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Background of ECOSOCC

The African Union (AU) made a historic decision in 2002 to bring the voices of the African people’s into the decision making processes of the AU through the creation of the Economic, Social & Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC) as an advisory organ. ECOSOCC will bring together civil society groups to work with the AU.
The impulse is not for the African Union to organize civil society. Rather the organizing principle of the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union is one in which civil society would organize themselves to work with the Organization. Established under the provisions of Articles 5 and 22 of the African Union’s Constitutive Act, ECOSOCC is the vehicle for building a strong partnership between governments and all segments of African civil society.

The Statute of ECOSOCC, adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2004 define it as an advisory organ of the African Union composed of different social and professional groups of the Member States of the African Union [Assembly/AU/Dec.42 (III)] . The composition of ECOSOCC shall include African social groups, professional groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and cultural organizations.

The distinctive character of the African Union’s ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union.

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