AU WATCH

Publishing, Innovation and IT Program

“If you don’t like the story, write your own”

Chinua Achebe

Previous
Next

What is the Publishing, Innovation and IT Program?Since decisions of Africa’s transformation are too important to be left in the hands of policy makers and politicians in executive circles to decide upon alone, CSOs like AU Watch will continue to play an active role of accelerating transformation of policy formulation and seismic shifts from rhetoric to reality in Africa. In that regard, AU Watch aims to be a major publishing establishment assisting the AU in Africa’s transformative journey. Part of our vision is for AU watch to become the principal informative hub for Africa about the AU, thereby contributing toward the promotion of democracy, human rights, multidimensional security, and the advancement of sustainable and inclusive development.

 

 

Mandate of the Publishing, Innovation and IT Program

  1. The mission of the Publishing,Innovation and IT Program is to oversee and evaluate allIT and publications efforts of AU Watch from a business, organizational and financial point of view.
  2. It is responsible for the quality of AU Watch’s IT and publications. It provides direction to and reviews the organization’s IT, print and electronic publications, including journals, books, news magazines, educational publications and all other publications.
  3. It oversees general editorial policy, engage in strategic planning and development of AU Watch’s current and future IT issues and publications, recommend and work with partner entities where appropriate, and initiate the publishing of other books, journals, supplements, leaflets and other printed materials as deemed necessary by the Committee. The Program provides input into the overall strategy for our peer-review journals, magazines and books, recommends policies that support AU Watch’s publishing goals. It also reviews annual performance of its IT and publications.
  4. It plays a major contribution in the appointment of Editors-in-Chief, and other senior personnel related to its publishing mandate. It advertises vacant positions and draws up a short list of candidates for the attention of the Strategic Leadership Group and the Governing Council.
  5. The Program provides management of editorial processes and ensures quality content in the organization’s publications.
  6. The Program also acts as a forum for researchers and AU Watch editors to discuss all aspects of publication ethics. It also advises on how to handle cases of research and publication misconduct.
  7. The IT Unit works in collaboration with the Media Committee and Directorate to provide live streaming of all the major AU meetings, events and programs.

Mission Statement:

To oversee and evaluate all publications efforts of AU Watch from a business, organizational and financial point of view

Vision Statement:

We aspire for AU Watch to become the principal informative hub for Africa about the AU, thereby contributing toward the promotion of democracy, human rights, multidimensional security

Values:

Inclusiveness: We believe that in order for us to achieve our mission and vision there is need to involve all stakeholders in the AU project.

Dedication: We are dedicated to the cause of Africa and absolutely determined to achieve what we have set for ourselves. We are results oriented.

Sharing: We cherish the exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas and skills among ourselves, especially with our children in school – Africa needs to share.

 

How the Work of the Program is Organized

It has a five-person Sub-committee which meets once a month. They can meet in emergency sessions as and when there is a need. They can meet in emergency sessions as and when there is a need.

Structure of the Publishing, Innovation and IT Program

There are five main Units of the Directorate

  • Strategic Publishing and IT Group
  • IT Unit
  • AU Watch News (Monthly)
  • Journals Unit
  • Historical Archive, Library and Documentation Unit

           

How the Units Work      

Strategic Publishing and IT Group

The Strategic Publishing and IT Group is the policy and coordinating arm of the Program. It supervises the IT and publishing activities of AU Watch. The Unit provides management of editorial processes and ensures quality content in the organization’s publications. Working with its supervising Sub-committee, it implements editorial policy of its Sub-committee, recommend and work with partner entities where appropriate and on direction publish other books, journals supplements, leaflets and other printed materials s deemed necessary by the committee

The unit also acts as a forum for researchers and AU Watch editors to discuss all aspects of publication ethics.

 

The IT Unit

The IT Unit is responsible for all the IT work of the organization. It works closely with the Media, Outreach and Education Program. The Unit supervises the work program of AU Watch App, AU Watch’s portal or a gateway for information about the AU. The App can be downloaded or uploaded into phones and computers, giving information, news, analysis and announcements about everything about the AU. Working in collaboration with the Media Unit, the Unit also undertakes live streaming of most of the major events and meetings of the AU.

 

AU Watch News Unit

This is our monthly news magazine, providing news, interviews, articles, op-eds, authoritative analysis and up-to-date commentary on current topics and matters about the AU.

 

 

 

Journals Unit

The Journals Unit is responsible for publishing AU Watch’s print and electronic publications, including the Journal of African Studies on the African Union, AU Watch State of the Union (SOTU): Human Rights, AU Watch ‘State of the Union (SOTU): Development, Regional Corruption Index, Regional Insecurity Index and other journals books, magazines, educational publications and all other publications.

 

Historical Archive, Library and Documentation Unit

The archive for AU Watch has the task of documenting and researching AU’s historical development. The Historical Archive, Library and Documentation Unit is a Centre of information and communication which through its services for social, economic, political, human rights education and research contributes to the propagation of historico-political awareness about the AU. It is AU Watch’s central contact-point – accessible to everyone – in the field of contemporary AU knowledge. 

 

For more information on the Publishing Committee and its Directorate and what you can do to assist the team, please email [email protected]

Do you have a story to tell? If it’s important to you, it’s important to us! Let us tell your story together.

Published Journals 

  • Journal of African Studies on the African Union
  • In Defence of Human Rights Defenders
  • Tortured!
  • Murder by the State
  • I am a Gay. So What?
  • Refugee!
  • Women’s Rights are Human Rights!
  • Born Unequal (An Albino Report)
  • No Comment
  • I am Indigenous
  • Africa’s Shame 
  • AU Watch ‘State of the Union (SOTU): Human Rights
  • AU Watch ‘State of the Union (SOTU): Development
  • Regional Terrorism Index Publication
  • Regional Corruption Index Publication

Donate to AU Watch

To support AU Watch in its mission, please consider making a donation. Depending on the country where you are donors will receive a tax receipt for each donation to AU Watch.

AU Watch is a non-profit with registered charitable organization status. Contributions from AU Watch’s donors help support the integrity, independence and impact of the organization’s media and communication program, human rights work, research, publications and sustainable development programs. Donors share AU Watch’s belief that better regional governance from the AU and AUMS can greatly improve the lives of Africans everywhere, by increasing prosperity, ensuring regional stability and economic sustainability, addressing inequality and safeguarding human rights, and promoting a more secure Africa.

AU Watch research focuses on isolating and coming up with groundbreaking policy responses to the areas in which the AU and its Member States faces its greatest challenges. AU Watch publishing programs focus on human rights, governance anti-corruption and general social justice issues. For more information on AU Watch programs and projects, explore the Programs section of this website.

AU Watch disseminates its research through robust publications and public programming initiatives. AU Watch Papers, Policy Briefs and other publications are available online as free PDF downloads. Many AU Watch public events are webcast free online to a global audience, through live and post-event web-streaming.