PREAMBLE

Member states of the African Union,
- Considering the objectives and principles stated in the Constitutive Act of the African Union,
- Considering in particular the provisions of article 22 of the said Act.
- Remembering the efforts made by African Civil Society Organisations to participate in the edification of a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa,
- Guided by the necessity to install an efficient partnership between governments of Member States of the Union and all the components of the civil society,
- Convinced of the necessity to associate national representatives of civil society organisations in the process of elaboration, follow-up and evaluation of economic, social and cultural programs of the Union,
- Convinced that popular participation in the establishment of the African Union is a guarantee for success,
- Agree on the following:

Chapter 1. Council Attributions

Article 1: - The Economic, Social and Cultural Council is a Consultative Organ of the
Union.
- It is also referred to as the Panafrican Council.

Article 2: In this capacity, the Panafrican Council.
- Carries out all studies proposed by the Conference, the Executive Council, the Commission, the Panafrican Parliament and any other organ of the Union and submits its proposals within the time limit.
- Promotes and animates popular participation in view of realising the objectives of the African Economic Community.
- Follow-up and evaluates regularly the economic, social and cultural activities of the Union and submits reports and proposals to the Conference, the Executive Council, the Commission, the Panafrican Parliament and any other organ of the union.
- Initiates from its own chief, all proposals aimed at ameliorating the life of the Union and submits them to the conference, the Executive Council, the Commission, the Panafrican Parliament and any other organ of the Union. Such proposals should be done prior to the formal support of the simple majority of National Forums of the Civil Society of Member States.
- Stimulate, promote and animate the Panafrican commitment of African peoples through national activities of Panafrican Councillors.

Article 3: The Panafrican Council can assume any other attributions decided on by the
Conference,

Chapter II. Membership, Organisation and Functioning

Article 4: Members of the Panafrican Council are called "Panafrican Councillors".
- The Panafrican Council is made up of all Panafrican Councillors stemming from National Forums of the Civil Society of Member States of the Union.

Article 5: - The National Forum of the Civil Society is the structure through which Civil Society Organisations of each member State, are endowed to handle their internal affairs and participate efficiently in the activities of the Union.

Article 6: - Texts governing each National Forum of the Civil Society be in should conformity
with this protocol.
- The Council recognises only one National Forum of the Civil Society legally authorised by each member State.

Article 7: - Representation of National Forums of the Civil Society is based on:
a- social groups such as women, Youths, Elderly persons, Underprivileged persons.
b- the Professional Corps such as artists, medical doctors, lawyers, etc.
c- NGO's
d- Syndicates and patronages, etc
e- Traditional authorities, intellectuals.

Article 8 : - Representation from the different socio professional groupings determined on the basis of the principal economic, social and cultural sectors of the Civil Society takes into consideration the relative number of inhabitants of member States.
- Panafrican Councillors, whose number varies between 15 to 30 per country are redistributed as follows:
- Less than 10 million inhabitants: 20 councillors
- Between 10 and 20 million inhabitants: 20 Councillors
- Between 20 and 30 million inhabitants: 25 Councillors
- More than 30 million inhabitants: 30 Councillors.

Article 9: Sessions of the Council are made up of five Panafrican Councillors per
member State chosen in accordance with the technical competencies on the agenda.

Article 10: Incompatibilities
The functions of the Panafrican Councillors are incompatible with:
- The exercise of Executive or Judicial functions in a member State of the Union.
- The Status of workers of the Union, a Regional or Sub-Regional Economic Community, an African or international intergovernment organisation,
- Parliamentary Status.

Article 11: -The mandate of Panafrican Councillors is 4 years. It is renewable.

Article 12: - Panafrican Councillors enjoy diplomatic immunity on the soil of every member State.

Article 13: -The Council holds two sessions a year at the headquarters of the Union. However, a session could be held in a member State on the invitation of the latter. The maximum duration of a session is 21 days.

Article 14: - An extraordinary session could be held on the convocation of the Bureau or 2/3 of National Forums of the Civil Society,
-The Secretariat of the African Economic Community is also the Secretariat of the Councils' sessions.

Article 15:- To ensure its smooth functioning, the Council adopts its own by-laws.

Article 16: -The budget of the Council is inscribed in the budget of the African Economic Community.
Article 17: -The Councils' Bureau
- During its first session at the beginning of the mandate, the Council elects its Bureau, made up of a President, five Vice Presidents representing the five regions of Africa as defined by the OAU, a Secretary and two Vice Secretaries.
- The first session of the first mandate shall be presided over by the President of the Commission, assisted by the Vice President in charge of the African Economic Community.
- The mandate of members of the Bureau is the same as that of the Council.

Article 18: The Bureau is responsible for the management and administration of the Council.

Article 19: The Council enjoys observer status within the other organs of the Union

Chapter III: Transitory Disposition

Article 20: The OAU General Secretariat shall take appropriate measures to facilitate the participation of the entire African Civil Society at the final phase of the elaboration of this protocol.