citizens’ Voices & Enlarging the Space
Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF)- Uganda is now seconded to OI-AU for the next 3 months. During this time
he will receive support from our Active Citizenship Team to engage with the African Union linking his
organization to the African Union in the upcoming Year of Agriculture and Food Security
The Pan-African Professional in Residence was established as part of our Active Citizenship Programme
to provide committed civil society actors the opportunity to meet and work with policy and decision
makers at the African Union in Addis Ababa. By so doing, we strengthen the role and influence of non-
state actors and ordinary citizens in the AU’s policy-making process.
OI-AU PUBLICATIONS
OI-AU launched a quarterly
bulletin “Active Citizens”
highlighting opportunities of
citizens’ engagement at the
African Union.
A weekly update, ‘’AU Weekly’’
has been regularly circulated
to over 1000 subscribers of the
‘’African Citizens’’ listserv and
Oxfam Affiliates. The weekly
covers key updates and opportunities on the
African Union agenda. An official note from the AU
to Oxfam has appreciated this initiative.
AU PRC poster is
co-published in
collaboration with the
Communication and
Information Department
of the AUC, the yearly
updated AU PRC poster-
will enable all African
CSO actors, observers

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
and members of the International and local community to familiarise themselves
with the distinguished Ambassadors who make up the AU PRC, in order to facilitate
the lobbying and advocacy work they plan.
The second edition of our AU Compendium in both English
and French will be launched in January 2014. The African
Union Compendium is intended for multiple stakeholders including, but not
limited to civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers at various levels, AU
and embassy staff, academics, staff of Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
and journalists among others.
In preparing the African Union Compendium, we have made use of publicly
available official AU documents, policy instruments, key presentations by AU
departmental experts, internet research and research work that has taken into
account available information.
African Union Compendium
1st Edition
African Union Compendium
2nd Edition

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People
Our Staff Associates & Volunteers
OI-AU operates under Oxfam International Secretariat as one of its advocacy offices to the multilateral
institutions. We work closely with Oxfam Pan Africa programmes, regional and country teams across the
continent. The office has the following 12 staff, associates and volunteers:
Desire Assogbavi- Togo
Head of Office
desire.assogbavi@oxfaminternational.org
Muleya Mwananyanda - Zambia
Rights in Crisis Campaign and Policy Manager
(Gender Peace & Livelihoods)
Muleya.Mwananyanda@oxfaminternational.org
Brenda Chikwe Mofya - Zambia
Policy Advisor – Peace and Security/
Governance
Brenda.Mofya@oxfaminternational.org
Idriss Ali Nassah - Malawi
OI-AU Media Lead
Idriss.nassah@oxfaminternational.org
Rinret Dabeng - Nigeria
Policy and Capacity Development
Coordinator
Rinret.Dabeng@oxfaminternational.org
Roben Nedasa - Ethiopia
Finance and Administration Officer
Roben.Nedasa@oxfaminternational.org

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Oxfam International - Liaison Office with the African Union
Liyu Dereje - Ethiopia
Office Administrator
Liyu.dereje@oxfaminternational.org
Faith Adhiambo - Kenya
Pan African Associate:
Strategic Engagement
Faith.Adhiambo@OxfamInternational.org
Hannah Adisu- Ethiopia
Pan Africa Associate:
Strategic Campaigning, Rights in Crisis
Hannah.Adisu@OxfamInternational.org
Senay Girma - Ethiopia
Pan Africa Associate: IT Support
Senay.Girma@oxfaminternational.org
Ilyas Oussedik- Algeria
Pan Africa Associate:
Peace &Security/Governance
Ilyas.Oussedik@OxfamInternational.org
Abaynesh Tekle - Ethiopia
Office Assistant

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19Our Year 2013 in Pictures . . .

20. Contact:
Oxfam Liaison Office with the African Union
TK Building, Bole Airport Area, Suite 406 Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel.: +251 11661 1601 / Fax: +251 11 661 2795
Email: addisababa@oxfaminternational.org
Twitter@Oxfam_AU
Facebook: Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union: OI-AU
ABOUT OXFAM INTERNATIONAL - LIAISON
OFFICE WITH THE AFRICAN UNION
Around the globe, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for
people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and
help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes and we campaign so that
the voices of the poor influence the local, national, regional and global
decisions that affect them. We believe that change happens when
citizens are informed, empowered and enabled to influence policies,
practices and to use mechanisms to hold their leaders accountable.
We work directly with citizens, communities and we seek to influence
the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and
livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. We are an
international confederation of 17 organizations working together with
partners in more than 90 countries including 35 in Africa.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the
African Union and a Bilateral Host Agreement with the Government of
Ethiopia, Oxfam set up a Liaison Office with the African Union (OI-AU)
in Addis Ababa to strengthen it collaboration with the African union.
OI-AU together with other Oxfam affiliates and partners operating in
Africa, work closely with the African Union and its member States on
various issues of common interest including humanitarian policy,
peace and security, social affairs, gender justice, economic affairs,
governance, agriculture, citizens’ participation and communication.
Layout & Print: www.acm.com.et, +251 (0) 911 64 71 88
In line with the African Union’s mission to build an integrated,
prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven and managed by its own
citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena,
our Liaison Office with the African Union, part of Oxfam Pan Africa Team
works essentially on the following:
1. Active Citizenship in the Affairs of the African Union: To support
citizens and civil society organizations of Africa to work with and
engage the African Union, and be part of the policy processes
debates and decisions that affect their life.
2. SavingLifeNowandintheFuture:Peace,SecurityandHumanitarian
Affairs including direct engagement with the African Union’s peace
and security organs in terms of policy advocacy and campaign,
building on Oxfam’s operational presence in 35 countries in Africa
including a number of conflict affected countries namely Sudan,
South Sudan, DRC, Mali, Somalia etc.
3. Making African Extractive Resources Work for Africa: Support the
AU’s African Mining Vision and African Mineral Development Centre
objectives to ensure that African rich mineral resources are
fully and best used for the socio-economic development of the
continent.
4. Representation of Oxfam to the African Union and management of
the confederation’s relationship with the African Union, its organs
and member states in the framework of the existing Memorandum
of Understanding between Oxfam International and the African
Union Commission.