Regarding working methods, discussions may focus on the follow-up to the decision made during the 9^th annual consultative meeting in March 2015 to conduct joint field missions to conflict situations in Africa. Despite the agreement, such missions have yet to materialise due to a lack of consensus on modalities. In 2018, it was agreed that modalities would be determined on a case-by-case basis, a reaffirmation made during the last consultative meeting. Whether progress will be made this year to translate this commitment into action remains to be seen. Other areas of focus may include improving structured monthly coordination between the Chair of the PSC and the President of the UNSC to better synchronise their agendas. While the monthly engagement between the monthly PSC Chairperson and the UNSC President has been regularised, discussions could explore how to enhance its impact, particularly in aligning and coordinating their respective consideration of the same files. They may also consider strengthening follow-up and increasing the reference value of the joint communiqué by systematically reviewing the previous year’s communiqué at the start of their annual consultative meetings, ensuring continuity and building on past consultations rather than starting from a clean slate every year. It is also an opportunity to reflect on whether the deliberations of the consultative meetings are productive and identify areas for improvement to make the annual engagement more productive and interactive.

On the implementation of Resolution 2719—a resolution adopted by the UNSC last December on financing AU-led Peace Support Operations (PSOs) through UN-assessed contributions—the two Councils may exchange views on how they understand the resolution, particularly on outstanding issues that require further clarification and common understanding for smooth process in triggering the activation of the resolution and its implementation. The two sides may highlight recent efforts in this regard, including the efforts to develop a joint AU-UN roadmap outlining the way forward for the implementation of the resolution. The Joint UN-AU task force has been in the process of developing the roadmap. This was organised on the basis of four thematic areas or work streams: joint planning, decision-making and reporting; mission support; financing and budgeting; and compliance and protection of civilians. The joint roadmap is expected to be adopted during the annual conference of the AU Commission Chairperson and the UN Secretary-General, scheduled to be held on 21 October in Addis Ababa. The discussion is also likely to touch on potential test cases for the operationalisation of the resolution. The PSC has specified the post-ATMIS mission in Somalia as a major focus for a test case. However, there are also background discussions on the possibility of activating the resolution for a potential deployment of forces in Sudan despite that this remains a distant prospect, as such deployment would depend on progress in the mediation process. Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado could perhaps be a good test case where AU’s comparative advantage in deploying missions with peace enforcement mandate is applicable, consensus can be achieved between various stakeholders including the US and the requirements in 2719 including time frame and clear exit as well as a political strategy can also be agreed to.

On youth, peace, and security, it is expected that the implementation of UNSC resolution and AU PSC framework on youth, peace and security will attract some attention during the seminar. The deliberations during the seminar are expected to pay particular attention to the inclusion of youth in decision-making processes. Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAPs) could be invited to share the outcome of the regional consultations and the continental dialogue on African youth perspectives on the New Agenda for Peace, held in August in Lusaka, Zambia. The consultations and the dialogue were facilitated by the AU in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia, with Amani Africa providing technical support. One major outcome of these processes was the production of a report, which the AYAPs are expected to share with the participants of the seminar.

Regarding women, peace, and security, the two Councils are likely to emphasise the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women, reaffirming the need for their meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in all stages of peace, security, development, and decision-making processes. They may commend the role of FemWise and the inclusion of women, peace and security in the revised AU PCRD Policy. Considering that October is the month for the commemoration of Resolution 1325, the two sides may affirm the importance of this resolution and call on member states to enhance its implementation.

In relation to climate change, the climate-security nexus remains a point of policy divergence between the PSC and the UNSC. While the PSC considers the climate-security nexus as part of its mandate and has acknowledged the intricate connections between climate change, peace, and security on several occasions, the UNSC lacks a similar level of consensus. For this reason, the Councils will be holding their exchange under the title of ‘the adverse effects of climate change in the stability and development in Africa’ (sic) rather than climate, peace and security. It is expected that the two sides will call for a holistic response to the impacts of climate change, the imperative of honouring international financial commitments for supporting efforts of African states in dealing with the impacts of climate change and implementing adaptation measures.

Children Affected by Armed Conflicts (CAAC) is not an item that is common in the engagements between the PSC and the UNSC in the context of their annual consultations. Children are increasingly bearing the brunt of conflicts. For example, the largest child displacement in the world is occasioned by the war in Sudan. Additionally, they are subjected to various forms of violence including those that constitute the six grave violations. As highlighted in a PSC session held last August dedicated to education, one of the major causalities of conflicts for children is their access to education. It is expected that the exchanges during the seminar will highlight these and related issues. The Gambia may take the lead, given its active role in advancing this issue within the PSC. The Gambia may use this platform to spotlight key outcomes from the ministerial and high-level open sessions on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children in situations of conflict in Africa, held in December 2023 in Banjul.