- This is owing to the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climate change.
- The ONE has listed requests to the leaders before the summit, aimed at fast tracking the AfCFTA.
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African Union heads of state from the 55 member countries are expected to meet for the 36th ordinary session of the AU assembly.
The meeting will be held on February 18-19, 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Key focus of the meeting is the accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and climate finance.
"This meeting serves as an opportune time for the organisation to take stock of the wins and lost opportunities of the AU meeting and the organisation's plans to meet its objectives," a statement released on Wednesday reads in part.
The statement was released by the ONE organisation, a global agency campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030.
The AfCFTA agreement became operational in 2019, and is among the 13 flagship projects of Agenda 2063 - "The Africa We Want, of the African Union."
Since then, the AU has, however, only made slight progress in executing the programme.
This is owing to the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climate change.
The ONE has listed requests to the leaders before the summit, aimed at fast-tracking the AfCFTA.
They include enabling the free movement of people, goods and services, and working towards making it easy and affordable to do business and produce goods and services.
This will be achieved through harmonising tax administration and making information readily available through one-stop digital platforms.
The ONE also recommended that AU unlocks additional investment for critical infrastructure.
"The AU should urge member states to finalise the development of their Country Food, and Agriculture Delivery Compacts, mobilise adequate resources to finance it and establish Presidential Delivery Councils to oversee the implementation of the compacts," it added.
Further, the organsation urged the leaders to build resilience to the devastating impact of climate change, by prioritising climate finance.
It added that the AU should urge high-income countries to deliver on their promises of adaptation finance.
"This means delivering on the goal of $100 billion (Sh12,554,000,000), a year from 2020-2025, addressing any shortfalls through increased contributions in subsequent years, and setting out a delivery plan for the commitment to double adaptation finance as agreed at COP26," ONE said.