REGISTER | African Union ECOSOCC’s Upcoming Activities for June/July 2023

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The African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) is implementing three virtual activities between June 20 and July 11, namely the second slot of its webinar series on AU Free Movement Protocol (FMP), themed: AU-FMP & the AfCFTA: Free Movement vs Free Trade (June 20); a virtual townhall  on the United Nations Reforms and Summit of the Future (June 21st); as well as a 2-day hybrid Citizens’ Forum on Democracy and Digital Governance (July 10-11).

ECOSOCC-GIZ  Expert Webinar Series on AU-FMP| June 20, 2023

Time: 1000 UTC/ 1200 CAT/ 1300 EAT

Theme: Mobilizing Africa – Promoting Free Movement for Growth & Development | Free Movement v/s Free Trade

The webinar series aims to promote robust dialogue on the challenges and opportunities associated with free movement guided by the African Union Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment, popularly known as the African Union Free Movement Protocol (AU-FMP). The goal is to foster a better understanding of the potential benefits of increased mobility for African nationals as well as identify and address the obstacles that impede free movement.

The webinar series will also provide a platform for open engagement and discussion on free movement in Africa, guided by the African Union Free Movement Protocol, while ensuring a greater understanding of the importance of free movement in Africa and the steps necessary to achieve this goal.

Please register here  

ECOSOCC-C4UN: Virtual Townhall  on the UN We Need | June 21, 2023 

Time: 1100 UTC/ 1300 CAT/ 1400 EAT 

Theme: United Nations Reforms and the Summit of the Future: An African Perspective

Join us for a groundbreaking virtual Town Hall Meeting organized by ECOSOCC in partnership with the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN), the Nigeria Network of NGOs, the SDGs Kenya Forum, and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). This Town Hall is a crucial step towards consolidating and deepening African voices and further ensuring that African proposals are reflected in ongoing negotiations leading to the Summit of the Future more broadly and the outcomes of the People’s Pact being developed through the Global Futures Forum.

The town hall will be hosted by AU-ECOSOCC in partnership with C4UN, the Nigeria Network of NGOs, SDGs Kenya Forum, and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

Please register here  

Citizens Forum on Democracy and Digital Governance | July 10-11, 2023

Democracy and digital governance have emerged as critical components in shaping the political landscape of Africa, offering new opportunities for citizen participation, transparency, and accountability. In today’s world, digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

They have the potential for positive transformation, but, when “improperly or maliciously used, they can fuel divisions within and between countries, increase insecurity, undermine human rights, and exacerbate inequality. The upholding of democratic values as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) is only possible where governments are open and can be easily accessed by citizens. However, such access is often strained due to limited platforms for engagement between citizens and governments.

It is against the above-outlined background /context that the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), in collaboration with other stakeholders, will host the second citizens’ forum on democracy and digital governance in Africa, which will be a hybrid event to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 10 to 11, 2023, as a side event along with the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECS), also taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.

This dialogue, unprecedented in terms of scale, breadth, and depth, will convene thousands of stakeholders from across the continent, including African leaders, African Union Commission officials, representatives of Member States, African CSOs, UN agencies, development partner institutions, media, academia, and other relevant stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity for African CSOs and relevant players to contribute and be part of the big conversation on Democracy and Digital Governance in Africa. The Forum will provide a platform to highlight relevant, coherent, effective, efficient, impactful, and sustainable ways for robust citizen engagement within the continental discourse on issues of democracy and digital governance.

It offers African CSOs and relevant players the opportunity to contribute and be part of the big conversation on Democracy and Digital Governance in Africa. The Forum will provide a platform to highlight relevant, coherent, effective, efficient, impactful, and sustainable ways for robust citizen engagement within the continental discourse on issues of democracy and digital governance.

Please register here  

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