Discover the Theme of the African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development (ADD) 2025

The African Union (AU) has unveiled the theme for African Decentralisation and Local Development Day (ADD), which is celebrated on 10 August each year. For 2025, the theme is: ‘Building resilient communities through inclusive decentralisation and equitable development’.

The 2025 edition of the ADD aims to provide a platform in African Union Member States for all stakeholders to engage in dialogue at national level, share innovations, and reflect on the transformative role of inclusive decentralization in fostering resilient, equitable, and just communities. The Day also serves to mobilize action toward addressing structural inequalities and accelerating progress toward the goals of Agenda 2063.

Objectives:

  1. Facilitate the exchange of best practices on inclusive local governance strategies that promote equitable development, historical redress, and community resilience.                                  
  2. Highlight the role of local governments in addressing systemic inequalities by expanding access to decent habitats, basic services, and social infrastructure for historically underserved populations.                                                                                             
  3. Strengthen stakeholder engagement, especially of youth, women, and marginalized groups, in decision-making processes to harness Africa’s demographic dividend through localized empowerment.                                                                       
  4. Assess policy and institutional progress made since the 2014 African Charter on Decentralization and propose strategic directions to deepen decentralization reforms across Member States.

Three sub-themes were explored:

  1. Sub-theme 1: Strengthening Social Cohesion and inclusion for Historical Equity.                                               
  2. Sub-theme 2: Localized Empowerment for Harnessing Africa’s Women/Youth Demography.                 
  3. Sub-theme 3: Infrastructure and Sustainabfe Policies for Harmonious Territorial Development.

As a reminder, the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development, adopted in June 2014, establishes the commemoration of the African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development (JAD) on 10 August each year.

See the concept note here.