United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA; French: Commission économique pour l'Afrique,[1] CEA) was established in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the African continent)[2] following a recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly.[3] It is one of five regional commissions.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
AbbreviationUNECA/ECA
Formation1958; 66 years ago (1958)
TypePrimary Organ - Regional Branch
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersAfrica Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Head
Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
Claver Gatete
Parent organization
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Websitewww.uneca.org
icon Politics portal
Map showing the subregions of the ECA:
  North Africa
  West Africa
  Central Africa
  Eastern Africa
  Southern Africa

The ECA has 54 member states, corresponding to the 54 member states of the United Nations that lie within the continent of Africa or in oceans nearby the continent. The ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member states, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.[1]

On October 6, 2023, the UN Secretary-General appointed Claver Gatete of Rwanda as the Executive Secretary of UNECA, replacing the Cameroonian Vera Songwe.[4]

Programs

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The commission's work is structured into seven programme divisions:

  • African Centre for Statistics
  • Macroeconomic Policy
  • Social development Policy
  • Innovation and Technology
  • Regional integration and Trade
  • Capacity Development

Locations

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Member States

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Map showing the Member States of the ECA.

Executive Secretaries

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The commission's headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Name Country Years
Claver Gatete   Rwanda 2023 - Present
Vera Songwe   Cameroon 2017 - 2023
Carlos Lopes   Guinea-Bissau 2012 - 2016
Abdoulie Janneh   Gambia 2005 - 2012
K. Y. Amoako   Ghana 1995 - 2005
Layashi Yaker   Algeria 1992 - 1995
Issa Diallo   Guinea 1991 - 1992
Adebayo Adedeji   Nigeria 1975 - 1991
Robert K. A. Gardiner   Ghana 1961 - 1975
Mekki Abbas   Sudan 1959 - 1961

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Commission économique pour l'Afrique". April 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Overview of the ECA". UNECA. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  3. ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 12 Resolution 1155. Proposed Economic Commission for Africa A/RES/1155(XII) 26 November 1957. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  4. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Claver Gatete of Rwanda Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa | UN Press". press.un.org. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  5. ^ Africa Hall, published by the Administration and Liaison Office, Addis Ababa (May 1963)
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