ECOSOCC invites eligible Civil Society Organisations to apply for membership of the 5th Permanent General Assembly. The deadline for submissions is 15 July 2026 at 17:00 (Central African Time).
About ECOSOCC
The Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC) is an advisory and consultative organ of the African Union (AU), established in 2004 pursuant to Articles 5(1) and 22 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The legal framework governing ECOSOCC is set out in the ECOSOCC Statute, adopted in July 2004 and revised in February 2026.
The mandate of ECOSOCC is to promote dialogue between all segments of African people on issues concerning the continent and its future, and to amplify African citizens' voice in the policies and programmes of the Union.
Composition of the General Assembly
The ECOSOCC General Assembly is composed of 209 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs):
- Three (3) CSOs operating at the national level from each AU Member State
- Ten (10) CSOs operating at the regional level
- Eight (8) CSOs operating at the continental level
- Twenty (20) African Diaspora CSOs
- Six (6) CSOs in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Women and youth representation
Of the three (3) national-level CSOs to be elected from each Member State:
- at least one (1) CSO shall specifically address women's empowerment or youth issues
- that CSO shall be represented by a Designated Representative who is a woman or a youth, respectively
- women- or youth-focused CSOs may submit further applications under the national, regional or continental categories
African Diaspora seats
The twenty (20) seats allocated to African Diaspora CSOs are distributed across regions based on estimates of the African Diaspora population, per the United Nations geoscheme:
Eligibility and term
CSOs seeking election must meet the eligibility requirements set out in Article 9 of the revised Statute. See the full criteria in Annex 1 below.
Elected CSOs shall serve for a term of four (4) years, renewable once only.
How to apply
Eligible CSOs are invited to submit their applications through the ECOSOCC-Connect online platform, together with all required supporting documentation as indicated on the portal.
The application process consists of two steps:
- Registration. Create a profile and register your organisation on ECOSOCC-Connect.
- Application. After successful registration, submit your application for the Fifth Permanent General Assembly (5PGA).
Applications shall be reviewed by the ECOSOCC Credentials Committee in accordance with the Statute and applicable Election Guidelines.
Enquiries
All enquiries relating to this Call for Application shall be addressed to the ECOSOCC Secretariat at elections.ecosocc@africanunion.org.
For requests for support on the online platform, address to accreditation@ecosocc.au.int.
Annexes
- CSOs seeking membership in ECOSOCC shall comply with the following eligibility criteria:
- be a national, regional, continental, or African Diaspora CSO, without restriction to undertake regional or international activities;
- registration and status:
- provide proof of valid registration as an African CSO in a Member State or as an African Diaspora CSO, for at least three (3) years preceding submission, including proof of continuous operations throughout this period;
- be a member of a National ECOSOCC Chapter (for national, regional, and continental CSOs);
- have Consultative Status in accordance with the Harmonised Accreditation Framework;
- for CSOs operating at the regional or continental levels, provide proof of registration and operations in at least two (2) Member States within a region, or across two (2) or more regions of the continent, respectively;
- submit the most recent annual audit statements by an independent auditing firm, including information on funding sources, issued no later than two (2) years prior to application;
- provide proof that ownership and management of the CSO consists of not less than fifty per cent (50%) of Africans or of the African Diaspora;
- provide proof that substantially or at least fifty per cent (50%) of the CSO's basic resources are derived from contributions at the national level or from African institutions;
- where external voluntary contributions have been received, their amounts and grant partners shall be faithfully revealed. Any financial or other support, direct or indirect, shall be declared and fully recorded.
- Additional requirements:
- objectives and principles consistent with the principles and objectives of the AU as set out in Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitutive Act;
- demonstrate proficiency in thematic areas relevant to ECOSOCC's mandate, with proof of operations in a Member State (or in the African Diaspora) in one or more of the thematic areas of the Sectoral Cluster Committees in the two (2) years preceding the application (see Annex 2);
- for CSOs operating at the regional or continental levels, provide proof of operations in at least two (2) Member States within a region, or across two (2) or more regions of the continent, respectively.
- Non-discrimination. CSOs that discriminate on any basis inconsistent with AU values and principles — including religion, gender, tribe, ethnic, racial, or political affiliation — are ineligible for election to ECOSOCC.
- Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration
- Social Development, Labour and Employment
- Health, Population and Drug Control
- Justice and Legal Affairs
- Youth, Culture and Sports
- Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization
- Communication and Information Communications Technology
- Defence, Safety and Security
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment
- Education, Science and Technology
- Trade, Industry and Minerals
- Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
- Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
- Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy
