The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) is an advisory organ of the African Union (AU) whose purpose is to actively engage civil society in the processes and work of the AU.  Executive Council Decision EX/CL/Dec. 869 (XXVI) of 23-27 January 2015 calls on ECOSOCC to facilitate the establishment of national ECOSOCC Chapters as a framework for accountability of elected members, as well as a conduit for disseminating information and mobilising support for AU programmes and activities, in close collaboration with Member States.  Similarly, Decision EX/CL 890 (XXVII) of June 2015 calls upon ECOSOCC to collaborate with the African Commission and Member States to actively pursue a harmonized mechanism and clear criteria for the granting of AU consultative and observer status to CSOs in Africa.

In November 2021, ECOSOCC contracted ALT Advisory to actualise and implement these goals by, first, designing a harmonised mechanism through which CSOs can obtain observer and consultative status and thereby engage with the organs of the AU, and second, developing a holistic framework that provides an institutional mechanism for the establishment and operationalisation of ECOSOCC National Chapters in AU Member States.

In December 2021,  a Consultative Workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya that aimed to provide a common understanding to key stakeholders about the proposed Union-wide accreditation framework representing the single-entry point for CSOs wishing to participate in the work of African Union institutions, organs, and agencies and to gather feedback from stakeholders on the finalisation of the National Chapter framework.

As part of the consultative process; ECOSOCC and the Consultants have planned 5 virtual Regional Consultations with CSOs as follows : (1) Central Africa [ 7 March], (2) Eastern Africa [8 March], (3) Southern Africa [ 9 March], (4) Northern Africa [ 10 March] and (5) Western Africa [11 March] . All consultations will be held via Zoom as from 11.00 UTC/13.00 CAT/14.00 EAT

The specific objectives of this meeting are to:

a) Enhance understanding about the AU harmonised accreditation framework and its implications for future engagements of African CSOs with the Union;
b) Solicit inputs from relevant players on the AU-CSO accreditation framework;
c) Provide inputs to the National Chapter framework so as to ensure compliance with the Accreditation Framework;
d) Provide an opportunity for the consultants to have direct interface with key stakeholders.

For more information kindly visit https://www.auecosocc.org/au-cso-frameworks