Permanent committees
Eleven permanent committees, aligned to the Commissions of the African Union, where the detailed work of the Parliament is done.
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01
Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution
Promotes cooperation and integration among African states and supports the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the continent.
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02
Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Monitors respect for human and peoples’ rights and reviews the harmonisation of legal frameworks across Member States.
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03
Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs
Examines public health, employment and social welfare policy across the continent.
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04
Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
Advises on agricultural development, food security, natural resource management and environmental protection.
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05
Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters
Reviews continental trade policy, customs harmonisation and freedom of movement.
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06
Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources
Oversees continental policy on education, culture, tourism and human resource development.
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07
Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disabilities
Champions gender equality, family welfare, youth empowerment and the rights of persons with disabilities.
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08
Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs
Reviews continental monetary policy, financial integration and economic governance.
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09
Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology
Advises on infrastructure development, industrialisation, energy, and scientific and technological advancement.
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10
Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline
Interprets the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure and oversees Members’ privileges, immunities and discipline.
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11
Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA)
Scrutinises the Parliament’s accounts and financial management to ensure accountability and transparency.
How the Committees Are Composed
Each committee has a maximum of thirty members, with regional and gender representation, under Rule 22(5) of the Rules of Procedure. The Committee on Audit and Public Accounts is the exception: it has a maximum of fifteen.
Members are designated to committees by the five regional caucuses, including new members who have been through the verification exercise carried out by the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, which confirms that the procedure and conditions for designation by their national parliament have been met.
The permanent committees meet twice a year, in March and August, for their statutory meetings. They may meet more often during parliamentary sessions, or for non-statutory meetings when the need arises.
What the Committees Do
The committees are the engine house of any parliament. Creating them allowed the Pan-African Parliament to bring an in-depth analysis to the topical and emerging issues facing Africa, and it is through them that the Parliament performs its oversight, advisory and consultative functions. The arrangement also lets the Parliament work on several matters at once, and give a question the detailed investigation it needs.
Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure sets out what a committee does within the purview named in its title:
- Oversight on the development and harmonisation of the policies of the African Union and of the Member States.
- Examination of the review of the protocols and treaties of the Union.
- Oversight on the relevant organs and institutions of the African Union.
- Promotion of the development of the continent within the committee’s own field.