Events

1st Extraordinary Session of the Standing Committee of the 2nd Permanent ECOSOCC General Assembly,
11-14 August 2015, Nairobi, Kenya

The 1st Extraordinary Session of the Standing Committee of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-14 August 2015. The Standing Committee serves as the Executive Organ of ECOSOCC and Article 10 of the ECOSOCC Statute authorizes that the Standing Committee “Coordinates the work of ECOSOCC and prepare and submits annual reports of ECOSOCC to the Assembly of the Union”.

The official opening ceremony was attended by the Policy Adviser, and Director of Trade of the Ministry Foreign Affairs of the Kenya, H.E Ambassador Zaddock Syongoh.
Some of ECOSOCC’s special advisers also attended the meetings as observers. Those included Prof. Dipo Kolawale-ECOSOCC adviser on regional and international partnerships, Ambassador Mussie Hailu- Adviser on Interfaith and members of the Secretariat in CIDO.

The main agenda items of this technical session were to deliberate and come up with decisions on the following aspects:
1) ECOSOCC participation in National, Regional and International Forums
2) Report on the outcomes of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 7-15 June 2015.
3) Assessment of Summit Outcomes on ECOSOCC Mandate and development of its work program and framework of action for the execution of related responsibilities and / or activities
4) Operationalization of Clusters and interaction with relevant AU Departments to facilitate an integrated perspective.
5) Consideration and/or approval of the Report of the 1st Ordinary Session of the Credentials Committee and its proposals for the effective Implementation of Executive Council Decision EX.CL 869(XXVI) of January 2015 on the continuation of by-elections into ECOSOCC General Assembly and EX.CL 924 (XXVII) of June 2015 on establishing a framework or harmonized criteria for CSO consultative and Observer Status in the AU in close consultation with the Commission and other AU Organs.
6) Consideration of the report of Africa-EU CSO Intercontinental Steering Committee of 6 July 2015 and planning for the AU-CSO Intercontinental CSO forum and framework for effective CSO participation in the Africa-EU Partnership.
7) Decision on Policy and Administrative issues requiring urgent attention

The meeting also invited departments to give presentations to support the operationalization of the ECOSOCC clusters such as DPA, OLC, PBFA, PMCD and PSD.

In embarking upon the way forward and to guide the implementation strategy of ECOSOCC the Committee deliberated on the various issues contained in the agenda for a period of four days and ended with twelve decisions encircled around the agenda points in addition to decisions regarding advancing the relationship with the relevant AU offices.

Sensitization and Motivation Campaign
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On its final day the ECOSOCC had an ECOSOCC Sensitization and Motivation Campaign, Nairobi, Kenya, 14 August 2015. The campaign aimed to appraise the CSOs on the developments since the 2nd Permanent General Assembly, related summit decisions (June 2015), the Development of a National ECOSOCC Chapter in Kenya and the working towards a Harmonized Criteria for CSO observer and Consultative Status in AU and ended with an interactive session between the CSOs and the Presiding officer and the standing committee.

Photos

ECOSOCC Group Photo

AU ECOSOCC Sensitization Campaign:

Opening Ceremony with Ambassador Zaddok

PRESS RELEASE

AU ECOSOCC HOLDS PARTNERSHIP DISCUSSIONS WITH EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (EESC)

The Presiding Officer of the African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) welcomed a delegation from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Tuesday July 15, 2015 at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.

The EESC delegation was led by Mr. Xavier Verboven, President of the ACP-EU Follow up Committee and also included Ms. Dilyana Slavova, President of the Specialized Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment; Ms. Brenda King Chair, IT Group and Rafael Bellon Gomez, Administrator of External Relations and EU ECOSOC Secretariat

The meeting, held on the margins of the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa, aimed to strengthen the ties between the AU ECOSOCC and its counterpart organ within the EU.

Mr. Chilengi and Mr. Verboven exchanged information about the structure and programs of their respective committees and highlighted a number of issues and challenges common to civil society in both Africa and Europe.

The meeting further identified areas of potential cooperation and synergy between the two civil society organs and committed to a plan of action in the coming months to solidify an institutional partnership through a memorandum of understanding.

Ambassador Mussie Hailu Special Advisor to the AU ECOSOCC on Interfaith, inter-religious and inter-cultural issue; and Mr. Kyeretwie Osei from the ECOSOCC Secretariat, also participated in the meeting.

Concrete outcomes of the Meeting:

1. Solidify an institutional partnership through an MOU between AU ECOSOCC and EU ECOSOC
2. Agreed to have leadership of each organ address each other's policy organs. ECOSOCC Presiding Officer will address the EU ECOSOC twice a year and the EU ECOSOC President will do the same for Africa
3. Share experiences on how the EU ECOSOC generates its advisory opinions. They generate about 200 advisory opinions every year to the EU and about 2000 meetings per year
4. Agreed to start discussing the Post Cotonou Agreement and relign cooperation frameworks.
5. Agreed to have some members of AU ECOSOCC to undertake attachment for one month to two at their secretariat to share and learn generation of advisory opinions, declarations etc.
6. 6.Agreed to have AU ECOSOCC Staff attachment to EU ECOSOC Secretariat at External Services to share and learn how secretariat services EU ECOSOC , communication strategy, policy engagement etc. for up to 3 months depending on circumstances as they use 24 languages at the Secretariat
7. Agreed to work together in the evaluation of EPAS, on programme of food security and safety and on activities on international year of the soil

Standing Committee members should note the quantitative deliverables for the meeting enroute to Nairobi
Thank you

Joseph CHILENGI
Presiding Officer
African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council ( AU ECOSOCC )
ECOSOCC Secretariat
C/o African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mobile P: +260 979 867690
Tel: +251 11 5517 700
Fax: +251 11 5517 844

Addis Ababa, May 8, 2015 – African Union Commission (AUC) and United Religions Initiative – Africa (URI-Africa) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthening their working cooperation to promote interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue in Africa.
The MoU was signed at the Headquarters of African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the Director of Civil Society and Diaspora (CIDO) of the African Union Comisison, Dr. Jinmi Adisa and Regional Director of URI for Africa and Representative of URI to AUC, ECA, UNEP and UN office at Nairobi H.E. Ambassador Mussie Hailu on May 8, 2015.
According to the signed MoU, AUC and URI-Africa will cooperate to explore opportunity for cooperation and non-exclusive partnership in the following areas:
• To collaborate and maintain close and continuing working partnership to enhance the effort of promoting peaceful co-existence among followers of different religions and cultures in Africa
• To implement jointly the declaration of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum.
• To counter violent extremism, radicalizations and terrorism in Africa and to combat hatred, prejudice, intolerance and stereotyping on the basis of religion and culture
• To promote and facilitate a culture of peace, inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, harmony and cooperation in Africa
• To put a spotlight on helping religious leaders in Africa to understand the important role they must play in promoting inter-religious cooperation for peaceful co-existence, reconciliation, security, environmental pretention and sustainable development
• To promote constructive dialogue and peaceful co-existence among followers of different religions, culture and ethnicities group in Africa through the teaching of the Golden Rule which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated” as the Golden Rule is affirmed in many religions, traditions, indigenous cultures and secular philosophies as a fundamental principle of life and moral. It is also the foundation upon which the global ethic is founded and addresses critical issues such as democracy, human rights, respect for one another, gender equity, social justice and inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony.
• To joins hand together to bring different religions, faith-based and interfaith organizations in Africa to work together on Agenda 2063 and post 2015 Development
• To promote peace education in Africa as part of the school curriculum
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After signing the agreement, Dr. Adisa said “I highly appreciate the recommendable work of URI-Africa in promoting daily interfaith cooperation among followers of different religions and faith traditions to promote a culture of peace, justice and healing. The work of URI Africa is very relevant to address the issue of counter violent extremism, radicalization and to end religiously motivated violence in Africa. CIDO is happy to partner and work closely with URI Africa to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue for peaceful co-existence in Africa”.
Dr Adisa added: “I want to thank Amb. Mussie Hailu for his exemplary effort in assisting us to organize the highly successful Interfaith, Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue at the African Union Commission”. I also duly appreciate him for his commitment, dedication, vision, passion, reaching out mechanism, public relation skill, lobbying ability, high diplomacy and leadership in facilitating partnership and building bridges among grass roots practitioners, interfaith organizations, religious & traditional leaders and policy makers on the issue of a culture of peace, inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and cooperation in Africa. Amb. Mussie is a champion and spokesperson for the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum throughout Africa and the rest of the world. It is a great pleasure for us to work very closely URI-Africa ”.
On his part Amb. Mussie Hailu said “URI Africa acknowledged the initiative of African Union Commission and African Religious Leaders for establishing the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum to harness the work of religious communities in Africa” He further said “As a bridge building organization, URI-Africa also appreciate the work of AUC, Department of CIDO for facilitating the participation of non-state actors and civil society in Africa with the African Union, for enhancing the collaboration between the African Union, Member States, and Civil Society organizations, for engaging the African Diaspora community on the issue of Africa and for its commitment to ensure that the African Union represents not only African Governments but also the totality of its people”.
“On behalf of members of URI, I want also to recognize the work of the Economic, Social and Cultural of the African Union (ECOSOCC) for giving the opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent and fostering partnership for civil societies in Africa to work with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the African Union”. He added.
URI is interfaith organization with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and it is working to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
URI-Africa is cultivating peaceful co-existence among different religions and cultures through its 157 member organizations in over 28 African countries by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.
URI Africa’s vision is to see a united, prosperous, and peaceful Africa where followers of different religions live together in harmony and respect each other based on the teaching of the Golden Rule which says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”

The inaugural session of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC that commenced in Nairobi on 21 December 2014 elected Mr. Joseph Chilengi of the Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice of Zambia as its Presiding Officer. He was sworn in formally into office on 22nd December 2014 at a ceremony attended by Her Excellency, Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission. The pronouncement of his election brought all the delegates to their feet and was cheered with a deafening applause.

Mr. Chilengi thus assumes office with a strong popular mandate that he would need to promote the vision and purpose of his high office. He brings to the office a track record of credible civil society activism of long standing that puts him at ease with his foundations in the grassroots, familiarity with ECOSOCC operations as he was a prominent member of the 1st ECOSOCC General Assembly which he served as the Chairperson of the influential Political Affairs Cluster and deep knowledge of the African Union, governments and international organizations to which he was previously attached at various times in his working career.

The new Presiding Officer was the Chairperson of the African Continental Steering Committee of the Africa-EU partnership and Co-Chair of the Intercontinental CSO forum. He has served on several AU Electoral Observer Missions and was one of the architects of the African Governance Architecture on Democracy, Governance and the Human Rights Strategy for Africa. He has also served as a facilitator in the negotiation by Member States of the Union of the Kampala IDP Convention and the Great Lakes Peace Process.

In his inaugural address to the Assembly, Mr. Chilengi offered a democratic, collective decision-making process that would be people-oriented and people-driven. He also promised that the Bureau and Assembly that he is leading will hit the ground running. He outlined three immediate priorities of the Assembly as including a one-week orientation program for General Assembly Members to situate them appropriately in the demands of the African Union family, sensitization and mobilization of African grassroots support for AU program and activities including Agenda 2063 and the Post- 2015 development agenda and third and foremost, the effective operationalization of ECOSOCC Sectoral Cluster as a fulcrum for AU policy and decision-making processes.

He lauded the AU Commission, particularly, its Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Nkosazana Zuma, for prioritizing ECOSOCC as a main concern and thus enabling the inauguration of the 2nd ECOSOCC Permanent General Assembly. He also thanked the ECOSOCC Secretariat in CIDO and its Director for the commitment, vigour and inspiration that made it happen under her leadership.

Finally, he promised that the ECOSOCC Assembly under his watch would not be developed as a Trade Union that is out to service the interest of its elected members. He declared “we came here to serve the continent and we shall do so honestly and diligently. Accordingly, I have been sincere and candid in my appraisal of tasks, challenges and even persons, activities and programs. In doing so, I have reflected the ethics of civil society where we say things as they are… Our promise to you is that we shall deliver on the promise of ECOSOCC in the time allocated for us to carry out our mandate. I and my colleagues ask for your sincere and collective support for this venture. I am certain that you will give us such support. Long live the African Union.”

MEDIA ADVISORY

AU-CSO Continental consultation on the Africa-EU joint strategy (JAES)

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

WHAT: Convening of the AU-CSO Continental consultation on the Africa-EU joint strategy (JAES).
WHEN: 27-28 November 2014
WHERE: Maputo, Mozambique
WHO: AUC/CIDO; Civil society organizations (CSO) from across the five regions of the continent.
OBJECTIVES EXPECTED
• To review the outcomes of the 4th africa-eu summit and its new implementation architecture
• To define Africa priorities in this context across the board and in specific thematic areas
• To define continental and intercontinental CSO priorities with in the JAES framework and the challenges of co-responsibility with other stakeholders
• To prepare for effective follow-up and implementation bodies for the 2014 and 2014 road map
• To respond actively and constructively to the responsibility bestowed on the consultative group with in the framework of the Africa-EU strategy to provide the platform for African CSOs to work together to support comprehensive stakeholder participation in the process
• To set stage for the consolidation of an intercontinental CSO platform in early 2015.

BACKGROUND
The Africa-EU joint strategy declaration have constantly placed priority on the active involvement of civil society as a pillar for facilitating and promoting a broad-based and wide ranging people-centred partnership between the two continents. As a result both sides have established continental CSO structures including a steering committee and continental consultation forum, to input directly into the process enhance CSO space and prepare CSO contribution towards its implementation strategy.

Following the 4th Africa-EU summit in Brussels in 2014 participations are now underway for the continental CSO platforms to collate and consolidate their respective continental inputs to feed into a common intercontinental CSO platform. The EU-CSO steering committee has begun the process of undertaking a broad survey to identify the contribution and needs of youth, CSOs Think tanks and social and economic actors among non- state actors in Europe. The Africa-CSO forum is now initiating a similar process as part of the participations for a consolidated intercontinental CSO forum in early 2015.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event from 27-28 November 2014 in Maputo, Mozambique

For any inquiry, please contact:
DIC:
Ms. Adiam Assefa,
Directorate of information and communication (DIC)
Africa union commission
Tel: +251 912205509
E-mail: adiama@africa-union.org

CIDO Department:
Mr. Jalel Chelba,
Head of Division, Civil Society Division
African Union Commission
E-mail: JalelC@africa-union.org

Mr. Filipe Alimo Furuma,
Desk officer, Civil Society Division
African Union Commission
E-mail: FurumaA@africa-union.org

For further information contact

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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