The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was officially established in March 2003 and became operational in May 2003, with the mandate to enhance international support for Africa’s development and security through its advocacy and analytical work; assist  the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa; facilitate inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); and establish a monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development.

This mandate is implemented through OSAA’s four key functional roles that inform the Office’s programmes and work, namely:  i) Advisory, ii) Advocacy, iii) Coordination and iv) Monitoring.

In line with its mandate and core functions, OSAA initiates and coordinates the critical work of the United Nations on the interrelated issues of peace, security and development in Africa.