Tanzania thrilled with Africa integration progress

DAR ES SALAAM THE Government has expressed its enthusiasm in the way African integration and development steers on with involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

It hailed the African Union (AU) member countries for the achievement that has been made possible through its instrument – the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).

The Tanzanian Permanent Representative to the AU Ambassador Innocent Shiyo told members of the ECOSOCC Awareness Raising and Capacity Building workshop in Dar es Salaam that AU is happy to witness an increase in the involvement of civil society in form of social, private sector and professional groups as well as the African Diaspora in the work of the AU.
“Indeed, through the work of ECOSOCC, we are witnessing an increase in the involvement of civil society in form of social, private sector and professional groups as well as the African Diaspora in the work of the African Union.

“We are gratified with the recent accomplishments including the Constitution of the Fourth Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC in December 2022, finalisation of the framework documents on the AU Harmonised Accreditation Mechanism and the ECOSOCC National Chapters; as well as the development of the ECOSOCC Strategic Plan 2023-2027,” noted Mr Shiyo, who is also Tanzania Ambassador to Ethiopia.

He noted that those are important mechanisms and structures necessary to drive the work of the organ to effectively achieve a people-centred Union in line with AU Agenda 2063. Yes, there are still some challenges; however, I commend the current leadership of ECOSOCC for the progress made in upholding the good image of the organ.
He specifically spelled out its importance after the ‘unfortunate events’ that happened in the past. He said Tanzania is convinced that ECOSOCC is now in the right path in its work. In the same vein, Ambassador Shiyo encouraged the Secretariat as well as members of the assembly to continue the good work and deliver to the expectations of African citizens.

He said that the workshop that has been concluded was relevant and timely as it was in line with the AU Executive Council decision number 1199 adopted during its 42nd Session in February 2023 that endorsed the Institutional Framework on the establishment and operations of ECOSOCC National Chapters and directed ECOSOCC to institute measures for its implementation in member states.

I am, therefore, pleased to note that ECOSOCCC is accelerating the implementation of the policy organ decision by holding this workshop. This is indeed a commendable progress and I urge you to keep this momentum to cover more ground in all member states.

“I am particularly confident that the National ECOSOCC Chapters will live up to its intended purpose of serving as a framework for accountability over elected General Assembly members; creating a close connection with national civil society through dissemination of information about the work and progress of the AU to civil society in Member States including mobilising support for and awareness of AU programmes and Agenda 2063 and enable capacity building and training of CSOs in our member states,” he said.