The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) in 2015 developed Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040, otherwise known as Agenda 2040. The Agenda was developed during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to set aspirations for African countries which will be implemented and achieved in the next 25 years of the Charter.

Taking into consideration the significant role that Regional Economic Communities (RECs) can play in advancing children’s rights in general and the aspirations of Agenda 2040 in particular, the ACERWC in its 30th Ordinary Session decided to engage RECs in the dissemination and implementation of the Agenda. Accordingly, the ACERWC undertook popularization workshops in East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The popularization workshops were supplemented by discussions on cross-border issues affecting children in the regions.