February 20-22, 2018, Nairobi, Kenya –The Economic, Social, Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) an organ of the African Union, held Joint Implementation activities of five Sectorial Clusters from 20–22 February 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of the meeting was to organize a platform for expert review and finalization of clusters 2018 work plans/strategy and its implementation plan. The meeting was also an opportunity to facilitate the exploration of funding possibilities and possible strategic partnerships and alliances of the execution of the proposed activities of the implementation plan at national and sub national levels.

This joint meeting, a first of its kind, also facilitated discussion on the key challenges faced in relation to corruption and building partnerships to facilitate dialogue and synergy in the fight against corruption and related offences. This laid a platform for the development of thematic key messages that the various ECOSOCC clusters will use to popularize the African Union Commission’s theme of the year and raise awareness on the issues of corruption on the continent.

Speaking on behalf of ECOSOCC’s Standing Committee, Head of Political Affairs Cluster Mr. Abozer Elmana Mohammed Elligai expressed gratitude at the nature of the meeting and the areas it covered.

“It is gratifying to note that the agenda of this meeting covers a wide range of the ECOSOCC strategy, clusters’ work plans and the African Union Commission’s theme of this year, anti-corruption. In this meeting we will exchange ideas, review and discuss the progress made by the secretariat of ECOSOCC, and finally reflect on the future of the ECOSOC works”, he said.

Delivering his opening remarks, Ahmed El-Basheer A. El-Madani, Director of CIDO, emphasized that for Africa to achieve its long-term goals and for the African Union to see Agenda 2063 fully implemented, it is imperative for the ECOSOCC to build synergies and align its programmes and activities to the various strategic documents of the African Union. He also indicated that ECOSOCC has a critical role to play in the popularization of the AU theme of the year. He said “CSOs have a role in making sure that they engage with people on the ground in putting efforts together towards putting an end to corrupt practices across the continent”, he remarked.

The meeting drew participation from four Sectorial cluster heads; Cross-cutting, Economic Affairs, Human Resource, Science & Technology and Political Affairs, corresponding representatives from these various thematic clusters, relevant technical departments from the African Union Commission, the Advisory Board on Anti-Corruption, representatives drawn from the wider civil society including ECOSOCC Kenya national chapters as well as service staff of the AU Commission from CIDO, Finance department and the coordination department of the ECOSOCC.

The joint meeting of ECOSOCC Clusters supports Aspiration 3, of Agenda 2063 on the role of civil society in the development agenda, good governance and democracy. One of the key agreements in the meeting was that African civil society should use their various platforms such as print and electronic media, national chapters’ forums and ECOSOCC subsequent planned meetings in various member states to facilitate the dissemination of the various key messages developed on the African Union’s theme of the year, “Winning the Fight against Corruption; A sustainable path for Africa’s transformation”.

For more information please contact:
William Carew
Regional Desk Officer
Civil Society Division; CIDO
CarewW@africa-union.org;
Hazel Dixon
Policy Officer
Civil Society Division; CIDO
DixonH@africa-union.org
Ernest Kaliza Jr.
Communications Consultant
EKaliza@africa-union.org;