The African Peace and Security Architecture was established by the African Union (AU) in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECS) in 2000. Its role is to deal with prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa.

This renewed EU support will enable the African Union and African Regional Organisations with a mandate in peace and security to continue to fulfil and strengthen their mandates in order to:

• enhance synergies built between the African Union Peace and Security Council, the core organ of the APSA, and regional entities dealing with conflict prevention, management and resolution;
• increase the capacity of the Continental Early Warning System to anticipate and prevent conflicts;
• contribute the optimal functioning of the Panel of the Wise and mediation structures;
• provide support to the operational capability of the African Standby Force;
• enhance the capacity to develop and implement strategies and policies in related peace and security areas;
• build project and finance management capacity in support of APSA.

The EU support to APSA is funded under the African Peace Facility (APF), which was established in 2004 with an initial envelope of EUR 250 million from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) to fund peace support operations conducted under the authority of the African Union and other African Regional Organisations as well as capacity-building activities in the area of peace and security. The first APF was subsequently replenished several times to a total amount of EUR 440 million. Under the 10th EDF, EUR 300 million have been allocated to the APF.

The scope of the African Peace Facility to cover conflict prevention and post-conflict stabilisation as well as to accelerate decision-making and coordination processes. The Peace Facility is based on the principle of African ownership, which means these are African-led peacekeeping operations in Africa. The African Union is required to play a key role in the decision-making process relating to these operations.

The African Peace Facility is currently the major instrument of the Partnership on Peace and Security of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. It provides substantial predictable funding for Africa-led Peace Support operations and supports not only the APSA but also the EU-Africa dialogue on peace and security.