PSC/AHG/2(CCL) Annex 4 Page 5 resolution efforts, and to arrive at African-centered solutions. It is within this context that the Commission extended support to the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of the Addis Ababa University, to offer extensive training and undertake research in the field of peace and security. Steps are also underway for the establishment, within the Addis Ababa University, of an AU Endowed Chair, whose major objective will be to provide a distinctive African scholarly perspective on pressing issues in peace and security, socio-economic integration and other relevant matters. It is also within this context that the Assembly of the Union, at its Kampala Session, in decision Assembly/AU/Dec.295(XV) on my progress report on the Year of Peace and Security, welcomed the initiative by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to contribute to the launching of a Peace Academy, an important tool for the enhancement of Africa’s capacity in the area of peace and security. Furthermore, the Commission is working with the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) on training in mediation. These efforts will be intensified in order to engage other stakeholders on the continent. (f) Role of Civil Society 14. In the Tripoli Declaration, the Heads of State and Government called on the African civil society to continue to play its role in promoting peace, security and stability as partner of Governments. In the context of the Year of Peace and Security, the Commission endeavored to mobilize the African civil society and to build a strong partnership with it. I am pleased to note that a number of African civil society organizations have responded to this call for partnership, including ACCORD, Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), IPSS, ISS and the Cairo Regional Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa. Next year, the Commission intends to convene a Conference that will bring together African civil society organizations working on peace and security issues to facilitate networking among them, cooperation with the AU and the enhancement of their capacity. (g) Mobilizing resources for AU’s Peace efforts, partnerships and Africa’s leadership 15. In Tripoli, the Heads of State and Government committed themselves to increase substantially Member States’ contribution to the Peace Fund, for Africa to truly own the ongoing efforts to promote peace, security and stability on the continent. In this respect, they requested the Commission to take the necessary preparatory steps for the increase of the statutory transfer from the AU regular budget to the Peace Fund from 6 to 12%. They also encouraged all Member States in a position to do so to make voluntary contributions to the Peace Fund. Subsequently, the relevant AU policy organs decided to gradually implement this increase over a period of three years, starting from 2011 [Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.287(XIV) on the budget of the African Union for the 2010 Financial Year, adopted by the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union]. At the same time, the Commission has pursued its efforts aimed at securing United Nations support, through assessed contributions, for AU operations undertaken with the consent of the UN, while continuing to rely on the support provided by the EU, under the APF, as