Executive Secretary
African Finance Ministers call for coordinated COVID-19 response to mitigate adverse impact on economies and society
Addis Ababa, 23 March 2020 (ECA) - African Finance Ministers met on 19 March in a virtual conference to exchange ideas on the efforts of their respective governments in dealing with the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. They noted that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa was already experiencing a huge financing gap in funding measures and programmes aimed at realizing SDGs and Agenda 2063 targets and goals. The Ministers emphasized that without coordinated efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic will have major and adverse implications on African economies and the society at large.
ECA estimates billions worth of losses in Africa due to COVID-19 impact
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 13, 2020 (ECA) – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Friday warned the unfolding coronavirus crisis could seriously dent Africa’s already stagnant growth with oil exporting nations losing up to US$ $65 billion in revenues as crude oil prices continue to tumble.
UN family remembers colleagues who perished in Ethiopian Airlines crash
UN family remembers colleagues who perished in Ethiopian Airlines crash
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 10, 2020 (ECA) – The United Nations family in Ethiopia on Tuesday held a memorial wreath-laying ceremony honoring the lives of 21 U.N. staff members who died last year when an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed shortly after leaving Addis Ababa killing all 157 people aboard.
Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), spoke with sadness about the tragic crash and the great loss to the UN and the families.
She said the UN did not only lose dedicated and seasoned staff members in the line of duty.
All is set for Africa’s regional sustainable development forum
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, February 23, 2020 (ECA) – It’s all systems go in Victoria Falls as the sixth session of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) kicks off Monday to review progress, share experiences and build consensus on how Africa can accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Business Forum ends with hopes for Africa to power its development with clean energy
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 11, 2020 (ECA) – The Economic Commission for Africa’s Third Africa Business Forum ended in Addis Ababa Tuesday with high-level participants agreeing the continent can rise exponentially with good governance and creation of enabling policies for private capital to flow into the energy, health and ICT sectors.
Good governance an imperative for lasting peace in Africa, says Vera Songwe
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 10, 2020 (ECA) – Bad governance, the absence of women at decision-making tables and youth unemployment are some of the challenges that continue to blight Africa’s quest for total peace, social cohesion and sustainable development.
This was said by Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), at a high level discussion on sustaining peace and economic security that was convened by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on the margins of the African Union summit Monday.
Africa’s Female Fund Managers to Receive Major Boost through Launch of a Multi-Million Dollar Fund
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 9, 2020 - African leaders are putting women front and center of efforts to drive the continent’s economic growth through a game-changing fund that invests in women fund managers and also provides technical assistance.
The launch of the African Women Leadership Fund (AWLF) will provide capital to both first time and experienced fund managers in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and African Union Agenda 2063.
ECA’s Vera Songwe issues clarion call for urgent action to silence the guns in Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 6, 2020 (ECA) – The agenda of silencing the guns and securing peace on the African continent must be dealt with in a comprehensive manner, including addressing governance issues, says Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.