ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

• Conflict Resolution: Supporting Mediation efforts by the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) has been one of the most outstanding activities of the Forum. Since its establishment in Maputo, the Republic of Mozambique on 20 January 2006 the Forum has fielded a number of Africa Forum Peace Support Missions (AFPSM). The first AFPSM was to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in November 2006 the same year the Forum was established. The AFPSM to DRC was considered a success as it contributed substantially towards ending the crisis in DRC through democratic process.

• The second AFPSM was to the Republic of Kenya. The Africa Forum was the first to field a Peace Support Mission to Kenya immediately after the general elections in that country. The AFPSM to Kenya provided sufficient background upon which African Union Mission led by Kofi Annan worked on. Kenya was a special experience for the Forum Mission led by its Chair with the support of five former Heads of State and Government.

•  The third AFPSM was fielded to the Republic of Liberia. The AFPSM to Liberia was essentially to recognize and to provide support to the first African woman President. The AFPSM coincided with the Independence Anniversary of the country. This was a very import mission is it essentially focused on harmonization of society, peace security and reconciliation.

• The fourth AFPSM was to the Republic of Malawi. This was first mission to field on the basis of early-warning. The AFPSM was requested by the African Union with a mandate to explore the political situation in the Africa within the framework of the preparations for a general election in that country. Fielded pre-election mission to the Republic of Malawi. The AU was concerned that the election were about to turn the country into civil war and therefore fielded a mission to assess the situation and to make appropriate recommendation.

• The Madagascar crisis is perhaps the most complex mediation process the Forum has ever been involved. The SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government appointed His Excellency Joaqum Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique and Chairman of the Africa Forum. The former President of Mozambique in turn requested technical support from the Africa Forum Secretariat. It is important to note that while the AFPSM have had a direct involvement of the Forum and its members, there are how several situations where members of the Forum have been requested directly by the United Nations, the African Union or Sub-Regional Organization to undertaken mission on behalf of the organizations and institutions. Similarly, there are situations where the AU has approached directly a member of the Forum to undertake a mission as AU Special Envoy. Such is the case in Uganda, Sudan, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
A quantitative evaluation of the work and contribution of the Africa Forum to the national, sub-regional and regional efforts to promote peace and security in Africa may not give an impression of outstanding success. It is however, precisely for this reason that the Africa Forum Five Years Strategic Plan has been elaborated. Indeed, the Five Year Strategic Plan is based on the recognition of what the Forum could do given some degree of financial autonomy and an efficient as well as effective Executive Secretariat. To this end, perhaps the most significant achievement of the Africa Forum is that it has for the last three-years survived the prophets of doom postulations that it would not survive beyond the inaugural session. Yet, its widely acknowledged that  the harnessing of the individual and collective experience, knowledge, expertise, moral authority and good offices of former African Heads of State and Government is, indeed, something that is essential and critical in understand the past to build a better future for the people of the Continent. It is generally acknowledged that our leaders must be revered and in African tradition elders are the source of inspiration and wisdom.  
The Forum has had two major meetings since its establishment. The first is the inaugural session during which the Forum was formally launched in Maputo, the Republic of Mozambique on 11 January 2006. The inaugural session elected His Excellency Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique as Chairman and His Excellency Nicephore Soglo, former President of Benin as the Vice Chair. The first General Assembly of the Forum was held from 31 October to 1st November 2006.  The first General Assembly met to table and adopt key documents of the Forum including the Business Plan, the Work Plan, Financial Rules and Regulations, as well as the Staff Rules and Regulations. The first General Assembly also discussed post-conflict reconstruction in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cote d'Ivoire. The case of Burundi and Dafur were also added to the conflicts on the continent.

• Since its inception, the Africa Forum has also been preparing and elaborating several Project Documents for the purpose of seeking extra-budgetary funding. One of the principles of the Forum on financing is that the Forum will not receive any financial assistance from outside continent for its operational activities. However, the leadership of the Forum encourages joint projects and activities. The first project is: Harmonization of African Society Project (HASP). While there have been attempts in the past to set out continental-wide post-conflict reconstruction development programmes, for a variety of international and external reasons these programmes have been less than successful. HAS is an Africa Forum initiative that attempts to suggest a paradigm shift and a new approach to Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa.

• One of the flagship projects of the Africa Forum is the Identifying and Assisting The Most Marginalized Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The IAMMPSSA is being funded by the United States African Development Fund (USADF) the total amount is UA$250 for a period on one year.

•  Within the context of Climate Change: Energy, food and Security the Africa Forum has signed a memorandum understanding with Africa Carbon Livelihoods Trust (ACLT). The vision of ACLT as an African Based NGO is devoted to revolutionizing the relations between local communities and their land. The basic activities of the ACLT has been, among others, marketing and selling African carbon credits under VCS/CCBS standards, promoting and enabling CSR projects aimed at Trust Objectives and supporting African countries in international negotiations on climate change and carbon trade. Africa Forum and ACLT have an on-going project, the Nhambita Community Carbon Project located on the outskirts of Gorongosa National Park in the Republic of Mozambique. The project is being managed by Environtrade, a company based on London.

• The Forum is also collaborating with Edge2Edge Global Investment, a South African based company on a campaign against the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The Forum has signed a memorandum of understanding on Project entitled: Agricultural and Nutrition for Self Reliance Project (ASRP): a Holistic, Integrated Developmental approach to combating the HIV and AIDS Pandemic.

• The preoccupation at the level of Africa and in particular the countries emerging from conflict is the search for viable national, sub-regional and regional strategies based on a holistic and integrated approach that recognizes the centrality of the people in development. This strategic plan recognizes the importance of a comprehensive plan that is able to work towards, the prevention of conflict, to promote food security, and address the aspirations and demands of those affected and infected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This particular project is predicated upon the understanding that conflicts undermine development efforts, accelerate abject poverty cause food insecurity and allow for rapid spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.  Food and Nutrition is therefore the first line of defense in strategies to combat the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

• The Africa Forum in collaboration with IDASA and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, have launched a bold new initiative known as the Initiative for Leadership and Democracy in Africa (iLEDA). It is a democracy training programme for political and civil leaders from across Africa. It offers three Programmes: the Political Leadership Programme iLEDA Academy, the Citizen Leadership iLEDA School and the tailor-made consulting services iLEDA Consulting. iLEDA's mission is to promote democracy in Africa by strengthening democratic institutions reinforcing resilient and active citizens and political parties through training a future generation of ethnics-driven political and citizen leadership.

• The Africa Forum in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch has established the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch (SIGLA@Stellenbosch). The institute strives to build a knowledge base and provide the necessary platform for policy dialogue and strategic advice to support the implementation of the broad objectives of the development agenda of the African continent through the enhancement of security, governance and leadership. 
The Forum has concluded other Memorandum of understanding with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the NEPAD E-Commerce for advisory and facilitation. Efforts are being deployed to conclude other Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union (AU) as well as the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). It is also exploring the possibility for a closer working relation with the Pan African Parliament as well as a number of African Research Organizations.