The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes. It is designed to give civil society organizations a voice within the AU institutions and decision-making processes.