AU-CSO Pre-Summit Meeting

In accordance with normal practice, the African Union Commission is pleased to inform the Civil Society community, Member States and the African Society that the AU Commission is convening the AU-CSO Pre-Summit meeting in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, from 17-19 June 2008.

The Pre-Summit will afford the African Civil Society community the opportunity to make significant inputs in the main theme of the Summit on “Water and Sanitation”. In addition, both CIDO and the ECOSOCC Standing Committee will present a balance sheet of their activities for audit by the wider Civil Society community. Finally, the Pre-Summit will review and advise on significant developments in the AU system since the last Summit including the inauguration of ECOSOCC, the new Commission of the Union, the AU-EU Joint Strategy, Union Government, Audit of the Union and other relevant issues. It will also focus on the obligation, challenges, duties and responsibilities of the Commission and the African Civil Society in the context of AU-CSO relations.

The total number of participants will be about 73 including 50 CSOs. The criteria of choice of delegates is in line with that approved by the Abuja CSO Pre-Summit and in accordance with AU tradition. About half of the 50 CSOs participants will be those working in the area of the main theme of the Summit “Water and Sanitation”. This is to enable CSOs to showcase their significance and make necessary and significant inputs for consideration of the Summit.

The Citizens and Diaspora Directorate of the Commission (CIDO) is working with the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture to determine prominent CSOs in this area. The rest of the CSOs will be divided equally to reflect the broad diversity of the CSO community as contained in the ECOSOCC Statutes. Youths, NGOs, trade union, professional and social groups, the disabled, cultural groups, faithbased organisations etc. Priority will be given to indigenous NGOs. Some international NGOs will also be invited to reflect the diversity of the CSO community. The Commission is consulting with members of the outgoing Interim Assembly, incoming ECOSOCC Assembly members, the Departments of the Commission and Civil Society community on choice of delegates. CSOs working in the area of Water and Sanitation should also inform the Commission through CIDO of their willingness to participate, if required.

It is important to observe that a gathering of diverse grassroot representatives is a core component of the AU desire to have a people-centred and people-driven organisation that reflects the wider interests of the African people. It is also essential to note that each organization can only have one representative to allow for more inclusiveness.

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