News & Events

Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Uganda for the 2nd ECOSOCC General A

8 September 2014

Uganda Civil Society Embraces ECOSOCC

Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Mozambique for the 2nd ECOSOCC Gener

5 September 2014

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Mozambique to Encourage Participation in the Elections for the ECOSOCC 2nd General Assembly

Maputo, Mozambique, 5 September 2014: A number of civil society organizations in Mozambique actively interacted and discussed with the African Union Sensitization and Motivation Campaign team on the election for the 2nd General Assembly of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), today 5th September 2014, in Maputo. The event was in the context of the Mission of the AU Campaign in Mozambique.

The deliberation began with the opening remarks by the Mozambican CSOs Representative, who urged the national CSOs to put its effort towards the upcoming General Assembly. He stressed out the difficulties in fulfilling the requirements, especially the Article 6 of the ECOSOCC Statutes. On the other hand, he stated that it was very crucial for the country to be represented in the organ as it was an opportunity to actively participate in the AU activities.

Mr. Filipe Furuma, Head of Delegation urged the government and people of Mozambique to work very closely in partnership with ECOSOCC to achieve the main objectives of the sensitization and motivation campaign to give added value as the country was well represented in the 1st General Assembly. He expressed the gratitude of the African Union for the efforts made by Mozambique representatives in ECOSOCC and wished once again quality organizations to be also elected.

Mr. Bright Mando, the Representative from the Office of the Legal Council focused on the ECOSOCC election process, explained to the participants the purpose of the sensitization and motivation program and details of the application procedure, process and the way forward.

The meeting provided an opportunity for CSOs in Mozambique to share their concerns and views on a number of issues related to their participation in the African Union and the continent. The Representative of the Mozambican CSOs had, on behalf of the NGO Platform, expressed great satisfaction for the CSOs having had this great opportunity to learn more on ECOSOCC and AU at this event and had expectations that the CSOs will submit their applications..

The African Union Sensitization and Motivation Campaign is in compliance to the decision adopted by the 23st Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, held in Malabo, in June 2014. The decision called the AU Commission to conduct a campaign to encourage greater participation and gathering sufficient candidatures from the African CSOs, in particular the least represented countries for ECOSOCC election.

For any further information please contact:

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Directorate of Information and Communication, E mail : Thabitma@africa-union.org, afraht@hotmail.com

For further information contact

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Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Madagascar for the 2nd ECOSOCC Gener

3 September 2014

AU CAMPAIGN MOTIVATES MALAGASY CIVIL SOCIETY FOR

THE ECOSOCC ELECTION

Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2nd September 2014 – Representatives of various civil society organizations in Madagascar converged in Madagascar ,Antananarivo, to discuss and interact on the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC). This comes in context of the AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign for the election of the 2nd ECOSOCC General Assembly.

The meeting began with opening remarks by Mr. Mahamoudou Ndriandahy, National Executive Secretary of the Malagasy National CSOs Platform, who welcomed all the participants. He thanked the African Union Commission for bringing the delegation to Antananarivo to sensitize and motivate the members of the local CSOs. He stressed the need for the participants to participate in the ECOSOCC election process as an opportunity to actively participate in the activities of the Union.

Mme. Onintsoa Ramahatafandry, Director for Partnerships and Promotion of the Civil Society in the Ministry for Population and Promotion of Women, in her opening remarks highlighted the need to enhance the partnership amongst the CSOs, Member States and the Commission, as the contribution coming from the non-state actors is seen as complementary to what the African Governments provide to their citizens.

Welcoming the delegates, Mme. Hawa Ahmed Youssouf, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission noted that it is important that the civil society in Madagascar should take up the challenge of effective representation in ECOSOCC. She stressed the need for the Madagascar CSOs to participate in the ECOSOCC election process with enthusiasm in a manner that will surpass all expectations by submitting their candidatures.

The Campaign featured presentations on the history, role, functions and importance of ECOSOCC and the Malabo Summit Decision on ECOSOCC by Mr. Filipe Furuma, Head of the Delegation. He recalled the first three calls on CSOs to submit their applications for the Second General Assembly. The presentation took all participants through on membership, elections and structures of ECOSOCC and the way forward.

Focusing on the ECOSOCC election process, Mr. Bright Mando, the Representative from the Office of the Legal Council explained to the gathering the purpose of the sensitization and motivation program and details of the application procedure and process.

The presentations were followed by a very active and intense interactive session in which CSOs asked questions and made comments and observations. The questions focused mostly on Article 6 of the ECOSOCC Statutes and also the issue of Audit Report which most of the CSOs saw an a bottleneck due to its very high cost. All questions were addressed appropriately by the Staff from the African Union Commission.

Organized by the Citizenship and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the AU Commission, the Campaign comes in compliance with the Decision EX.CL/Dec.849(XXV), adopted by the 23st Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 20-27 June 2014, which called AU to conduct a sensitization and mobilization campaign with the aim of encouraging greater participation and gathering sufficient candidatures from the African CSOs in Member States for the election for the ECOSOCC 2nd General Assembly.

For any further information please contact :

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Directorate of Information and Communication, E mail : Thabitma@africa-union.org,

afraht@hotmail.com

Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Cap-Vert for the 2nd ECOSOCC Gener

26 August 2014

ECOSOCC: THE CIVIL SOCIETY OF CAPE VERDE MOBILIZES FOR THE ELECTIONS.

Praia, Cape Verde – 26 August 2014 - The African Union (AU) delegation on tour in four Member States of the Union, as part of the awareness and motivation campaign of the civil society for the election of the 2nd Assembly of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), completed its African trip on Tuesday, 26 August 2014, which led it successively to Lome (Togo), Dakar (Senegal) , Cotonou (Benin) and finally to Praia (Cape Verde).

The meeting at the national head office of the NGO Platform in Cape Verde, Praia, gathered fifteen organizations, foundations and associations working in the social, humanitarian and environmental areas.

In his opening speech, Mr. Jose Eduardo Barroso, National Director for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended the African Union for organizing the sensitization meeting at the headquarters of the Platform of the Organizations in Praia for a stronger and more vibrant civil society. "This meeting will enable us to address the issue of our representation in ECOSOCC” , the national Director said, and added that the AU had excelled in setting up the body.

"We are grateful to the AU for this pioneering act that will serve as an example to all the others," Jose Eduardo Barroso said and called on the civil society of the country to better organize for future elections in order to occupy its rightful place in the ECOSOCC and contribute to add the voice of Cape Verde to those of other African countries. He finally reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide all possible support for the fulfilment of the undertaking.

Mr. Jalel Chelba, Head of the Civil Society Division and Head of the AU delegation, highlighted the commitment of the civil society of Cape Verde and urged them to work more in close collaboration and in partnership with the ECOSOCC and the African Union Commission for the benefit of the African people by organizing and becoming more involved in the election process. "I hope that at the end of the campaign many of you will answer the call of duty and many of you will take part in the upcoming ECOSOCC elections so that the Civil Society of Cape Verde would be well represented within the next ECOSOCC Assembly," Mr Chelba emphasized.

Previously, the Representative of the Civil Society, Madam Anna Silva, had, on behalf of the NGO Platform, expressed great satisfaction for hosting the important preparatory meeting and paid tribute, in that regard, to the African Union Commission which initiated the campaign that is likely to strengthen the work of civil society players by empowering them to have access to ECOSOCC meetings and make their contribution.

Organizations present at the interactive working session expressed fears of being unable to meet the requirements of the eligibility criteria, particularly those on the African financial contribution. "The large majority of us do not enjoy financial autonomy. We depend on the financing of cooperation projects and receive no government contribution,” the representatives of many NGOs stressed and explained that the amount of their contributions is very low.

They however expressed their commitment to participate in the process and enable their civil society to occupy the seats of Cape Verde which had hitherto remained vacant within the ECOSOCC.

The decision was therefore taken to charge the NGO Platform, which has branches in the whole country and a great capacity for mobilization, to support the process. The mission which will be accomplished with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will include the dissemination of information and distribution of documents. The NGO Platform will, in this regard, act as a facilitator of the process at the national level.

The kickoff of the continental campaign, initiated in accordance with the Executive Council decision (EX.CL/Dec.849(XXV), adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, was on 12 August in Lusaka, Zambia. The campaign will continue until September and will eventually cover the five regions of Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Jalel Chelba, Chef de Division de la Société Civile, CUA| Direction de la Citoyenneté et de la Diaspora| E-mail : Jalelc@africa-union.org

Mme Habiba Mejri Scheikh| Directrice de l’Information et de la Communication| Direction de l'Information et de la Communication AUC| E-mail: habibaM@africa-union.org

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Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Lesotho to Encourage Participation i

25 August 2014

SPREADING THE ECOSOCC GOSPEL IN LESOTHO: AU MOTIVATION AND SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN

Maseru, Lesotho, 25 August 2014 - About sixty civil society organizations from across the length and breadth of the Kingdom of Lesotho attended the ECOSOCC Sensitization and Motivation Campaign held in Lehakoe Club, Maseru, Lesotho today 25th August 2014.

In his Welcome Address to the gathering, HE Julius Tebello, the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho, noted that the sensitization mission of the African Union is designed to implement the Decision of the recent AU Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and that " The Kingdom of Lesotho was a party to that decision in the same way that we were party to the Decision to create the African Union." " Our country," he added, " takes great pride in our membership of our continental organization, the African Union."

The Principal Secretary stated that the decision to make the African Union people-centered was a conscious one arising from the re-orientation of the OAU from decolonization towards development and integration within the framework of the African Union. CIDO and ECOSOCC reflected this preoccupation in the design of AU institutional structures. Two main features set ECOSOCC aside from similar organs in other international organizations including the UN. It is elected and led by civil society and it participates directly in the policy decision making process.

Mr. Tebello observed that " Lesotho is too important to be left out of this vital process" and called on the civil society community to ensure that Lesotho has effective and legitimate representation in the AU ECOSOCC." We want Lesotho civil society to go into ECOSOCC and be part of its leadership and to work closely with government and AU institutions to ensure Africa's development".

The challenge was recognized and embraced in the opening statement of Mr Motsamai, the Director of the Lesotho Council of NGOs. Mr Motsamai acknowledged the need for CSOs to organize themselves to play their anointed roles within the framework of the the AU and ECOSOCC and linked it to the the mission statements and objectives of CSOs in Lesotho in general. He saw the challenge of ECOSOCC as consistent with the objectives and principles that underlined CSO activities and in congruence with the objective desires of CSO activism in the pursuit of liberty, happiness and fulfillment in Africa.

Ambassador Lazarus Kapambwe, the Advisor to the AU Chairperson, added that the mission to Lesotho was a crowning stage of the first step of AU efforts to ensure that all Member States are fully represented in ECOSOCC as the civil society parliament of the Union. CSOs in Lesotho should act in concert with the AU to ensure the success of this mission."Too often in the past, African civil society were not fully taken into account in determining the future and destiny of Africa. In this ECOSOCC process, they have been charged with co-responsibility." He urged CSOs to take heed of the Zambian proverb that only those who partake of a meal can take part in subsequent discussions about how tasty and delicious the food is. You have to be in the kitchen to determine the flavor of the palate.

After the opening ceremony, Mr Chilengi acquainted the audience with the history, experience and record of ECOSOCC while Dr Jinmi Adisa, the Director of CIDO underlined the purpose and content of the sensitization program, expectations from Civil society organizations and application processes. He guided the audience through the application procedures. The application forms, he explained, has three main parts. The first requested information on the Organizations, address, contact details, designated representatives, date and country of registration and registration authorities. The second focused on objectives, mission and character of the Organization, whether it is national regional or continental, the category of the organization in the framework of the ECOSOCC statutes , membership charges, if any, the leadership and executive body to see whether it is truly African and affiliates and tributaries associated with the organization. The third part relates to funding sources and expenditure.

Dr. Adisa observed that several disqualifications occurred because though the forms were easy to fill, mistakes were often made in the process. Some relevant details were omitted, applications were sometimes signed by officers that did not appear competent or high enough to commit organizations. In some cases also, the organization was not specific about whether the application was for national, regional or continental spots. Thus some level of patience and diligence would be required to ensure that the applications were properly completed.

A vigorous and active interaction session followed. Comments, observations and questions focused on the experience and lessons of previous ECOSOCC Assemblies, the relative advantages and disadvantages of civil societies operating in an adversarial manner other than as stakeholders in the policy process. Participants concluded that both roles can be effectively combined and the choice of approaches would be dictated by which one would produce effective results. There was a recognition of the need for CSOs to understand the context of policy demands and the cultural and political sensitivities of the policy making environment in which they were operating. Strategies and tactics must be adapted to the situation.

Issues were also raised about how ECOSOCC can tackle wider responsibilities relating to social justice, economic development and international partnerships and dealings with global financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF and treatment of the Ebola virus. There were also comments on the requirement for 50 per cent internally derived revenue for CSOs in ECOSOCC with some alleging double standards because some states also had more than 50 per cent of their revenue coming form external sources. Even so, it was also recognized that the situation of states was distinct from that of civil society. States had several things that could be traded for financial support while CSOs that were fully funded by external sources were much more amenable to pressure and control.

Finally, the CSOs stressed that the lesson of the current sensitization exercise for ECOSOCC was that it had played a critical role in image building for the AU. It can therefore, not be a one-off event. The sensitization exercise must be continuous and the AU as whole has to take a much more active role in sensitizing the African public about its purpose, activities and the process of its development. The AU must now venture into image building and use ECOSOCC as a beachhead for this enterprise. ECOSOCC meetings should be rotated among various countries in the continent and each ECOSOCC meeting should but preceded by a one day sensitization meeting with civil society groups in the country in which the meeting is taking place. In addition, ECOSOCC should convene quarterly sensitization meetings in different regions of the continent as part of its normal schedule of activities.

For any further information please contact :

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Directorate of Information and Communication, E mail : Thabitma@africa-union.org, afraht@hotmail.com

Speeches

Opening Address delivered by H.E. Julius Tebello Metsing the Principal Secretary

Opening Address delivered by H.E. Julius Tebello Metsing the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Lesotho at the ECOSOCC Sensitization and Motivation Campaign of the African Union

Lehakoe Club, Maseru

25 August 2014

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the AU delegation and members of the Lesotho civil society community to this important gathering on the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC). Our country takes great pride in our membership of our continental organization, the African Union. We see great merit in fellowship and solidarity to promote integration and development in Africa.

I am happy to receive the AU delegation because their coming here is part of a process of implementing a decision taken at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and Assembly of the Union on preparations for elections into ECOSOCC. The Kingdom of Lesotho was a party to that decision in the same way that we were party to the Decision to create the African Union in 2002.

Our objective in creating the African Union was to accelerate the process of integration and to use the process to foster meaningful development for all African citizens on the continent and other parts of the world. We were conscious right from the beginning that development is a people-centered activity. It must involve all citizens in society. Thus the preamble and principles of the Constitutive Act of the Union was explicit that it would be a partnership between governments and all segments of African society.

Accordingly, the African Union took the unprecedented step of establishing a Department of the African Union Commission, which is the Secretariat of the Union, to cater solely for harnessing the inputs of non-state actors in the Affairs of the Union. This is the Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate (CIDO) which is in charge of the sensitization process with which we are engaged today. Within the larger Union framework we also provided for the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) a civil society parliament elected by and led by civil society. CIDO serves as the Secretariat of ECOSOCC to ensure integration and harmonization of CSO activities within the Union framework.

The ECOSOCC of the African Union is a unique institution. It is an Organ comprising 150 members drawn from the African Civil Society community within the continent and the African Diaspora. Every civil society organization is eligible to apply and can obtain membership as long as they fulfill the criteria stipulated in the ECOSOCC Statutes. The criteria were drawn up through widespread consultation with civil society. Each Member State of the African Union is entitled to elect 2 members making a total of 108. It was originally 106 before the accession of South Sudan. Civil society organizations with a continental presence and mandate can have 5 members, including one per region. 10 sub-regional civil society organizations with an appropriate mandate and presence would be elected to represent wider sub-regional interests while the African Diaspora in various parts of the world would elect 20 members. The process of Diaspora representation is still being worked out. The Commission would also nominate 6 civil society organizations to represent special interests that may have been excluded in the process of elections.

There are two important unique features of the African Union ECOSOCC that marks it out from its counterparts in other international organizations including the United Nations. First as I indicated, it is elected by and led by civil society. Second, it takes part in the policy-decision making process and its leadership sits together with Ministers and Heads of States when they meet at the bi-annual African Union Summit. They participate in discussions and contribute directly to the policy decision-making process.

ECOSOCC has had two Assemblies since its inception in 2004.. The first was an Interim Assembly from 2004-2007 led by Prof. Wangari Maathai, our late and illustrious Nobel Laureate. She laid the foundations of the Organ and gave it credibility and status within the African Union family. Prof. Mathaai also led the process of free and fair elections that paved way for the establishment of the 1st ECOSOCC General Assembly from 2008-2012.

The Council and Assembly of the Union then tasked the AU Commission to organize elections into the 2nd General Assembly. The AU Commission reported back to the last AU Summit in Malabo in June/July 2014 that it was having some difficulty getting a sufficient number of candidates for the elections across the different countries and regions in the Union.

The consequent Summit Decision (EX.CL/Dec.849(XXV) was that the Commission should organize a continent-wide sensitization and Motivation Campaign across Africa in Member States that did not have sufficient candidates for elections into ECOSOCC. The Summit set a deadline of three months for the completion of the sensitization exercise and directed that elections must be conducted into ECOSOCC before the end of the year 2014.

The process was initiated in early August 2014 and the exercise is being conducted here in Lesotho today. I wish to thank the AU Commission for its concern and efforts to ensure that Lesotho takes its rightful place among its peers in ECOSOCC within the African Union Community.

I wish also to implore and call upon the civil society community in Lesotho to do their duty and work with the Commission and the Government and people of Lesotho to ensure that we have legitimate and effective representation in ECOSOCC. The African Union team is here to explain the process. I call on all present here to listen closely, understand the process and take subsequent steps to register and participate appropriately. I also request that organizations present here should carry the message to those that are absent and also encourage them top participate and apply. Lesotho is too important to be left out of this vital process. This is an important component of the struggle for emancipation and self-realization in Africa. It is a process that obliges all segments of society to do its duty. The government and people of Lesotho are relying on our civil society to fulfill their obligation in regard of ECOSOCC. We want Lesotho civil society to go into ECOSOCC and be part of its leadership and to work closely with government and other AU institutions to ensure Africa’s development.

Finally, I also invite the AU delegation to seize this opportunity to mix, mingle and interact productively with their brothers and sisters in Lesotho so that we can share concerns and cooperate fully on the road to Africa’s integration and auto-centered development. You are invited to take enjoy all our amenities because they are also your own and to luxuriate in the hospitality of your larger family in Lesotho.. This is your “home away from home” and we are enchanted to have our kith and kin with us in this part of the motherland.

I thank you all.

Speeches

Opening Statement delivered by Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, Advisor to the AU C

Opening Statement delivered by Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, Advisor to the AU Chairperson, to Lesotho Civil Society Organizations at the ECOSOCC Sensitization and Motivation Campaign held in Lehakoe Club

Maseru, Lesotho

25 August 2014

Your Excellency, the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho

Members of the African Diplomatic Corps

The Director, Lesotho Council of NGOs

Colleagues from the AU

Distinguished Delegates of Lesotho Civil Society Organizations

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to be in a position to address you all here in Maseru, Lesotho today. This is the fourth leg of our Southern African Countries to invite and encourage African civil society organizations to register and participate in the ECOSOCC elections process. It is the crowning stage of the first step of the African Union efforts to ensure that all Member States across the regions are fully represented in Economic, Social and Cultural Council, which serves as the civil society parliament of the African Union.

We are privileged to be here in Lesotho on this mission and I can assure you there is no other place we would wish to be on assignment from our leaders other than here today. Since we arrived on your shores on Friday, 22 August 214, we have partaken of your hospitality. The success and fulfillment of the purpose of our mission has been engendered by fruitful cooperation on the part of the Lesotho Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the civil society community through the Lesotho Council of NGOs. The enthusiasm and vigorous support on both sides presages the purpose and intent of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It offers a model of the partnership between governments and civil society that the African Union is pledged to achieve.

Our mission here, as succinctly slated, in the Opening Address of the Honourable Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho, is to faithfully implement the Decisions of the Leaders of the African continent. The presentation of the Principal Secretary traced the history and development of ECOSOCC and the context in which the Decision was taken. The objective was so eloquently stated that there is no need and no profit in my repetition of the same.

I can only add that in the course of this sensitization exercise, my colleagues from the AU and ECOSOCC will explain the procedures and processes of the ECOSOCC election, the eligibility criteria and the timelines set for the exercise to enable Lesotho NGOs rise up to the mandate and challenge that has been so eloquently captured by the Honourable Principal Secretary. In the same vein, Mr. Chilengi, a member of the 1st ECOSOCC Permanent General Assembly will underline the importance of the role and functions of ECOSOCC and the achievement and challenges it encountered in its phases of existence. The purpose is to make the Lesotho CSO community appreciative of their duties and responsibilities in ECOSOCC so that it can organize itself for co-responsibility of the leadership of the continent as required in the ECOSOCC Statutes.

I urge all CSO representatives present here to heed the wise counsel of the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs and respond positively and constructively to the entreaties of our leaders as expressed through the AU Summit Decision. In order for our continent to take its rightful place in the world, Government and all segments of civil society must organize themselves appropriately to share responsibility for the development of our beloved continent. Too often in the past, African civil society were not fully taken into account in mapping the way forward. In this ECOSOCC process, they have been charged with co-responsibility. It is a challenge that the African Union and its Commission would urge us all to embrace in the interest of the future of Africa, our children and posterity.

Thank you.

Event

ECOSOCC: Benin Civil Society to Participate in the Next Elections

22 August 2014

ECOSOCC: BENIN CIVIL SOCIETY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS

Cotonou, Benin - August 22, 2014 – After Togo and Senegal, the awareness and motivation campaign of the African civil society on the elections of the 2nd General Assembly of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), initiated by the Directorate of Civil Society and Diaspora Organizations (CIDO) of the African Union Commission (AUC), in keeping with the decision of the Executive Council, got underway on Friday 22 August 2014, in Cotonou, Benin.

Before an audience of representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered in their large numbers in the “Fleuve jaune” conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to acquaint themselves with the rules for the nomination of candidatures and make their voices heard and share their experiences as agents of development, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Francophonie and Beninese Abroad, Dr Bako Nassirou-Afari, in his opening speech delivered by the Secretary General of the Ministry, Ambassador Eusebius Agbangla, said that "ECOSOCC was established with the advent of the African Union to build the partnership which should be institutionalized between Governments and all segments of the civil society for the building of the new African Peoples Union."

The Minister added that the AU advisory body is a platform which should enable the African Civil Society to play an active role in planning the continent’s future through its contribution to the definition of the Union’s principles, policies and programs and monitoring their implementation. On behalf of the Government of Benin, he extended his sincere thanks to the AU Mission which, he said, is perfectly in line with the implementation of the Executive Council decision on the organization of a civil society sensitization campaign.

"This awareness is especially intended for you, so that you will be better represented in the ECOSOCC as an AU advisory body whose role is paramount in the attaining of the Union’s objectives,” the Minister emphasized in his message to the representatives of the Benin civil society, adding that the Republic of Benin will be duly and fully represented at the Conference of the 2nd General Assembly of the Pan-African body.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Jalel Chelba, Head of the Civil Society Division and leader of the AU delegation stated that ECOSOCC embodies the principle of democracy at its highest level and is responsible to lead grassroots civil society organizations to the portals of decision-making, and enable them to assume their share of responsibility in the building of the integration project and the sustainable development of the continent.

He underscored the need to mobilize African civil society organizations and encouraged them to participate in large numbers in ECOSOCC elections, adding that the Commission hopes to finalize the election of new members during the last quarter of 2014 and subsequently put the ECOSOCC Assembly in place before the end of the year.

Speaking on behalf of the Benin civil society, Mr. El Hadji Abu Yekini, Secretary General of the Civil Society Board of Administration, Member of the National Bureau, Representative of the President of the National Consultation Framework of CSOs in Benin, highlighted the importance of the event, which he said, is crucial for the adequate preparation of Benin civil society’s participation in ECOSOCC elections. "The Benin civil society is a development player engaged in a daily battle and grappling with huge challenges,” he said.

In the ensuing debate that followed the presentations made during the interactive working session, issues relating among other things to the eligibility requirements deemed “ restrictive” by the small associations, especially those working with rural women, were raised. While welcoming the initiative and expressing their willingness to redouble their efforts to participate in the elections, many of them called for "a possible relaxation of the eligibility criteria," citing more particularly the clause which says that to be eligible for membership, 50% of the basic resources of the civil society in question shall be derived from contributions of the members of the organization, and the prohibitive external audit cost.

Dr. Nassirou Bako-Arifari received the members of the African Union delegation yesterday evening in his office at the Ministry and seized the occasion to give some titbits to the delegation on how to ensure the success of the campaign which he considered essential in preparing the Benin civil society for the ECOSOCC elections.

On the recommendation of the Minister, Mrs. Habiba Mejri Cheikh, Director of Information and Communication of the African Union Commission and member of the delegation appeared on the National Television of Benin (ORTB) as guest of the 20h00 TV news, during which she explained the objectives of the sensitization campaign and enlisted the participation of Benin CSOs in ECOSOCC activities. She also urged them to take the necessary steps to increase their chances in the upcoming elections.

The continental sensitization campaign, initiated in accordance with the Executive Council decision (EX.CL/Dec.849(XXV), adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the AU in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, kicked off on 12 August in Lusaka, Zambia and will continue until September, covering the five regions of Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Jalel Chelba, Division of Civil Society, AUC | Directorate of Citizenship and Diaspora | E-mail: Jalelc@africa-union.org

Habiba Mejri Sheikh | Director of Information and Communication | Directorate of Information and Communication AUC | E-mail: habibaM@africa-union.org

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Event

AU campaign on ECOSSOC arrives in the Kingdom of Lesotho

22 August 2014

AU campaign on ECOSSOC arrives in the Kingdom of Lesotho

Maseru , Lesotho, 22nd August 2014 – The African Union campaign mission for sensitizations and motivation of the African Civil Society Community in preparation for elections into the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) arrived in Maseru, Lesotho, today Friday 22nd August , 2014.

The AU mission was met on arrival by Mr. Ntate Ramonono and other officials of the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The mission will meet with the Lesotho civil society community on Monday, 25 August 2014. The meeting is scheduled to take place at Lehakoe Club from 9:00am to 13:00 pm and will be hosted by the Lesotho Council of NGOs.

For any further information please contact :

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Directorate of Information and Communication, E mail : Thabitma@africa-union.org, afraht@hotmail.com

Event

AU Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Cotonou, Republic of Benin for the 2

21 August 2014

ECOSOCC: DELEGATION OF THE AFRICAN UNION RECEIVED BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BENIN

Cotonou, Benin - August 21, 2014 - Dr. Nassirou Bako-Arifari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Francophonie and Benin Nationals Living Abroad, received on August 21 in his office at the Ministry, members of the African Union delegation on a working visit to Cotonou, Benin, as part of the awareness campaign of civil society in the election of the Second Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU).

During the audience, which was attended by top officials of the Ministry in charge of African integration, promotion of civil society and African issues, Dr. Bako Arifari-emphasized the importance of the lead role being played by ECOSOCC in the education of the African population, emphasizing the need to focus on the youth and women in the integration process.

The Minister called on the specialized departments of his Ministry to do their utmost for the successful sensitization of all the components of Benin civil society, including the media. "ECOSOCC is our think tank," in this respect,” the minister said, emphasizing that "our stability depends on our ability to meet the expectations of our young people." Dr. Nassirou Bako-Arifari expressed satisfaction at the resumption of ECOSOCC activities and the willingness to educate the African civil society to ensure greater participation in the elections of the 2nd General Assembly. "I would do anything in my power to support you”, he added.

Outlining the objectives of the campaign, Mr. Jalel Chelba, Chief, Division of Civil Society in the Department of Civil Society and Diaspora of the Commission of the African Union (CIDO), in his capacity as Leader of the AU delegation, composed of Mrs. Habiba Mejri Cheikh, Director of AU Information and Communication Directorate and Ms Mpho Porquet, member of the ECOSOCC Assembly, expressed the gratitude of the African Union for the efforts Benin continues to exert to consolidate the gains of the continental organization in the integration and development of the continent. Mr. Chelba also congratulated the Minister on his reappointment as head of Benin diplomacy, following a cabinet reshuffle.

The meeting to which all Benin civil society organizations were invited took place on Friday, August 22, 2014, at 10:00 at the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Francophonie and Benin Nationals Living Abroad.

On the same day in the Benin capital, Cotonou, the Third Sensitization Meeting of the countries of the West African region was held.

It is worth noting that this sensitization campaign, initiated by the Department of Citizenship and Diaspora of the AU Commission (CIDO) in accordance with the Executive Council decision (EX.CL/Dec.849 (XXV), adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, kicked off on 12 August 2014 in Lusaka, Zambia and will continue until September, covering the five regions of Africa.

For more information contact:

Mr. Jalel Chelba, Head of Civil Society Division, AUC| Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate|E-mail: Jalelc@africa-union.org

Mrs Habiba Mejri Scheikh| Director of Information and Communication| Directorate of Information and Communication AUC| E-mail: habibaM@africa-union.org

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Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission |E-mail : dinfo@africa-union.org

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Event

Namibian Civil Society Embraces the Challenge of Participation in ECOSOCC and th

20 August 2014

NAMIBIAN CIVIL SOCIETY EMBRACES THE CHALLENGE OF PARTICIPATION IN ECOSOCC AND THE AFRICAN UNION

Windhoek. Namibia 20th August 2014 –Namibian Civil Society have been called upon to embrace the challenge of effective participation in the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union ((ECOSOCC) as an entry point for enabling the integration and development agenda of the continent as well as the progressive growth of the Namibian State and Society.

The call came in the opening statements of both the Director and Chairperson of NANGOF-TRUST, the umbrella organizations of NGOs in Namibia, Mr. Irvin Lombadrt and Mr Sandie Tjaronda, in the course of the sensitization and motivation campaign on ECOSOCC held in Safari Court Hotel Conference Centre, Windhoek, Namibia today.

The Chairperson of NANGOF-Trust, Mr Tjaronda observed:

ECOSOCC supports policies and programs that promote peace, security and stability in Africa and foster development and integration on the continent as well as promote and defend a culture of good governance, democratic principles and institutions, popular participation, human rights and social justice... In this context, I agree that this visit is timely and relevant in making civil society visible and it endorses the relevance of civil society to the development of Namibia and the continent at large.

Thus he added " Civil Society is an integral component of our societies and this position must be internalized in our Organs of Government and other key machineries such as the African Union and SADC."

In the same vein, Ambassador Lazarus Kapambwe, the Advisor to the AU Chairperson noted that " ECOSOCC provides a barometer for assessing the state of health of African Civil Society and the overall development of the continent. It is an Organ that embraces the active involvement of non-state actors in the continent in the policy-making environment. The ECOSOCC Assembly represents but does not replace civil society"

Mr. Chilengi, a member of the Ist ECOSOCC Permanent General Assembly (2008-2012), observed that while Namibia through NANGO-Trust hosted the last regional consultation leading to the formation of the 1st Permanent ECOSOCC Assembly, it was ironic that it had no representative in the same Assembly and that the time had come to correct that disconnect. The apparent vigor of the the civil society community in Southern Africa must be reflected in the context of ECOSOCC and the African Union. CSOs in Southern Africa should not just seek to participate in ECOSOCC but also to play a critical role in guiding the process.

Following these presentations, Dr Adisa, the Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate of the African Union (CIDO) which hosts the ECOSOCC Secretariat , then outlined the history and development of the current electoral process, related Summit discussions and decisions that paved way for this sensitization exercise and the application requirements, processes and procedures. Specifically, he underlined the eligibility requirements specified in the ECOSOCC Statutes and the timelines set for the current exercise. He urged Namibian civil society organizations to take advantage of the process not just for the purposes of electioneering but to buttress and anchor the legitimacy of the ECOSOCC experience. Accordingly, they should seek to establish national ECOSOCC chapters that would serve as mechanisms for consultation, responsive representation and accountability. They should also seek to ensure that the next ECOSOCC Assembly develops, as a first order of business , a framework for observer status for all CSOs on the continent to ECOSOCC so that they can be directly associated with the conduct of their elected representatives and appreciate how that conduct conforms to the mandate that they give to them.

In the course of the interactive session that followed issues were raised regarding the requirement that fifty per cent of the resources of the intending Organizations must be internally derived. Some felt that this was very restrictive and did not take full cognizance of the realities of the African continent that did not provide appropriate funding support for Civil society activities. Indeed it was argued that the provision may be supportive of NGOs favored by Governments. It was however" noted that the provision challenged civil society groups to seek to broaden their resource base and "Africanize" funding sources but the challenge would only be reasonable in a context where governments and continental and regional organizations also assumed critical responsibility and obligations.

The issue of the urbanization of civil society universe in Africa was also an aspect of concern. CSO groups observed that attention of the CSO community was generally focused on regional capitals and related concerns whereas the majority of the people lived in rural areas. Thus rural issues that were of major concern to the broad generality of the people were often overlooked or neglected. If ECOSOCC is therefore to be truly representative it must avoid the phenomenon of concentration on urbanism.

The meeting was concluded with agreements on next steps and the way forward. It was agreed that the civil society organizations present at the workshop would serve as a vanguard or inner concentric circle for spreading the message to the wider rank and file as in Zimbabwe. In the same vein, the AU was invited to send a delegation to the Namibian CSO expo that would be organized by NANGOF-Trust very soon as a secondary outreach mechanism to support the ECOSOCC process.

For any further information please contact :

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Directorate of Information and Communication, E mail : Thabitma@africa-union.org, afraht@hotmail.com

Speeches

Opening Statement delivered by Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, Advisor to the AU C

Opening Statement delivered by Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, Advisor to the AU Chairperson to Namibian Civil Society Organizations at the ECOSOCC Sensitization and Motivation Campaign in Hotel Safari

Windhoek, Namibia, 20 August 2014

Distinguished Delegates of the Namibian Civil Society Organizations,

Colleagues from the AU,

Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with honour and great delight that I am addressing this august gathering of the Namibian Civil Society Community in Windhoek, Namibia, today. The journey that brought us here began in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea at the 23rd Session of the Executive Council of the African Union which adopted Decision, EX.CL/Dec.849(XXV) on the process of ECOSOCC elections.

Our leaders had received a progress report from the AU Commission on the elections which indicated that processes of election into the 2nd ECOSOCC General Assembly was constrained by lack of eligible candidates in several Member States of the Union. The Commission then outlined various options for overcoming this hurdle and requested that the executive Organs make an appropriate decision on the way forward.

Our leaders took necessary decisions that went beyond the choices presented to them. They directed the Commission to ensure that it worked constructively with African civil society groups to facilitate the establishment of the next ECOSOCC General Assembly before the end of 2014. They also decided that the Commission should undertake a sensitization and motivation campaign that focuses on states and regions in which there were insufficient candidates for the election. The details of this decision and implications will be elaborated subsequently by the responsible Department of the AU Commission, the Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate (CIDO). Suffice to emphasize here that our leaders saw the solution as one that must put in practice the cardinal provision of the Constitutive Act of the Union which stipulated that Governments and institutions of the Union were required to partner with civil society in implementing the principles of the fundamental law of the Organization, hence the need to activate ECOSOCC.

This is the rationale behind the continent-wide campaign of the African Union Commission to invite and encourage African Civil Society Organizations to participate in the ECOSOCC elections. Our presence here is not simply designed to foster interest in the purposes of electioneering. Our intentions are far broader. We want African civil societies to buy into ECOSOCC and make it their own so that the framework of partnership that would support the integration and development project of our continent would be truly people-centred and people-driven.

As the then Chairperson of the African Union, President Jakaya Kikwete has observed at the launching of the 1st Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC in Tanzania, in September 2008, the African Union ECOSOCC is a unique institution that has no existing parallel. It is one that provides civil society with direct presence at the portal of decision-making. This Organ is also one elected by civil society and managed by civil society. Yet it is one in which civil society shares privilege, power and responsibility in active interaction with other stakeholders in the African policy processes.

ECOSOCC provides a barometer for assessing the state of the health of African civil society and the overall development on the continent. It is an Organ that embraces the active involvement of every non-state actor in the continent in policy-making. The ECOSOCC Assembly represents civil society but does not replace it.

This is a message that we have been spreading across our previous stops in Southern Africa particularly in Zambia and Zimbabwe where it was very well received. It is a message that we have brought to you as well.

Our mission to Namibia is all the more significant in that Namibia was not represented in the last ECOSOCC General Assembly. This is a state of affairs that the Namibian civil society should not allow to happen again, given the importance that Namibia attaches to the African Union and the role that the organization played in the independence of Namibia.

If there is one lesson we learned in the struggles from slavery, colonisation, apartheid and subjugation, it is that victory comes from unity and involvement. The African Renaissance that we seek, the restoration of dignity that we deserve and the upliftment of the lives of our people that we are entrusted to bring about cannot be achieved by anyone of us standing on the sidelines. To do so is to dishonour the memory of our fathers and forbearers, many of who laid down their lives to give us the platform for independence, reconstruction and development. Africa needs all her children in government and in civil society. It is in this spirit that we are calling on you all to participate in ECOSOCC and the affairs of the African Union. This is a call to duty. Your continent needs you and there is no greater honour no greater service than to answer the call of duty.

I thank you all.