Executive Secretary

Peace and security crucial for Africa’s sustainable development, says Vera Songwe

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 3, 2019 (ECA) – Africa cannot afford the rising cost of lack of peace and security, Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, said Monday.

Speaking at the 35th Gender is my Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) pre-African Union consultative meeting, Ms. Songwe said across the continent, high-pitched volumes of guns consistently continued to silence women’s voices, depriving them of human dignity on unprecedented levels. 

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African Permanent Representatives focus on climate change and AfCFTA in retreat with ECA

Mahe, Seychelles, December 11, 2019 (ECA) – The second annual retreat of the African Permanent Representatives and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) ended in Mahe, Seychelles, late Tuesday following two days of intense dialogue on key development priorities that can lead to accelerated development in Africa.

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Seychelles hosts ECA-Permanent Representatives retreat focusing on climate change

Mahe, Seychelles, December 9, 2019 (ECA) – The Seychelles, a small island nation that is fighting climate change from all angles, is hosting the second annual retreat of the Addis Ababa-based African Permanent Representatives and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The retreat seeks to deepen the consultative role of the Permanent Representatives and enhance their engagement with the Commission.

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French Development Agency and Economic Commission for Africa sign collaboration MoU

Joint Press Release: Addis Ababa, 6 December 2019 - The French Development Agency (AFD) - represented by its CEO Rémy Rioux - and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) - represented by its Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe today signed a memoranda of understanding between the two institutions. With this MoU, AFD and ECA confirmed their wish to work more closely together on research areas related to Africa and some of its key challenges, including gender, migration and climate change.

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A new pharma initiative to reduce the cost of medicines and healthcare

Addis Ababa 21 November 2019 (ECA) - A high-level meeting of policymakers, regulators and industry experts in the field of pharmaceuticals and trade opened in Addis Ababa, Thursday to discuss a bold path towards affordable pharmaceuticals through leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area.  The Continent is home to 11% of the world’s population yet it carries 25% of the world’s burden of disease.

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Effective AfCFTA implementation can create 2 million jobs for East Africa, says Songwe

Asmara, Eritrea, 5 November, 2019 (ECA) –The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could result in welfare gains amounting to USD 1.8 billion and create two million jobs for Eastern Africa, a region that requires an additional 8.5 million jobs for new job entrants annually, Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, said Tuesday.

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Enlarging group of AfCFTA State parties crucial ahead of operationalisation

Asmara, Eritrea, 5 November, 2019 (ECA) -With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) set to officially start operating from July next year, there is need for concerted efforts to enlarge the group of State parties under the agreement in excess of the current 28 countries that have so far deposited instruments of ratification.

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