Why Strengthening the Pan-African Parliament Is Essential for Delivering Agenda 2063

By Olu Ibekwe

Agenda 2063 is Africa's blueprint for inclusive growth, sustainable development and continental integration. Successive Executive Council decisions have recognized the Pan-African Parliament as a key institution for translating that vision into reality. Strengthening PAP's budget, staffing and institutional capacity is therefore essential to advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), democratic governance, peace and security, youth and women's empowerment, climate action and the broader aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The recent debate on restoring the operational capacity of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has often focused on institutional issues such as budgetary allocations, staffing shortages and Members' emoluments. While these are important concerns, they are not ends in themselves. Their significance lies in a much broader question: what role does a strong and effective Pan-African Parliament play in achieving the African Union's long-term development agenda?

The answer can be found in Agenda 2063.  Adopted by the African Union as the continent's strategic framework for inclusive growth, sustainable development, democratic governance and continental integration, Agenda 2063 is not intended to remain merely an aspirational document. Its successful implementation depends upon strong continental institutions capable of translating political commitments into legislative action, democratic oversight and sustained public engagement.

Among those institutions, the Pan-African Parliament occupies a unique position.

The Executive Council has repeatedly acknowledged the Parliament's central role in advancing Agenda 2063. At its Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Session held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 2015 (Doc. EX.CL/920(XXVII)), the Executive Council encouraged the Pan-African Parliament to support the popularization of Agenda 2063 within Member States, working alongside the African Union Commission and other stakeholders. One year later, at its Twenty-Ninth Ordinary Session held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016 (Doc. EX.CL/963(XXIX)), the Executive Council went even further, calling upon the Parliament to continue working with national and regional parliaments and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) to mobilize stakeholders and promote the integration of Agenda 2063 into national legal and policy frameworks through legislative action.

These decisions are significant because they recognize that Agenda 2063 cannot be implemented by the Commission alone. It requires parliamentary ownership, legislative action and democratic accountability.

From Continental Vision to National Implementation

The African Union develops continental policies, but implementation occurs largely within Member States. This is where the Pan-African Parliament becomes indispensable.

As Africa's continental parliamentary institution, PAP serves as the bridge between continental policy objectives and national legislative action. Through its Members who are also members of national parliaments of member states, committees and engagement with national and regional parliaments, the Parliament is uniquely positioned to promote the domestication of African Union policies, encourage legislative harmonization and facilitate public awareness of continental priorities.

Agenda 2063 therefore requires more than executive commitment. It requires parliamentary engagement.

Without legislatures enacting enabling laws, approving budgets, exercising oversight and mobilizing citizens, many of the aspirations contained in Agenda 2063 will remain difficult to realize.

Lessons from the First Decade of Agenda 2063

The adoption of the Evaluation Report on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 by the Executive Council in February 2024 marked an important milestone in Africa's long-term development journey. By endorsing the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (2024–2033), the Executive Council acknowledged that while significant progress had been achieved during the first decade, the pace of implementation now needed to accelerate. Importantly, the Council directed all African Union organs, acting within their respective mandates, to implement previous Agenda 2063 decisions and contribute to the successful implementation of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan.

This directive is particularly relevant to the Pan-African Parliament. The Parliament is no longer merely encouraged to support the popularization of Agenda 2063, as was the case in 2015, or to promote its domestication through legislation, as emphasized in 2016. Following the evaluation of the first decade, PAP now has an even greater responsibility to contribute to the accelerated implementation of Agenda 2063 through legislative action, parliamentary oversight, policy harmonization and most importantly, citizen engagement.

Why Institutional Capacity Matters

For PAP to discharge this role effectively, it must itself possess adequate institutional capacity. Parliamentary diplomacy, legislative research, committee oversight, stakeholder consultations, election observation, public hearings, model laws and policy analysis all require professional staff, modern infrastructure and sustainable financial resources.

This explains why successive Executive Council decisions have consistently called for restoring PAP's budget, filling critical staff vacancies and strengthening the institution's operational capacity.

The issue is therefore much larger than administrative reform. It concerns Africa's capacity to implement its own development agenda.

AfCFTA: Building the Legislative Foundation for Africa's Single Market

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063.

Its long-term success depends not only upon trade agreements but also upon legislative harmonization across Member States. National laws governing customs, investment, competition policy, digital trade, consumer protection and dispute resolution increasingly require alignment with continental objectives.

The Pan-African Parliament can facilitate this process through legislative dialogue, committee work, model laws and sustained engagement with national parliaments.

A Parliament constrained by inadequate staffing and limited resources cannot fully perform this coordinating role. Strengthening PAP therefore contributes directly to the successful implementation of AfCFTA.

Peace, Security and Democratic Governance

Agenda 2063 recognizes that sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace, democratic governance and respect for constitutional order.

The Pan-African Parliament contributes to these objectives through election observation missions, parliamentary diplomacy, mediation, policy dialogue and oversight of governance issues affecting the continent.

The Parliament also provides an important forum for addressing unconstitutional changes of government, electoral integrity, constitutionalism and democratic accountability.

These responsibilities require specialized expertise, research capacity and sustained institutional engagement. A stronger Parliament strengthens Africa's democratic architecture.

Youth and Women's Empowerment

Agenda 2063 places particular emphasis on the participation of young people and women in Africa's development.

The Pan-African Parliament has consistently advanced these priorities through its Women's Caucus, Youth Caucus, committee work and legislative initiatives promoting gender equality, youth participation and inclusive governance.

The Parliament's ability to champion these issues depends upon adequate institutional support. Reduced staffing and financial constraints inevitably limit outreach activities, consultations, legislative research and public engagement. Investing in PAP is therefore also an investment in Africa's youth and women.

Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Climate change has become one of the defining policy challenges confronting Africa. Agenda 2063 calls for environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies capable of protecting livelihoods while promoting inclusive development.

The Pan-African Parliament has increasingly engaged with issues relating to climate finance, environmental governance, food security, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

These complex policy areas require informed parliamentary debate supported by scientific research, technical expertise and effective committee systems. Strengthening PAP enhances Africa's capacity to develop coherent parliamentary responses to climate-related challenges.

Beyond Institutional Reform

Recent Executive Council decisions calling for the restoration of PAP's budget, recruitment of critical staff and strengthening of institutional capacity should therefore be viewed within this broader continental context.

These measures are not simply about improving the internal administration of one African Union organ. They are investments in Africa's legislative capacity to implement Agenda 2063.

A Parliament operating with inadequate resources cannot effectively support legislative harmonization, monitor implementation of continental policies, engage citizens or provide the democratic oversight necessary for successful continental integration.

Conversely, a well-resourced and professionally supported Parliament becomes an important driver of Africa's transformation.

The evaluation of the first decade of Agenda 2063 has shifted the continental conversation from planning to implementation, and from aspiration to measurable results. In directing all African Union organs to accelerate implementation of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, the Executive Council reaffirmed that Agenda 2063 is a shared institutional responsibility. For the Pan-African Parliament, this means that strengthening its budget, staffing, governance and operational capacity is no longer merely an institutional imperative: it is a continental development imperative. A stronger Pan-African Parliament is indispensable to a stronger Agenda 2063.