OSAA produces a number of publications within its mandate. These range from mandated Secretary-General’s reports to policy briefs on various issues affecting Africa. The reports provide the research needed for OSAA to carry out its advisory, advocacy, coordination and monitoring roles.
The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was officially established in March 2003 and became operational in May 2003, with the mandate to enhance international support for Africa’s development and security through its advocacy and analytical work; assist the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa; facilitate inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); and establish a monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development.
In line with its mandate and core functions, OSAA initiates and coordinates the critical work of the United Nations on the interrelated issues of peace, security and development in Africa.
This mandate is implemented through the following key functional roles:
Advisory Role
The Under-Secretary-General provides the Secretary-General with strategic advice on emerging and cross-cutting issues impacting Africa and United Nations coordination and coherence in its work in Africa, and undertakes special assignments related to Africa at the discretion of the Secretary-General.
The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa has a distinct mandate and a unique position within the United Nations system. It is strategically placed to serve as a key convener of the United Nations system and assist the Secretary-General in ensuring coordination and coherence in the Organization’s substantial engagement in Africa. It also plays the vital role of linking the United Nations leadership, Member States and other key stakeholders, including civil society, academia and policy experts, to help mobilize the United Nations system and the broader international community around the transformative vision for Africa articulated in the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
In carrying out its advisory functions, OSAA conducts research and develops foresight, policy and data analysis. The Office guides the preparation of Africa-related reports and inputs, initiates reports and produces policy analyses and advice on critical issues affecting Africa. OSAA also support the participation of African Member States in United Nations’ bodies and contributes to strengthening intergovernmental processes by amplifying the perspectives of African countries.
Advocacy Role
In line with its mandate, OSAA conducts advocacy to:
- Enhance United Nations System and international support for Africa’s peace, security and development, and
- Raise global awareness about persistent and emerging African issues, in close collaboration with various United Nations partners, including the Africa section of the Department of Global Communications and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
In this regard, the Office organizes briefings, high-level events and expert group meetings on the issues related to the interlinkages between peace, security and development in Africa.
A major thrust of the Office’s advocacy and outreach activities is the Africa Dialogue Series (ADS), which is organized annually in collaboration with key partners to raise awareness at the global level on topical issues relating to Africa’s peace, security and development, and to mobilize UN system and international support for Africa’s own efforts.
Coordination Role
Bringing the UN system together on key issues pertaining to Africa, OSAA convenes and chairs the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFAA) to:
- Boost coherence and coordination in the United Nations support to Africa, and
- Provide support to promote United Nations-African Union cooperation on the interlinkages between peace, security and development, especially through the Regional Coordination Mechanism of Africa (RCM-Africa)’s Advocacy and Communication Cluster, which OSAA co-chairs with the African Union Commission’s Directorate for Information and Communications.
The IDTFAA also contributes to the preparation and organization of key events organized by the Office, including the annual Africa Dialogue Series (ADS), which OSAA organizes in collaboration with the Department of Global Communications (DGC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to promote and mobilize United Nations system and international support for Africa’s development, peace and security agenda.
Monitoring Role
OSAA monitors the implementation of global commitments and conference outcomes related to Africa’s development, peace and security, the related UN action and conditions that allow for an effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
The Office serves as the secretariat to a United Nations Monitoring Mechanism for the implementation of commitments made towards Africa’s development. The mechanism tracks the implementation of commitments made by both international partners and African governments and assesses outcomes and impact of the implementation.
On an annual basis, OSAA reviews the support provided by the UN system, the traditional development partners and new and emerging partners to the African Union and AUDA-NEPAD through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
In addition, the Office monitors changes in the enabling environment through providing an annual assessment of the causes of conflicts and their impact on Africa’s sustainable development. OSAA also tracks UN support to African countries to address causes of conflicts to facilitate the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.
