ECOSOCC, as the AU's civil society Organ, has been instrumental in expanding the space for CSOs in various thematic areas, particularly in the area of peace, security, governance and human rights.
From 11 - 13 October 2022, in Ebene, Mauritius, ECOSOCC held a high-level multi-stakeholder dialogue on Civil Society Organisation engagement with the African Union (AU) on the European Union (EU) Support Programme on the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).
The meeting was attended by members of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), members of ECOSOCC, African Union Commission staff, and staff of COMESA.
The overall objective of the meeting was to facilitate a high-level multi-level dialogue with AU member states, CSOs, and peace and security experts, in order to enhance civil society contributions to conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict reconstruction and development.
The meeting increased CSOs' knowledge of the mechanisms put in place to fortify their engagement with the AU, as well as their participation in AU programmes related to conflict prevention, management and resolution, democracy, governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law, human rights, and transitional justice.
The meeting further bridged the gap between the AU and CSOs; and built on the expertise and capacities of CSOs in conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict reconstruction and development.
The meeting was opened by Dr. Dharmraj Busgeeth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mauritius to Ethiopia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
So far ECOSOCC has produced over 25 policy related outputs like, Policy Manuals and Toolkits on: Monitoring Agenda 2063 at the national, regional and continental level and Strategic planning for civil society organizations; The conduct of advocacy within African civil society and Fundraising for Civil Society Organizations. Others include the development of a new Strategic Plan for ECOSOCC and Research and Policy Studies on: “Assessing the impact of COVID-19 Response measures on women and girls in Africa; Research Study on “Civil Society and the AFCFTA: Consolidating African Integration in the new single market; Research Study On “Civil Society as Partners In Emergency Response – The Case of COVID-19,”; Research Study on Government-Civil Society Relations in Africa: Building a more constructive partnership and Fatally misinformed; Examining the role of social media misinformation on COVID-19 and lessons for future emergencies.
Further, ECOSOCC is currently finalizing the development of legal and operational frameworks in pursuance of the relevant decisions of the AU’s Executive Council relating to the establishment of ECOSOCC National Chapters, the establishment of an accreditation mechanism for African CSOs, and modality for the engagement of the African Diaspora in the operationalization of ECOSOCC.
