About Us
Overview (Who We Are)
The Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) was born from a shared vision — that of the countries of the Global South uniting to defend their common interests, strengthen their autonomy, and build a model of cooperation founded on equity, solidarity, and mutual respect.
In the heart of the 1970s, amid profound economic and geopolitical transformations, the nations of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific sought to create a common space for dialogue – a platform where their voices could converge around the major challenges of development.
This vision took shape through two founding milestones:
- The Lomé Convention, signed on 28 February 1975 in Togo, established an unprecedented partnership framework between 46 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries and the European Economic Community.
- The Georgetown Agreement, signed on 6 June 1975 in Georgetown, Guyana, gave birth to the ACP Group – an intergovernmental alliance designed to coordinate cooperation among the countries of the South and with their international partners.
Over the decades, this alliance evolved into a fully fledged international organization: the OACPS.
Today, true to its founding spirit, the OACPS remains a privileged space for dialogue, consultation, and solidarity among the countries of the South, working to strengthen economic cooperation, promote sustainable and inclusive development, and collectively address global challenges such as climate change, governance, and institutional capacity building.
Our Guiding Principles
Mission
The OACPS is committed to accelerating the political, economic, social, and cultural progress of its peoples through good governance, poverty eradication, trade promotion, sustainable development, and equitable integration into the global economy.
Vision
To embody the leading transcontinental organisation - united in solidarity - dedicated to improving the living conditions of our peoples through South-South and North-South cooperation, and to promoting a balanced and inclusive multilateralism.
Core Values
Solidarity, peace and security, good governance and the rule of law, social justice, unity in diversity.
Objectives
The objectives of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), as defined by the revised Georgetown Agreement (2019), shall be to:
- Promote the efforts of Member States of the OACPS to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development, and fully benefit from the advantages of trade, through their gradual and more effective participation in the world economy.
- Promote and strengthen unity and solidarity among the Member States of the OACPS as well as understanding among their peoples.
- Consolidate, strengthen, and maintain peace and stability as a precondition for improving the well-being of the peoples of the OACPS, in a democratic and free environment.
- Deepen and strengthen economic, political, social, and cultural relations among the Member States of the OACPS, through regional integration, strategic partnerships between OACPS regions, and inter-regional cooperation in the fields of trade, science and technology, industry, transport and communications, education, training and research, information and communication, the environment, demography, and human resources.
- Promote policies, especially in the areas of the environment and the rational management of natural resources, in pursuit of sustainable development of the Member States of the OACPS.
- Serve as a forum for formulating and coordinating common positions on global issues.
- Advocate for a multilateral system that is fair, equitable, and rules-based, and which contributes to economic growth and sustainable development of the Member States of the OACPS.
- Develop strategic relations and partnerships with external parties including within the global South, as well as with regional and international organisations for the purposes of building global consensus on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
- Strengthen the political identity of the OACPS to enable it to act as a coherent political force in international bodies and to ensure that due regard is accorded to its specific interests.
- Promote and reinforce political dialogue within the OACPS so as to consolidate the unity and solidarity of the OACPS.
- Strengthen regional mechanisms for the prevention, management, and peaceful settlement of conflicts, by pursuing and developing cooperation among the Member States of the OACPS and between the Member States of the OACPS and other States.
From Georgetown to Global Leadership
Since our founding in 1975, the OACPS has played a pivotal role in interregional development cooperation. We have shaped landmark agreements with the European Union—from the Lomé and Cotonou Agreements to the newly ratified Samoa Agreement, representing one of the most structured North-South partnerships in the world.
Our work extends from grassroots programs to multilateral negotiations on climate change, trade justice, and inclusive global governance.
How We Operate
The governance of the OACPS includes:
- Council of Ministers
- Committee of Ambassadors
- Secretary-General & Secretariat Departments
- Ministerial Sectoral Committees and Technical Working Groups
Our Secretariat in Brussels supports strategic coordination, advocacy, and implementation in collaboration with member states and international partners.
Strategic Alliances for Lasting Change
The OACPS maintains deep, enduring partnerships with institutions like the European Union, the United Nations, and global development agencies.
Together, we implement regional and cross-regional programs that address the most urgent challenges of our time—from climate vulnerability to digital inequality.
