Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the AU

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Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the AU
1st Floor, Hughes Building
Kenya Avenue
P O Box 67545-00200
Nairobi

Tel: +254 2 211 842/220 159
Email: info@ecosocc.org
Contact: Prof. Wangari Mathaai

Description

ECOSOCC is an organ of the AU, established by the Constitutive Act, in particular Articles 5 and 22. The Act (Article 5) states that ECOSOCC should enjoy the same status with the Pan-African Parliament and the Peace and Security Council, among organs. Article 22 stipulates that ECOSOCC will be an advisory organ of the AU composed of different constellations of the society to include social and professional groupings of the member states of the Union. This makes ECOSOCC the official platform for civil society to play an active role in the affairs of the Union and contribute to the development of the continent.

According to the ECOSOCC statutes, the body will among other things;

  • Promote continuous dialogue between all segments of African people.
  • Forge strong partnerships between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, the youth, children the Diaspora, organized labour, the private sector, and professional groups;
  • Promote the participation of African Civil Society in the implementation of the policies and Programs of the Union;
  • Support policies and programs that will promote peace, security and stability in Africa, and foster development and integration of the continent;
  • Promote and defend a culture of good governance, democratic principles and institutions, popular participation, human rights and freedoms as well as social justice;
  • Promote, advocate and defend a culture of gender equality; and
  • Promote and strengthen the institutional, human and operational capacities of the African civil society.

ECOSOCC’s highest body is a General Assembly consisting of 150 members. Below the Assembly is the Standing Committee, followed by the Credentials Committee, and Sectoral Committees. In 2005, the interim ECOSOCC was put in place consisting of a Presiding Officer (Prof. Wangari Mathaai, founder of the Green Belt Movement and 2004 Nobel Laureate) and four deputy Presiding Officers, representing the different regions of the Union. The interim Standing Committee currently consists of 15 members.

The Sectoral Committee consists of chairpersons of the following clusters: political affairs; peace and security; infrastructure and energy; social affairs and health; science and technology; trade and industry; rural economy and agriculture; economic affairs; women and gender; and cross-cutting issues.

Track Record

So far ECOSOCC has held consultations in preparation for the election of members of civil society into the Assembly. These consultations were held in Southern Africa; West Africa and East Africa. Further, national chapters have been established in many countries across the continent. These consultations have helped popularize ECOSOCC and the AU to citizens in the member states and across regions. Civil society has been afforded an opportunity to learn more about spaces for its participation.

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