https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/204 2026-08-14T04:24:12Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4386 Opening Remarks by Deputy Executive Secretary of ECA, Antonio Pedro at the Africa Macroeconomy Day Africa Macroeconomy Day 2024 was held on June 10, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme "Advancing Macroeconomic Stability and Growth in Africa: Future-Ready Approaches." Deputy Executive Secretary Antonio Pedro attended the meeting virtually. In his opening remarks, Antonio Pedro stated, "Advancing macroeconomic stability and inclusive, green growth in Africa requires a holistic, forward-looking, resilient, innovative approach. Inclusive policies on social safety nets are key to fostering economic growth." He emphasized, "Africa is facing significant challenges, including mounting debts, low tax-to-GDP ratios, shallow capital markets, and inadequate development financing, which limit the ability of governments to address youth unemployment. However, we cannot grow at any cost. We need macroeconomic frameworks that comply with the SDGs and Agenda 2063. We must define what 'Beyond GDP' means for Africa and provide member states with pathways for the realistic operationalization of these aspirations." Pedro also highlighted that "both the Young Economists Network and the Africa Macroeconomy Day initiatives aim to engage a new generation of skilled young people in macroeconomic modeling to help countries achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063 more efficiently." 2024-06-10T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/4143 Launch of 2024 World Economic Situation and Prospects Report The global GDP growth is projected to slow from 2.7 percent in 2023 to 2.4 percent in 2024, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 launched by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Growth is forecast to improve moderately to 2.7 percent in 2025 but will remain below the pre-pandemic trend growth rate of 3.0 percent. Adam Elhiraika, Director, Macroeconomics and Governance Division of ECA said, tight financial conditions, coupled with a growing risk of geopolitical fragmentation, pose increasing risks to global trade and industrial production. He said while the world economy avoided the worst-case scenario of a recession in 2023, a protracted period of low growth looms large. Growth prospects for many developing countries, especially vulnerable and low-income countries, have remained weak, making a full recovery from pandemic losses ever more elusive. “The global economic slowdown, tighter monetary and fiscal conditions, and high debt sustainability risks will remain a drag on the region’s growth prospects,” said Mr Elhiraika. 2024-01-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/3780 Meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning, and Integration- Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows The African Union had a three-day meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning, and Integration- Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows under the theme “Tax in Africa: contemporary issues Affecting the Continent” from May 31 to June 02, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The opening session discussed and provided a recommendation on tax policy matters focusing on equitability in taxing rights and tax standard-setting initiatives such as United Nations (UN) Convention on International Tax Cooperation and effective tax administration, especially in cross-border trade. 2023-05-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/3554 Workshop on Debt Management Macroeconomics and Governance Division organized a workshop on Debt Management. Debt is a significant source of funding for the economic growth and development of African countries. However, debt management represents a major challenge for countries, especially in these times of economic crisis. International financial markets have opened a window for African governments to diversify their funding sources. The report highlights the increasing debt vulnerabilities in many African countries. The exposure risks mainly result from the rapid debt accumulation over the last decade, as many African countries borrowed for intended growth-enhancing investment, fiscal deficit financing, existing loan restructuring, paying off sovereign arrears, and for interest and outstanding debt servicing. 2022-10-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/3517 Launch of the Report of 2023 World Economic Situation and Prospects The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 is a report produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five United Nations regional commissions: Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also contributed to the report. A breakdown of the 2023 World Economic Situation & Prospects Report by Adam Elhiraika, Director of Macroeconomics & Governance, and Lee Everts, Senior Economic Affairs Officer – ECA. The report provides an overview of a series of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks — the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and resulting food and energy crises, surging inflation, debt tightening, as well as the climate emergency — battered the world economy in 2022. Against this backdrop, world output growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 3.0 percent in 2022 to 1.9 percent in 2023, marking one of the lowest growth rates in recent decades. 2023-02-02T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/3399 Highlights of Applied Training on Integrated Planning and Reporting Toolkit (IPRT) The Ministry of Finance and National Planning of the Republic of Zambia in collaboration with the Development Planning Section, Macroeconomics and Governance Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa, (ECA) is organizing Applied Training on the Integrated Planning and Reporting Toolkit (IPRT) from 21-24 November 2022, at Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere, Lusaka, Zambia. The main objective of the training is to introduce Zambian planners to the functionalities of the IPRT and facilitate its use in planning and the alignment of their national development plan with Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063, including the concomitant monitoring of the progress of the two agendas towards their implementation. This training aims to familiarize planners and experts with the applications of the IPRT and equip them with the skills to use them effectively. 2022-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/3375 Workshop on Debt Management The workshop on Debt Management was held on 31 October 2022 at UNECA, Macroeconomics and Governance Division. Mr. Adam Elhiraika, Director of the Macroeconomics and governance division of ECA, made an opening remark. There were Debt discussions and ECA's research on debt; country presentations were made. Debt is a significant source of funding for African countries' economic growth and development. However, debt management represents a major challenge for countries, especially in these times of economic crisis. International financial markets have opened a window for African governments to diversify their funding sources. 2022-10-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2773 Roundtable Discussion with Ministers of Finance from the Regions and Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions A Roundtable Discussion with Ministers of Finance from the Regions and Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions was held during the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. The event shared best practices and lessons learned from experiences and effective regional public policies on implementing development policies and initiatives that can attract additional financing for development. It provided the Member States and other stakeholders with a better understanding of the options available for attracting additional development financing and effective and efficient public policy initiatives. The side event presented case studies, experiences, and ongoing initiatives in the different regions that had proved to be effective in mobilizing additional sources of finance in support of sustainable development, including through innovative financing, channeling private flows in support of sustainable development, addressing tax loopholes, and reducing illicit financial flows. There was a high-level keynote speaker followed by a moderated, interactive discussion with the five Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions. 2015-07-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2772 Signing Ceremony between ECA, Germany and World Bank to Launch New Network of Excellence on Land Governance The United Nations Economic Commission (ECA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the World Bank today signed a Declaration of Intent to establish a new Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) to better secure land rights across Africa. NELGA will complement and support the Land Policy Initiative (LPI), a tripartite partnership of the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB), and ECA. ECA Deputy Executive-Secretary, Ms. Giovanie Biha welcomed the new agreement to establish NELGA, noting that it responds to the call by Agenda 2063 to “enhance and sustain investments in higher education, science technology, and research.” She noted that the partnership is in line with ECA’s strategy to promote partnerships with development partners to generate knowledge underpinned by robust statistics and to enhance the dissemination of findings and best practices for enhanced land policy development. Also present at the signing in the Ethiopian capital, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Gerd Müller, praised the NELGA initiative and said: “Secure access to land and other natural resources is of vital importance for the people in rural areas of Africa. 2015-07-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2747 Closing Conference of Pilot Activities for Measuring Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Africa UNECA and UNCTAD jointly organized a closing Conference of Pilot Activities for Measuring Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Africa at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 15 to 17 June 2022. The conference brought together representatives of technical working groups from the 12 countries (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia) to share their experiences and lessons learned in measuring IFFs. This conference also discussed the way forward and country support needed towards measuring SDG Indicator 16.4.1 in the future and informing efforts to curb IFFs, featuring perspectives from the African Union Commission, the African Tax Administration Forum, the African Development Bank, the Tax Justice Network-Africa, and the African Union High-Level Panel on IFFs, UNCTAD, and UNECA. The conference was a hybrid event with participants joining in person and virtually from within and outside the African region. 2022-06-16T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2705 Opening of the Ethiopian Village and Exhibition at the Third Financing for Development Wu Hongbo visited the "Ethiopian Village" exhibition with Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome. Ethiopia, the host country of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, was showcasing its economic success: Since the launch of a growth and transformation plan, the average economic growth rate jumped to about 10 percent per year. Economist Magazine ranked Ethiopia as the World's 3rd fastest-growing economy. The flower industry alone provided 200.000 new jobs. In an exhibit on the grounds of the Conference Center, the country presents high-tech as well as tradition, ancient monastery manuscripts next to new cars - and special ceremonies celebrating a good trading Ethiopia brought to the World a long time ago: coffee! 2015-07-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2643 Briefing by Kanayo F. Nwanze-President of International Fund for Agricultural Development at the Third International Conference on Finance for Development The Third International Conference on Financing for Development was held from 13-16 July 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Conference gathered high-level political representatives, including Heads of State and Government, and Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Development Cooperation, as well as all relevant institutional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and business sector entities. The Conference resulted in a negotiated outcome that provides: A new global framework for financing sustainable development that aligns all financing flows and policies with economic, social, and environmental priorities, A comprehensive set of policy actions by the Member States, with a package of over 100 concrete measures that draw upon all sources of finance, technology, innovation, trade, and data to support mobilization of the means for a global transformation to sustainable development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 2015-06-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2645 Signing Ceremony of Germany, World Bank, UNECA to Establish New Network of Excellence on Land Governance for Africa The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the World Bank signed a declaration of intent to establish a new network of Excellence on Land Governance (NELGA) in Africa on July 13, 2015, at the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa. 2015-07-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2299 A Documentary Film Made by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) for the African Peer Review Mechanism’s (APRM’s) 10th Anniversary – Part 2 Ten years after its establishment, the Africa Peer Review Mechanism has received acclaim for its contribution to sustainable growth and development in the continent. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2280 Remark Made by Ms. Fatima Denton OIC, Special Initiatives Division, ECA, at the Africa Regional Consultative Meeting on the Sustainable Development Goals The Africa Regional Consultative Meeting on the Sustainable Development Goals took place at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 31 October to 5 November 2013. The meeting was being organized jointly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The consultative meeting consisted panel of experts from 31 October to 2 November 2013 and a ministerial segment from 4 to 5 November 2013. The meeting provided a platform for African countries to identify, articulate, and reach consensus on the region’s sustainable development priorities and goals, which took into account those emerging from the region’s Post-2015 Development Agenda Process embodied in the African common position on the same. 2013-12-31T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2278 Opening Remark Made by H.E Mr. Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary General Executive Secretary of ECA, at the 14th Session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM Africa) The 14th session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM) took place on 21 and 22 November 2013 at the African Union Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the theme "Agenda 2063". The choice of the topic intended to guide the support of the United Nations system to this African Agenda. The AU Summit of July 2012 called for the formulation of a new continental plan that would provide greater coherence in the actions and initiatives of the AU organs, member states, Regional Economic Communities, and other key continental stakeholders in support of the mission of realizing Africa's socio-economic transformation. 2013-11-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2123 Seminar on the African Economy and Development The Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa outlined six key areas in which Japan could focus their investments and assistance to Africa, explaining that these are areas in which assets would be mutually beneficial to the two sides. The urgent need for upscaling cooperation between Japan and Africa by increasing the amount and scope of official development assistance to Africa. A starting point would be to meet the commitments made in Monterrey and the Gleneagles Summit of the G8. Japan was the pioneer of some of the most successful development and cooperation models and used its knowledge and experience to mutual advantage in its relations with Asia. There is no reason it should not do so in upscaling its ties with an emergent Africa. 2011-12-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2089 Signing of Declaration of Intent to Establish Networking of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa Between ECA, Germany and World Bank The Third International Conference on Financing for Development on the theme of “Time for Global Action” gathered high-level political representatives, including Heads of State and Government, and Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Development Cooperation, as well as all relevant institutional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and business sector entities. The Conference resulted in an intergovernmental negotiation and agreed outcome, which constitute an important contribution to and support the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. At the conference, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the World Bank signed a declaration of intent to establish a new network of excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) to better secure land rights across Africa. 2015-07-13T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2090 Unlocking Transformative Financing for Renewable Energy and Climate Resilience in Africa: Remark Made by Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of Economic Commissions for Africa The Third International Conference on Financing for Development on the theme of “Time for Global Action” gathered high-level political representatives, including Heads of State and Government, and Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Development Cooperation, as well as all relevant institutional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and business sector entities. The Conference resulted in an intergovernmental negotiation and agreed outcome, which constitute an important contribution to and support the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. This side event was aimed to highlight experiences and evidence on mobilizing transformation financing to invest in low-carbon, climate-resilient development in Africa, building on lessons learned from countries such as South Africa and Ethiopia. 2015-07-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10855.1/2086 Transforming Africa: Investing Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy, Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Modernizing Agriculture The Third International Conference on Financing for Development on the theme of “Time for Global Action” gathered high-level political representatives, including Heads of State and Government, and Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Development Cooperation, as well as all relevant institutional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and business sector entities. The Conference resulted in an intergovernmental negotiation and agreed outcome, which constitute an important contribution to and support the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. This side event was organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. 2015-07-15T00:00:00Z