Open Call For Submissions : My Africa My Future - A Compendium on Civil Society Contributions to The 2025 AU Theme of The Year: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In the exercise of its mandate of connecting the African Union to its people, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) champions numerous initiatives throughout the year; be it through advocacy or awareness raising, ECOSOCC has always been at the forefront of bringing AU policies and programmes at the grassroots. As a resultant of these, many CSOs have reported, quite sporadically though, to ECOSOCC about their very laudable programs to support the Agenda 2063 but most importantly the annual AU Theme of the Year. In response to this, on 25th May 2025, as part of its Africa Day commemorations, ECOSOCC launched the ‘My Africa My Future Compendium’, which henceforth will serve as an annual feature to showcase citizens engagement in the implementation of the AU Theme of the Year.

In line with the African Union’s 2025 Theme of the Year “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) is pleased to announce an Open Call for Submissions to contribute to the ECOSOCC Compendium on Civil Society Contributions to this year’s theme. The compendium aims at documenting, celebrating, and elevating the contributions of civil society organizations (CSOs), community actors, and diaspora groups that are shaping justice and reparative action across Africa and beyond. From community-led campaigns to policy advocacy, digital innovations to cultural remembrance, ECOSOCC is building a platform to showcase the vibrancy and impact of civil society initiatives that respond to the AU's call for justice. These contributions will not only inform AU programming but also serve as a reference for replication, recognition, and continental learning.

We invite you to share your work and be part of a growing archive of African-led solutions that are driving change locally, nationally, and globally.

2.0 KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Through this initiative, ECOSOCC seeks to:

  • Catalogue and spotlight diverse CSO-led initiatives that embody the AU 2025 reparations agenda.
  • Promote interregional learning by sharing replicable models and strategies.
  • Build a permanent compendium of civil society action across Africa and the diaspora.
  • Celebrate and amplify civil society leadership as a vital force for justice, healing, and transformation.
  • Unite scattered voices from communities, CSOs, activists, and researchers to amplify their impact under the ECOSOCC umbrella

3.0 WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We invite submissions of short activity reports that showcase impactful, civil society-led initiatives carried out between December 2024 to October 2025.

Examples of eligible submissions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Advocacy campaigns and policy dialogues.
  • Legal reform initiatives related to justice, reparation, or restitution.
  • Cultural and educational programs addressing historical injustice.
  • Digital or technology-based interventions.
  • Art-based activism and creative storytelling.
  • Work centering youth, women, displaced persons, and historically marginalized communities.
  • Diaspora-led solidarity initiatives or transcontinental partnerships.
  • Truth-telling and memory work rooted in community healing.

If you have implemented any of the above, and it aligns with the AU 2025 theme we want to hear about your impacts

4.0 SUBMISSION FORMAT

To ensure consistency and ease of review all submissions must include the following:

  • Title of the event/activity
  • Format: Indicate whether the activity was physical, virtual, or hybrid
  • Type and number of participants/audiences reached
  • Objectives of the activity
  • Expected outcomes and actual impacts
  • Direct and indirect reach (quantitative figures where possible)
  • Brief testimonial: Lessons learned, best practices, and challenges
  • Visual evidence: At least one photo or short video clip (where available)
  • Word count: 800–1,500 words
  • Languages: English or French (abstracts in other AU languages are also welcomed)
  • Structure: Clear description of your initiative, including objectives, activities, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned
  • Visuals: High-resolution images, infographics, and short videos encouraged (to be uploaded via submission link)

5.0 ELIGIBILITY:

This Call for Submission is open to a wide and inclusive range of actors across Africa and the global African diaspora who are actively contributing to the pursuit of justice, reparations, and transformative change.

Eligible applicants include but are not limited to:

  • Registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working at local, national, regional, or continental levels.
  • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and informal movements engaging with affected populations.
  • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with a demonstrated track record in advocacy, justice, reparations, or related development work.
  • Faith-based groups and traditional leadership structures involved in community reconciliation or social justice initiatives.
  • Academic institutions and independent researchers producing evidence-based work or action research aligned with the AU 2025 theme;
  • Youth- and women-led networks advancing social, economic, or legal justice.
  • Artists, cultural practitioners, and creatives using storytelling, performance, or visual arts as tools for reparation and memory work;
  • Diaspora organizations and solidarity networks mobilizing support and advocacy for African-descended communities globally.
  • The lead applicant must be based in Africa or within the global African diaspora, and the work must be directly relevant to the AU 2025 Theme of the Year

6.0 OTHER GUIDELINES

Process:

 Key Dates

  • Deadline for submissions: Rolling basis, with a cut-off date of 20th December 2025 to allow for review and compilation
  • Notification of acceptance: 31st January 2026
  • Feature release: February 2026 at the ECCOSOCC Pre-Summit Symposium and via ECOSOCC platforms, digital compendium and social media

Selection Criteria

A panel of experts will assess submissions based on:

  • Alignment with the AU 2025 Theme of the Year
  • Innovation and replicability
  • Tangible community impact
  • Inclusivity and representation

Your Contributions Matter

The ECOSOCC Compendium initiative represents the organ’s commitment to make civil society visible, valued, and heard. Through this annual call, we are building a digital and physical repository of civic excellence across Africa and the diaspora one that will inform AU policy and global development conversations for years to come. Let’s shape the narrative of justice and reparation from the ground up. Tell your story. Showcase your impact. Join the movement.

Submit your initiative today and become part of ECOSOCC’s 2025 Citizens Compendium.

Contact

For further inquiries/clarity, please contact ECOSOCC@africa-union.org

All contents © 2025 African Union All rights reserved