Putting Africa First

In the fall of 2012, the ECA embarked on series of participatory reflections and consultations to consider the changing dynamics at both the global and regional level. This was the starting point for ECA to reassess itself and its activities in order to respond to the emerging needs and demands of its member states.

Extensive consultations took place on the direction of ECA reform. These were facilitated over several months with various configurations of staff members including young professionals and female staff. Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Finance and Planning, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, African Ambassadors, partner organizations, including the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), as well as bilateral partners were also consulted extensively. The overarching principle that guided the reflections and consultations was that ECA must fashion a transformation agenda for Africa that puts “Africa First”. Through carefully unpacking the elements of the “African Moment”, the transformative development priorities of ECA’s member states was determined. This then led to the next phase of the reform, comprising of a comprehensive internal review of the programme of work to build consensus on how the ECA should retool itself, recalibrate its programme, as well as strategically position itself as the “think tank” of reference on African development policy issues.