ADD 2023-Theme : “The contribution of African Subnational and Local Governments in the Making of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.

Every year on 10 August, the Member States of the African Union (AU) celebrate decentralisation. It is a well-established tradition that the theme of Africa Decentralisation and Local Development Day (ADD) is aligned with the theme of the year of the African Union. The ADD theme for 2023 is: “The contribution of African Subnational and Local Governments in the Making of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.

Three sub-themes have been identified:  

Sub-theme 1: Removing the hurdles to free trade dynamic: what are the enabling conditions for the effective parlicipation of African subnational and local governments in boosting the AfCFTA. 

Sub-theme 2: What to do to make the AfCFTA every one business in African subnational and local governments? 

Sub-theme 3: Winning game for the AfCFTA: boosting the dialogue between SMEs and subnational and local governments.  

The Member States of the African Union may choose one of the sub-themes of the celebration or address all three. The celebration should also be an opportunity to address the specific contribution of women and young people as the beating heart of free trade in Africa. 

As a reminder, the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development, adopted in June 2014 by the Heads of State and Government meeting at the Malabo Summit, in its Article 20 paragraph 4, institutes the commemoration of the African Decentralization and Local Development  Day (ADD) on August 10 of each year. The celebration of ADD by all AU Member States is organized under the authority of the Sub-Committee on Decentralization and Local Governance of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee No. 8, which includes the Ministers of Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization. 

Consult the concept note here.