In October 1992, the ACBF Executive Board approved a grant of US$ 3 million to the then Organization for African Unity (OAU) for the strengthening of OUA’s Policy Analysis Support Unit (PASU). PASU was a predecessor to the African Union Capacity Building and Institutional Support Program (AU-CAP) which the Executive Board approved a second phase funding for US$ 3 million for PASU II in Dec 2000
Phase I: The objectives of the first phase of PASU were to (i) strengthen EDECO’s capabilities in macro-economic analysis with a view to facilitating the integration of the OAU with the AEC pursuant to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community; (ii) to establish a policy analysis support unit within the EDECO; (iii) to provide training for EDECO staff and (iv) to enhance research capabilities and programmes. The project had four modalities to achieve the objectives that included, recruitment of experts, staff training, research capacity building and outreach and publicity.
Phase II: The overall aim of PASU Phase II was to enhance technical capacity of the staff of the OAU/AEC Secretariat including the RECs to provide the necessary technical advisory services to the member states for the effective implementation of the treaty establishing the AEC. Specifically the project consisted of strengthening PASU’s role as the technical arm of the OAU to provide technical advisory services, research and training support. PASU also provided an appropriate institutional framework for collaboration and institutional networking between the OAU and the RECs and among the RECs to allow for information sharing, exchanges and other collaborative activities. Phase II was also to build databases for the AEC and RECs on operational issues of relevance to economic integration and cooperation.
