ECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa UNECA

Course summary Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions. 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.

ECA recognizes the importance of focusing attention on Africa's special needs, particularly within the context of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard, ECA places emphasis on supporting efforts to eradicate poverty, placing African countries on the path of growth and sustainable development, reversing the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process, and accelerating the empowerment of women.

Example of the course Economic Commission for Africa (ECA):

It aims to provide significant technical support to the African peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and also to promote peer learning and knowledge sharing in a range of development areas. Within these two pillars, the Commission focuses on the following thematic areas:
- Regional integration, trade and infrastructure
- Meeting the Millennium Development Goals with a special emphasis on Poverty Reduction and Growth, Sustainable Development and Gender
- Promoting Good Governance and Popular Participation
- ICT, Science and Technology for development
- Statistics and Statistical Development

ECA's support to the implementation of AUC's regional integration agenda focuses on undertaking research and policy analysis on regional integration issues, strengthening capacity and providing technical assistance to institutions driving the Regional integration agenda, including strengthening and supporting the Regional economic communities (RECs), and working on a range of trans-boundary initiatives and activities in sectors vital to the regional integration agenda.

The Economic report on Africa 2009 (ERA 2009) is focused on "Developing African Agriculture Through Regional Value Chains". The continent’s efforts to grapple with the impact of the recent food crisis have been complicated by the unfolding global financial crisis and recession. Many African governments and donors had to reconsider expenditure allocations and design measures to provide emergency assistance and mitigate the impact of the high food and energy prices in the first half of 2008. Notwithstanding the decline in prices since the second half of 2008, the food crisis remains a challenge especially in the Horn of Africa, Western Africa and in conflict countries.

The Procurement Unit (PU/GSS) is responsible for all procurement of goods, services and works for UNECA. However, authority and responsibility of such procurement up to certain amounts can be delegated to the field/out posted offices, as and when required.

Africa’s regional Integration: Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Southern African development community (SADC), the Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the West African Economic and Monetary (UEMOA).

ECA member states
Note: Although Portuguese and Spanish are national languages in a few countries, English, French and Arabic are the three UN working languages that apply to the Africa region.

• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
•  Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

ECA, United, Nations, Economic, Commission, Africa, UNECA, Member, States, African, Development, Forum, ADF, Trade, Finance, Economic development, Division, Economic, Report, ERA, Procurement, Master, international business