Repostioning ECA to better respond to Africa's priorities : note by the Executive Secretary

Abstract

Since its establishment nearly half a century ago, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has had a history of significant achievements in the discharge of its mandate to “promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. These achievements are attributable to support from member States, the United Nations, development partners and periodic rejuvenation of the institution by its leadership through reforms addressing the identified needs of member States. Hence, in the 1990s, against the backdrop of poor economic growth, worsening social indicators, and prevalent political conflict, ECA undertook deep reforms to position itself to serve Africa better. Anchored on three key principles – excellence, cost effectiveness and enhanced partnerships - the reforms of the 1990s aimed to bring about changes at the programmatic, managerial, organizational, and inter -governmental levels of the Commission. Although progress was made as a result of those reforms, new circumstances within the international arena, the regional landscape and the United Nations now clearly impel a further repositioning of ECA to enable it to respond ef fectively to the changing requirements and demands of its member States in a rapidly changing global environment.