The African Union and Two Simple Ways to Make African Social Work More Focused on Local Problems

Working with and aligning social work in Africa with the work of the African Union is an easier way of making it more localised and relevant. This can be achieved by (1) commemorating days designated by the AU (2) teaching the structures, laws and programs of the African Union, including but not limited to Agenda2063 which contains Aspirations of the African people. The AU has many social programs and therefore employs or uses the services of social workers and development workers. There are many opportunities for continental social work.

Purpose of the AU
Departments
Holidays or Commemorative Days
AU Organs
Selected Divisions
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
- Structure of the Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) Division of AU
Regional Programs and Agreements
Treaties, Conventions, Protocols and Charters
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Purpose of the AU

To promote the unity and solidarity of the African States;
To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa;
To defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence;
To eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa; and
To promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Holidays or Commemorative Days

The AU celebrates several key holidays or commemorative days as listed below:. We have highlighted those we recommend social work educational institutions to promote.

Commemoration of the African Day of Peace and Reconciliation 31 January
African Day of School Feeding 1st March
Africa Environment and Wangari Maathai Day 3rd March
African Union Day of Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda 7th April
Day of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale 23rd April
Africa Day 25th May
Africa Border Day 7th June
Africa Child Day 16th June
African Refugee Day/ World Refugee Day 20th June
African Public Service Day 23rd June
Day of Africa ‘s Scientific Renaissance 30th June
African Integration Day 7th July
African Anti-Corruption Day 11th July
Africa Day of Seas and Oceans 25th July
Africa’s Women Day 31st July
Africa Day of Decentralisation and Local Development 10th August
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day 10th August
African Traditional Medicine Day 31st August
African Union Day 9th September
Africa Human Rights Day 21st October
Africa Food Security and Nutrition Day 30th October
Africa Youth Day 1st November
African Statistics Day 18th November
Africa Industrialisation Day 20th November
Africa Telecommunications and ICT Day 7th December
Day of African Sport 14th December

AU Organs

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government
The Executive Council
The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)
Specialised Technical Committees (STCs)
the Peace and Security Council and
The African Union Commission
Pan-African Parliament
Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)

Organs on judicial, legal matters and human rights issues

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR)
AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL)
AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC)
African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The AU is also working towards the establishment of continental financial institutions:
- The African Central Bank
- The African Investment Bank
- African Monetary Fund

Departments

Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM)
Education, Science, Technology & Innovation (ESTI)
Infrastructure and Energy
Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS)
Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS)
Women, Gender and Youth
Civil Society and Diaspora
Legal Affairs

Selected Divisions

Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)

The Department of Agriculture and Food Security
Rural Economy
Rural Development
Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate

The Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) works to promote the
Humanitarian Affairs Division
The AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Secretariat
Directorate of Social Development, Culture and Sports
Labour Employment and migration Division
Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention Division
Culture and Sport Division

Regional Programs and Agreements

Agenda2063 implemented by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa,
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the African Peer Review Mechanism are also key bodies that that constitute the structure of the African Union.