Did you know that only one specific person from your organization can submit your PGA application on ECOSOCC Connect?! This person is called the authorized representative. They are chosen by your organization to apply on its behalf. Before applying, ask your organization who this person is. This will help your application go smoothly without delays. Get started at ecosocc.au.int Have some questions? Ask us live next week: 🗓️ June 15 for African-based CSOs: bit.ly/3RmNb6r 🗓️ June 16 for #diaspora CSOs: bit.ly/4nXNa56 You can also email support@ecosocc.au.int and someone from our team will assist you. #FactDropFriday #ECOSOCCConnect #ECOSOCCPGA5 #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

Did you know that only Civil Society Organizations can apply for the 5th @AU_ECOSOCC Permanent General Assembly (PGA) via ECOSOCC Connect?! Many people create a profile and think they are done. They are not. Your organization must also be registered on the platform before you can apply. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. So if you've created your profile, register your organization. You can apply for the PGA once your organization registration on the ECOSOCC Connect platform has been approved. Get started at ecosocc.au.int/connect #FactDropFriday #ECOSOCCConnect #ECOSOCCPGA5 #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

The @_AfricanUnion now has one official, standardized gateway for civil society to formally engage it! For decades, civil society organizations across #Africa and the #diaspora had no single, clear way to formally engage the AU. Different AU organs had different rules. Different standards. No unified door.  We changed that with the AU Harmonized Accreditation Mechanism (HAM). The HAM is now the official, continent-wide system through which civil society organizations (CSOs) can obtain formal status to engage all AU organs and institutions. Accredited CSOs can strengthen their institutional visibility, build direct engagement pathways with AU organs, participate more formally in continental policy spaces, and position their work within broader African #development and #governance conversations. Whether your organization works in #health, #peacebuilding, #gender, #trade, #education, #agriculture, #migration, #infrastructure, #youth, #climate, #humanrights, #energy, or community development, this mechanism creates a clearer and more structured relationship between #civilsociety and the African Union. Next week we'll launch a dedicated platform to guide organizations through the accreditation process step by step. Follow this page so you do not miss it. What would your organization like to know about AU accreditation? Drop your questions in the comments, and share this post so every CSO in Africa and the diaspora sees it! #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #HAM #ECOSOCCHAM #AUConnect #ECOSOCCConnect

Did you know that your CSO can now hold official status with the @_AfricanUnion, via ECOSOCC?! For both continental and #diaspora CSOs, this opens clearer pathways for engagement with AU processes, stronger institutional visibility, and more structured participation in continental conversations that affect African communities. Whether your work focuses on #health, #peace, #education, #trade, #youth, #gender, #agriculture, #climate, #humanrights, or community development, there is now a unified framework for #civilsociety engagement with the AU. Next week, we’re launching a dedicated platform that will guide organizations through the accreditation process. Follow this page so you don’t miss it! #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #HAMM #ECOSOCCHAMM #AUConnect #ECOSOCCConnect

Did you know that every year since 2022, the ECOSOCC Citizens’ Forum has brought citizens, civil society, and policymakers into one space to talk about #democracy and #governance?! Each year builds on the last, and the conversation keeps moving. The conversation is moving to El Alamein, #Egypt 🇪🇬 this year! The 2026 theme is Reimagining Global Governance: Africa and a World in Transition. From @UN Security Council reform to #climatejustice, digital sovereignty, and global financial systems, the focus turns to where #Africa stands in a changing world. It’s #FactDropFriday, so here’s something extra to take into your weekend... Registration is now open earlier than usual! 👇🏾 International delegates: forms.gle/G7uG9XTUoPabPs4h9 Egypt-based delegates: forms.gle/LgDKpGT6ofaM2DRL6 #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #ECF2026 #ECOSOCCECF2026

Did you know that ECOSOCC’s first Permanent General Assembly was officially launched in Dar es Salaam, #Tanzania 🇹🇿 on 9 September 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣8️⃣?! The event was presided over by the then-President of 🇹🇿, H.E. @jmkikwete, who was also Chair of the @_AfricanUnion at the time. The milestone was significant in that it marked a shift where civil society was no longer on the margins. It was formally brought into the African Union’s institutional structure! At that same launch, leadership transitioned from the interim structure led by Prof. @WangariMaathai to the first elected Bureau of the Permanent General Assembly (PGA). @AkereMuna was elected as the Presiding Officer of the 1st ECOSOCC PGA. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #AUConnect #Agenda2063

Did you know that for years, we've created space for civil society and #diaspora actors to engage the #reparations agenda in practical terms, contributing #research, #legal perspectives, and #policy input into @_AfricanUnion processes?! More recently, those same platforms enabled #civilsociety actors and experts to work closely alongside the Government of #Ghana 🇬🇭, particularly the @GhanaMFA, in the lead-up to the adoption of the @UN resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime committed against humanity. The outcome is visible. The groundwork behind it is just as important: bit.ly/ECOREP #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #ReparationsNow #DecadeOfReparations

Did you know that ECOSOCC facilitates the participation of women civil society actors in @_AfricanUnion peace and security discussions?! Through consultations, forums, and policy dialogues, women’s organizations have opportunities to share experiences from their communities and contribute perspectives to continental conversations: bit.ly/ECO-WPS Women play active roles in preventing conflict and sustaining peace: they mediate community disputes, organize dialogue across divided groups, support survivors of violence, and advocate for more inclusive peace processes. Policies are better informed by realities on the ground when these voices are present in discussions on #peace, #governance, and stability. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #Security

Did you know that we provide platforms where women and girls contribute directly to continental decision-making processes via consultations, forums, contests and policy dialogues?! Yes, as the African Union’s advisory organ for civil society, @AU_ECOSOCC facilitates spaces where #civilsociety representatives, including #women’s organizations, #youth groups, and #Diaspora networks, can share perspectives, experiences, and recommendations with @_AfricanUnion departments and organs. These engagements help ensure that inputs from women and girls are present in discussions on #governance, #development, #peace, and #humanrights across the continent. #FactDropFriday #Agenda2063 #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

Did you know that ECOSOCC’s Diaspora Legal Framework establishes 2️⃣0️⃣ allocated seats for the African Diaspora within its General Assembly (the highest decision-making body of @AU_ECOSOCC)?! The African Diaspora is recognized by the @_AfricanUnion as the Sixth Region of Africa. Through this framework, #Diaspora civil society organizations are formally integrated into ECOSOCC’s governance structure. They participate in deliberations, vote in the General Assembly, serve on committees, and contribute to the adoption of advisory opinions transmitted to AU policy organs. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #SixthRegion #Agenda2063

Ever wondered what our logo stands for?! Each element tells a story. The green olive branches represent peace, unity, and continental solidarity. The gold circle reflects #Africa’s shared wealth and collective future. The interlinked red rings symbolize African solidarity and the sacrifices made for the liberation of the continent. The three interlinked figures at the center represent Africa’s organized #civilsociety. Distinct, connected, and working together. All together, the logo reflects ECOSOCC’s role as the voice of the African citizenry within the @_AfricanUnion. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

Did you know that we convene civil society to review the Summit agenda and the Theme of the Year ahead of each @_AfricanUnion Summit?! Last year, we hosted a pre-Summit symposium on the #YearOfReparations and we hosted one on Monday, on the #AUTOTY2026: water and sanitation. We bring together CSOs, experts, #youth representatives, academics, and partners to examine continental priorities and develop practical recommendations ahead of each #AUSummit. During the Summit period, we also organize side events such as public forums, panel discussions, and workshops that facilitate dialogue between #civilsociety, AU officials, Member State representatives, Regional Economic Communities, and partners on issues linked to the Summit agenda. The Summit period is also used to strengthen working relationships between civil society and AU institutions. After the Summit, we share updates and analysis with our network and support follow-up engagement at regional and national levels to keep civil society informed of decisions and next steps. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #Agenda2063

Did you know that we've been actively involved with the Global Group of Experts on Reparations, supporting high‑level engagements to advance a unified reparatory #justice agenda for Africans and people of African descent?! ECOSOCC was among the partners that facilitated the December 19, 2025 meeting between this global collective of experts and H.E. President @JDMahama of #Ghana, where priorities for a coordinated continental and #diaspora‑wide #reparations strategy were discussed. Learn more: ecosocc.au.int/en/news/press… #DecadeOfReparations #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

Did you know that implementing the 2026 @_AfricanUnion Theme requires multiple lenses?! From source to service delivery, water and sanitation move through connected stages and each stage aligns with a different @AU_ECOSOCC Sectoral Cluster Committee. 🟢 Rural Economy & Agriculture Protection of water sources, ecosystems, and sanitation conditions in rural communities. 🔵 Social Affairs & Health Sanitation, hygiene, disease prevention, and public health outcomes. 🟤 Infrastructure & Energy Water supply systems, sanitation facilities, treatment plants, and waste management infrastructure. 🟠 Economic Affairs Financing water and sanitation services, affordability, and long term sustainability. 🔴 Cross-Cutting Programmes Coordination, partnerships, advocacy, and alignment across water and sanitation actors. #Water and #sanitation are inseparable and they are not single sector issues. That is why implementing the #AUTOTY2026 cuts across multiple ECOSOCC Cluster Committees. Join us in Addis 🇪🇹 and learn more: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F… #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #Agenda2063 #SDGs #WaterSecurity #SafeSanitation #WASH #WaterGovernance #AUSummit39 #ClimateAction #Youth #GenderEquality

Did you know that citizen perspectives do not enter @_AfricanUnion policy discussions by chance?! ECOSOCC exists to provide a structured channel for organized #civilsociety input to reach AU policy organs. Its mandate is to collect, organize, and transmit citizen-level evidence and perspectives into continental discussions. This role is often overlooked, especially when engagement happens informally or outside AU structures. As the AU advances the 2026 Theme of the Year on water and sanitation, this mandate is particularly relevant. Access to safe water and #sanitation is tied to policies that affect communities differently. ECOSOCC ensures that those lived realities are part of the conversation within the AU system. This is why we're convening the Civil Society Pre-Summit Symposium on the sidelines of the 39th #AUSummit! 🗓️ 9 February 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 🔗 REGISTER: bit.ly/AUWS26 Civil society, government agencies, researchers, and partners will come together to kick off continental engagement on the #AUTOTY2026, focused on sustainable water access and safe sanitation in line with #Agenda2063. The symposium will examine the Theme’s action plan and discuss how collaborative, inclusive approaches can turn continental commitments into tangible results at local, national, and regional levels. Register by 31 January — spaces are limited! 🔗 bit.ly/AUWS2 #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #WaterSecurity #SafeSanitation #WASH #WaterGovernance #AUSummit39

Did you know that ECOSOCC’s mandate on social affairs and #health includes #sports as a social policy issue?! This means civil society engagement at the @_AfricanUnion also covers how sport supports inclusion, #youth development, and social cohesion across #Africa. So just as #AFCON captures the excitement of the game, it also highlights the role of everyone involved (players, coaches, fans, and communities) in bringing people together! #AFCON2025 #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #FactDropFriday

Did you know that @AU_ECOSOCC has National Chapters to organize civil society input at the national level and connect it to the @_AfricanUnion?! As stated in previous post, citizen participation at the African Union does not begin at the continental level! National ECOSOCC Chapters (NECs), are meant to support citizen and civil society participation at the national level within ECOSOCC’s framework. They serve as coordination spaces where civil society actors can organize inputs and engage more directly with ECOSOCC processes. Their role is to connect national-level perspectives to continental advisory pathways at the African Union. NECs are not political structures and they do not make policy decisions. Their purpose is to support structured participation and help ensure citizen input is better organized before it reaches continental spaces. The activation of NECs will begin this year, country by country. Let us know which country you're from. Drop your city and flag in the comments! #FactDropFriday #CivicGrounding #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #AUCitizen #Agenda2063 #YearOfTheActiveCitizen

Did you know that citizen participation at the African Union is not informal or improvised?! Through ECOSOCC, engagement is institutionalized and takes place through structured consultations, thematic forums, and recognized participation processes aligned with AU priorities. In 2026, we will continue to open pathways for African citizens and #civilsociety to contribute ideas, perspectives, and policy-relevant inputs to continental processes. So we’re starting this year by reaffirming that continental decision-making is strongest when it is rooted from the ground up. Let’s make 2026 the "Year of the Active Citizen!" Visit our website to learn how you can engage with @AU_ECOSOCC and the @_AfricanUnion: ecosocc.au.int/ #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry #CivicGrounding

Did you know that every year, we report back to the @_AfricanUnion on what citizens and civil society are saying and experiencing across the continent?! Our Statutes require us to submit an annual citizens report to the AU Assembly so decision-makers understand how policies connect to real lives. Earlier this year, we asked ourselves why this information should stop at closed meetings. So we decided to release a public version for everyone to read: The State of Citizens’ Engagement Report. We created this report specifically for citizens, #civilsociety, and partners. It looks at how people engage with the AU, where participation is working, and where challenges remain. You can read the report here: ecosocc.au.int/en/documents/… #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry

Did you know that the @_AfricanUnion has an organ whose job includes checking what happens after decisions are made?! That organ is @AU_ECOSOCC! It is one of the few African Union organs with a statutory mandate to monitor how AU decisions are implemented. This allows it to follow developments, collect feedback from #civilsociety, and contribute observations back into AU processes. A practical example can be seen in how ECOSOCC engages with major AU agendas, such as the 2025 #YearOfReparations. While implementation rests with Member States and AU institutions, ECOSOCC convened consultations and gathered civil society perspectives on how the agenda was being understood and discussed across the continent, then relayed those perspectives within the Union. #FactDropFriday #TheVoiceOfTheAfricanCitizenry