The highest decision-making organ of the council is the 300 members of the General Assembly, and the Executive Committee (EXCOM), which has 15 members.

ECSOC currently represents over 5,000 CSOs, including organizations, consortia, forums, networks, and associations with members growing rapidly. The Council is an independent apex body with the mandates and functions to:

1. Coordinate the CSO sector
2. Represent the CSO sector
3. Advise the Authority of Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) on the registration and administration of CSOs,
4. Ensure self-governance of the civil society sector