ADDIS ABABA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Tuesday urged African countries and pan-African institutions to exert concerted efforts towards finding lasting solutions to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The call was made by Olabisi Dare, Head of Humanitarian and Refugees, Returnees Displaced Person Division at the AU, who also stressed the need to strengthen the momentum in achieving credible results in reducing unwanted migration and displacement.

"We at the AU are confident that together we can achieve the desired change in tackling humanitarian crises, through a new approach that lays emphasis on tackling root causes and achieving durable solutions as big steps towards a more peaceful and stable continent," Dare said.

The AU, in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has been training African policymakers and experts so as to create an improved understanding and effective implementation of legal and policy provisions contained in relevant international and AU instruments.

"The course is tailored for African policy makers and civil servants to deepen their understanding of international and regional instruments in order to achieve effective protection of and assistance to forcibly displaced persons," Dare said.

Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR Representative to the AU, also said that since its inception, the course has registered great success and hailed "as an important pillar in AU's quest to improve humanitarian action on the continent."

The joint training program, which was commenced in 2016, has so far trained a total of 550 experts and policymakers across Africa, including senior government officials, experts from the AU and regional economic communities, the media as well as civil society, it was noted.