The establishment of the African Union’s Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) at the third Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly under the provisions of articles 5 (i) and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act is a milestone achievement in the process of actively engaging civil society in the processes and work of the AU, particularly with regard to Africa’s integration and development. ECOSOCC comprises of various social, private sector, and professional groups of Member States of the Union and the African Diaspora, and functions primarily as a bridge through which the AU can partner and engage with civil society organisations on the continent. Through its General Assembly and the Sectoral Cluster Committees, ECOSOCC provide the formal policy space for African CSOs to engage with the Union and its various policy organs. In order to expand the scope and impact of ECOSOCC at grassroots, CSOs and Member States conceptualised the ECOSOCC National Chapter Framework.
Executive Council Decision EX/CL/Dec. 869 (XXVI) of 23-27 January 2015 and Dec. EX/CL 924 (XXVI) of June 2015 considers ECOSOCC National Chapters as a framework for accountability of elected members, as well as a conduit for disseminating information and mobilizing support for AU programs and activities. National Chapters will operate as an emanation of ECOSOCC and shall operate in accordance with the ECOSOCC Statutes; thus, encouraging the broad and meaningful participation of a wide range of CSOs in their activities and the greater participation of CSOs from all regions and groups. National Chapters in Member States are meant to bring the AU at grassroots; primarily to support, implement, and monitor ECOSOCC activities at the national level and popularise the work of the Union and facilitate the public’s engagement in it, including Agenda 2063, as well as the Union’s annual theme of the year, thematic events, and AU days.
The National Chapter Framework was adopted in February 2023 at 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union. After a successful pilot-testing phase, ECOSOCC is pleased to open the ‘Call for Application’ for the ECOSOCC National Chapters from 01st to 31st January 2025. African CSOs
African CSOs are invited to visit https://ecosocc.au.int/en/national-chapters to proceed with online application.
The following documents will also be required to accompany all applications:
- A letter detailing the objectives and activities of the CSO that demonstrates that the nature and scope of its activities are relevant to the work of the Union and that its objectives and activities are in consonance with advancing the spirit, objectives, and principles of the Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights;
- Proof of formal registration as one of the types of social or professional groups listed above issued by the relevant authority in the Member State in which the CSO is based, or a justification as to why formal registration is not possible;
- The signed constitutive document of the CSO;
- A list of authorised representatives of the organisation;
- A signed declaration committing the CSO to the ECOSOCC Code of Conduct
Applications will be screened by the ECOSOCC’s internal structures between February and March 2025 ; applicants will thereafter be notified about the outcome of their applications.
NB : A Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ) is available on the ECOSOCC website for any additional information that applicants may require
