2025 ECOSOCC Kenneth Kaunda Graduate Immersion Programme

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) is an advisory organ of the AfricanUnion, established during the Third Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia in 2004 under the provisions of articles 5 (i) and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act. Theorgan is mandated to actively engage civil society in the processes and work of the Union,particularly with regard to Africa’s integration and development. ECOSOCC comprises varioussocial, private sector, and professional groups of member states of the Union, and the Africandiaspora (Assembly/AU/ Dec.48 (III)) and functions primarily as a bridge through which theAfrican Union can partner and engage with civil society organizations on the continent.

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The African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) is proud to introducethe Kenneth Kaunda Youth ECOSOCC Graduate Programme, a prestigious initiative dedicated to shaping the next generation of Zambian leaders. Named in honor of Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding president, and a pioneer of Pan-Africanism, this programme embodies his legacy of unity, self-determination, and youth empowerment while focusing onbuilding the capacity of young professionals to contribute meaningfully to national andcontinental development.

This initiative provides recent Zambian graduates with hands-on experience in policydevelopment and program implementation within an intergovernmental and multilateralcontext, familiarizing them with the day-to-day operations of an African Union organ. Throughdirect engagement in ECOSOCC’s programmatic and non-programmatic functions, participants will enhance their professional competencies, develop leadership potential, andgain a deeper understanding of regional integration, continental development, and the African Union, while ensuring meaningful participation in these processes.

Designed to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world professional practice,the programme is aimed at high-performing recent graduates who aspire to contribute toAfrica’s socioeconomic transformation. It further serves as a strategic pipeline for talentacquisition within AU institutions and affiliated organizations, ensuring that emergingprofessionals are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of international diplomacy and governance.

As a key component of the ECOSOCC University Outreach Initiative, the programme partnerswith universities and research institutions in Zambia to maintain a flow of highly skilledcandidates while fostering a long-term network of young professionals through alumniengagement. By embedding Pan-African values and reinforcing participatory governance, theECOSOCC Kenneth Kaunda Graduate Immersion Programme aim to promote youthemployability and prepare future leaders to champion the African Union’s vision of anintegrated, prosperous, and peaceful continent.