United Nations Economic Commission for Africa - Ideas for a prosperous Africa

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  Secretary-General’s bilingual statement to the media following the annual AU-UN conference

  par eskinder.tsegaye le May 14, 2026

  13 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintTHE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- BILINGUAL STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL AU-UN CONFERENCE   Addis Ababa, 13 May 2026   As Delivered   Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I thank Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf for the warm welcome.  The AU is the flagship for multilateralism in Africa. A collective voice of justice for the developing world.  And a reminder of the power of unity in creating opportunities while solving big problems together.  This same problem-solving spirit has defined the partnership between our two organizations.  From the start of my mandate, I have taken steps to build a unique strategic partnership with the African Union. This is my final AU-UN Conference as Secretary-General.  But the ties between our organizations are stronger than ever — and will remain so.  Today, we reviewed our progress and planned for the future in four key areas.  First — strengthening our partnership for the future.  We are continuing to implement our joint co-operation frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.  All of these collaborative efforts are having a meaningful impact across the continent.  And I am pleased to note that, in many cases, these issues are being carried forward at the United Nations by senior officials from Africa — many of whom are women.  To build on this work, Chairperson Youssouf and I signed a new declaration reaffirming the principles of the frameworks to further institutionalize this work and formalize the coordination mechanisms that have been so effective.    This is a clear expression of our full commitment to a strong AU-UN partnership for the future.  I am also very pleased that the Pact for the Future — adopted in 2024 — underscored the importance of regional organizations, in particular the AU. You can find Africa’s imprint across the Pact’s many pledges — from peace and security, to sustainable development, technology, artificial intelligence and youth.  The Pact also called for reforming the Security Council to be more representative of today’s world — and to redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority. Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent representation is indeed a historical injustice — and we cannot accept it. This is not about privilege or symbolism. This is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act with legitimacy and effectiveness.  I will continue standing with Africa as the intergovernmental negotiations process moves forward.  Second — financing sustainable development.   Africa’s economic potential is without question.  The African Continental Free Trade Area.  A wealth of natural resources. A young, innovative and growing population.  A burgeoning green energy sector.  The list goes on.  But Africa has been held back, and progress on Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda is lagging.  Today’s global financial architecture is not providing adequate levels of support, nor sufficient voice and participation for Africa.  Many African countries face vast debt repayments that drain public resources and undermine long-term investment in critical systems — including water and sanitation, the AU’s theme for this year.  For example, African countries often have to pay up to three times the benchmark rates for borrowing.  We need to fix a system that makes it three times more expensive for developing countries to finance education, health or water systems.  Africa is consistently leading the charge in championing reforms to the global financial architecture — including the African Development Bank’s recent initiative for the creation of a New African Financial Architecture for Development bringing together all African financial institutions.   Africa assumes the leadership in solving African problems.  Africa’s calls are being heard.  Last year’s Sevilla Commitment was a watershed moment for global financial justice.  In addition to calling for more domestic resource mobilization, the Commitment included pledges to help countries climb the development ladder.  By tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks. And by easing debt burdens through new initiatives.    This includes a borrowers’ platform to give developing countries stronger participation in the debt architecture — made possible by the strong support of several African countries;  New principles for responsible sovereign borrowing and lending;  A UN process to work towards a development-oriented debt architecture while putting in place effective mechanisms for debt relief;  And a global effort to reimagine the credit ratings system which, in its current form, locks too many developing countries out of the borrowing tools they need.  I strongly support the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency in this regard.   Throughout, I will continue supporting efforts to reform the international financial architecture.  The world has changed dramatically since these international financial institutions were created.  The global financial architecture must reflect this reality with much stronger participation of developing countries across institutions and decision-making processes.  Third — climate change, which continues to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable across Africa.   A temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit is now inevitable — but not irreversible.  Our mission is to keep that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible.  The conflict in the Middle East, which we discussed today in a special session, has unleashed the most severe energy crisis in a generation — a reminder that fossil fuels threaten our planet and our economies. But there is another path.   Renewables are among the cheapest, fastest, and most secure sources of new energy.  Africa can lead the way.  By 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs — entirely from renewables — and deliver electricity to the 600 million Africans living without it.   But Africa receives just two per cent of global clean energy investment.  We need to remove the bottlenecks that hold Africa back, including a lack of grids and storage, the high cost of capital, and fragile and concentrated supply chains.  Many African countries also need to establish a solid regulatory framework to attract more private green investment.  Developed countries need to triple adaptation finance and scale-up contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund. The temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit will inevitably have dramatic consequences for Africa — more droughts, more floods and more suffering.  This is precisely why global support for adaptation is so critical. We must help African countries accelerate the implementation of their adaptation priorities and plans.  The upcoming COP meetings — including COP32, being hosted in Ethiopia in 2027 — will be critical moments to do this.   And we must help resource-rich countries in Africa power the renewables revolution at home and globally, in line with the principles and recommendations from the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. This is a critical opportunity for African countries to diversify their economies and climb global value chains — not just as suppliers of raw materials, but as a hub of local manufacturing, refining, and processing.  No more exploitation. No more plundering.  Et quatrièmement — il est temps de faire taire les armes sur l’ensemble du continent. And fourth — it’s time to silence the guns across the continent.  L’Organisation des Nations Unies a fermement soutenu les priorités de l’Union africaine en matière de paix — notamment l’initiative « Faire taire les armes » et l’Agence humanitaire africaine. The United Nations has strongly supported AU priorities on peace — including the Silencing the Guns initiative and the African Humanitarian Agency.  L’adoption historique de la résolution 2719 du Conseil de sécurité ouvre une nouvelle voie vers un financement prévisible des opérations de soutien à la paix dirigées par l’Union africaine. C’est complètement incompréhensible que le Conseil de sécurité n’ait pas accepté l’application de cette résolution dans le cadre de la Somalie. And the landmark adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 creates a new pathway for predictable funding for AU-led peace support operations. It is completely incomprehensible that the Security Council did not agree to the implementation of this resolution in the context of Somalia. S’il y a pays qui en aurais nettement besoin, c’est la Somalie.  If one country need it, it is clearly Somalia.  Nous sommes également des partenaires étroits dans la réponse aux conflits à travers le continent. We are also close partners in addressing conflicts across the continent. Au Soudan, je réitère mon appel à une cessation immédiate des hostilités et à un engagement véritable de toutes les parties à revenir à la table des négociations afin de parvenir à un cessez-le-feu durable et à une transition dirigée par des civils. In Sudan, I repeat my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a genuine commitment by all parties to come to the negotiation table to secure a sustainable ceasefire and civilian-led transition.  Au Soudan du Sud, l’Union africaine et l’Organisation des Nations Unies intensifient leurs efforts pour faire avancer le processus de paix, nourrir le dialogue et encourager la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de paix revitalisé. In South Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations are strengthening efforts to advance the peace process, build dialogue, and encourage the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.  En République démocratique du Congo, les progrès réalisés à la table des négociations doivent se traduire par un cessez-le-feu immédiat et permanent de toutes les parties, que la MONUSCO est prête à appuyer. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the progress made at the negotiation table needs to be translated into an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all parties, which MONUSCO stands ready to support. L’ONU soutient pleinement les initiatives de médiation conduites par l’Union africaine, sous l’égide du Président Gnassingbé, Président du Conseil des ministres du Togo, en vue de parvenir à un cessez-le-feu permanent et à une solution politique. The UN fully supports the AU-led mediation initiatives, led by President Gnassingbé of the Council of Ministers of Togo to work towards a permanent ceasefire and a political solution.  Au Sahel, la détérioration de la situation sécuritaire a engendré une urgence humanitaire marquée par une violence croissante contre les civils, des déplacements massifs et une insécurité alimentaire grandissante. In the Sahel, the deteriorating security situation has created a humanitarian emergency marked by growing violence against civilians, widespread displacement and growing food insecurity.  La situation s’est sérieusement aggravée avec l’alliance opérationnelle du JNIM/Al Qaeda et du Front de Libération de l’Azawad. The situation has seriously deteriorated following the operational alliance between JNIM/Al Qaeda and the Azawad Liberation Front. J’appelle au dialogue et à la collaboration entre tous les pays de la région afin de renforcer la coopération sécuritaire et politique face à la grave menace du terrorisme et de l'extrémisme violent. I urge dialogue and collaboration among all the countries of the region to strengthen security and political co-operation to address the serious threat of violent extremism and terrorism. Et en Libye, l’accord récent sur un cadre unifié de dépenses, conclu après treize ans, montre que des progrès dans le processus de transition demeurent possibles. And in Libya, the recent agreement on a unified spending framework after 13 years demonstrates that progress in the transition process remains possible.  Aujourd’hui, nous appelons à de nouvelles avancées pouvant ouvrir la voie à des élections nationales et de permettre au peuple libyen de bâtir l’avenir auquel il aspire. Today, we call for further steps that can lead to national elections and deliver the future that Libyans are aspiring to build.   Mesdames et Messieurs les journalistes, Ladies and gentlemen of the media,  J’ai toujours pensé que l’Afrique devait être vue pour ce qu’elle est : un continent d’une richesse et d’une promesse immenses. I have always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense richness and promise. Ce fut un privilège de contribuer, au cours de la dernière décennie, à faire vivre cette promesse et à défendre la justice et la paix dont les Africaines et les Africains ont besoin et qu’ils méritent. It has been a privilege to help realize this promise over the last decade, and uphold the justice and peace that Africans need and deserve.  Je remercie une nouvelle fois le Président de la Commission, M. Youssouf, pour nos échanges fructueux aujourd’hui, et lui réitère mon plein soutien et ma solidarité. Once again, I thank Chairperson Youssouf for a fruitful discussion today, and pledge my full support and solidarity.  Je vous remercie. Thank you. 

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  Secretary-General's remarks at the beginning of the meeting with the President of France and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission

  par eskinder.tsegaye le May 14, 2026

  13 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintMerci infiniment Monsieur le Président, cher Emmanuel,  Nous sommes aujourd'hui ici, les deux organisations internationales et la France avec une vision commune sur ce moment de vérité pour l'Afrique.  Nous savons que le chemin de l'Afrique n'a pas été facile. Les pays africains ont eu, en accédant à l’indépendance, énormément de difficultés, parce que, naturellement, toute la logique des infrastructures, de l’économie, des services sociaux etcetera n'était pas conçue pour le développement africain, mais conçue naturellement pour - et je connais bien ce problème en tant que portugais - pour les intérêts des pays colonisateurs. Et ça a un poids qui se manifeste encore dans les difficultés que les Africains, auxquelles ils font face.  Mais à cette injustice s'est ralliée une autre injustice. C’est que quand les institutions multilatérales qui sont aujourd’hui chargées de la gouvernance, même si cette gouvernance est limitée au niveau international, les pays africains n’étaient pas encore en majorité indépendants et tout le dessin des institutions multilatérales a été fait sans tenir en compte les intérêts des peuples africains.  On arrive aujourd'hui à un moment où, dans la rue, dans le sommet, où il y a une volonté forte des africains de prendre en main leur développement, la résolution de leurs défis, la médiation de leurs conflits et la valorisation des droits humains.  On a vu l'Afrique définir une zone africaine de libre-échange. On a vu l'Afrique prendre la décision de réformer l'architecture financière africaine, sachant que la réforme de l'architecture financière internationale sera beaucoup plus compliquée. Mais, ce mouvement de mettre ensemble toutes les institutions financières africaines pour garantir que les ressources africaines restent en Afrique et permettent l'investissement en Afrique est une décision d'une importance stratégique fondamentale.  Et je crois que ce qui est important à ce moment est de tout faire pour que la communauté internationale puisse répondre à cette assomption de responsabilité des africains en les appuyant, en reconnaissant les obstacles auxquels l’Afrique fait face.   Quand on a défini l'écosystème économique et financier global, notamment après Bretton Woods, c’est évident que cet écosystème, avec toutes ses institutions, le Fonds Monétaire, la Banque mondiale et d'autres banques, d’autres institutions de régulation financière, les agences de notation, tout cet écosystème fonctionne d'une façon qui fait que les marchés s'orientent en bénéficiant essentiellement les pays développés et avec des difficultés d'accès, ce qui fait que les pays africains aujourd'hui ont une dette qui s'est aggravée énormément récemment avec des taux qui sont 3 fois le taux de référence. En même temps on voit que les pays africains ont une difficulté énorme d'accès à un capital avec un coût raisonnable. Le coût du capital est extrêmement fort pour la majorité des pays africains et que tout le système, notamment dans la logique de régulation économique et financière globale, ne facilite pas la capacité des africains de résoudre leurs problèmes.  Alors, c’est le moment de tout faire, probablement pas pour une réforme profonde du système financier international, parce que nous savons que c'est une question de pouvoir et le pouvoir lui-même est à peine dissimulé, mais il y a un certain nombre de choses qu'on peut faire sans augmenter les dépenses budgétaires en créant des ressources qui peuvent être mises à la disposition de l’Afrique, pour soutenir l’effort africain de mobiliser ces ressources.   On a eu l'exemple récent pendant le COVID, de la création de droits de tirage spéciaux. Le problème des droits de tirage spéciaux c’est qu’il distribuer en accord avec des quotas, ce qui veut dire que l'Afrique a reçu 5 pour cent. Heureusement, par l'initiative de la France et quelques autres, il y a eu une réallocation de quelques centaines de millions. Mais le système étant soi-même un système profondément injuste, mais en tous cas, c'est une possibilité de multiplier les ressources sans avoir de problèmes budgétaires.  Si on voit l’aide officielle au développement. Nous le savons, elle ne va pas monter. Mais un dollar ou un euro, il est mis dans un projet contre un dollar. Mais si un dollar ou un euro est mis dans le capital d’une banque multilatérale, par exemple la Banque africaine de développement, ça vaut sept ou huit dollars. Alors, en ré-augmentant l’aide au développement, en privilégiant la recapitalisation des institutions financières internationales, et après il y a d'autres mécanismes qu’on peut aborder dans cette logique, qui font multiplier les ressources qui sont à la disposition des pays africains.  D’ailleurs, quand on parlait des droits de tirage spéciaux, s’ils allaient sur la distribution qui a été faite par le Fonds Monétaire - un dollar c'était un dollar, si ça avait été fait par les banques multilatérales, il y aurait eu plus de dollars.  Et il y a un certain nombre d'autres mécanismes qui permettent de multiplier les ressources à la disposition sans créer de dépenses additionnelles et même sans être allés au fond des injustices structurelles du système économique et financier.  Je sais que la France va diriger une réunion du G7. Je connais parfaitement le climat actuel au sein du G7. Je sais que le Président Macron aura beaucoup de difficultés à convaincre quelques-uns de ses partenaires à rétablir la justice financière internationale, mais je crois que le G7 sera probablement ouvert à prendre des mesures qui ne coûtent rien et qui peuvent augmenter d’une façon très importante l’action du G7.  Une autre chose qu'on peut faire pour multiplier les ressources, c'est de donner (inaudible) des garanties qui coûtent beaucoup moins mais qui permettent la mobilisation de l’investissement et de la finance.   Alors, je crois que nous sommes dans un moment qui est un moment clé. Il y a une Afrique qui est capable d'assumer une stratégie pour son développement et il faut tout faire, même avec le réalisme de ceux qui savent qu’il y a des miracles qui ne vont pas être possibles, mais il faut tout faire, sans mettre en cause le système, augmenter de façon significative, l’aide internationale à l’Afrique. Et le moment est encore plus important parce que l'Afrique sera la première victime de la crise du Moyen-Orient.   Nous avons fait une analyse des impacts globaux avec 3 scénarios : ouverture immédiate (du détroit d’Hormuz), ouverture en fin de semestre, ouverture en fin d'année. L’ouverture immédiate aura déjà des conséquences graves du point de vue du ralentissement de la croissance et de l'augmentation de l'inflation. Il nous faudra au moins deux ou trois mois pour que les équilibres se rétablissent dans le fonctionnement des marchés. Mais les statistiques, en moyenne, ne veulent rien dire, parce que le continent africain est pratiquement, est le plus vulnérable et les économies africaines les plus fragiles, donc les impacts en matière d'inflation en matière de difficulté d'accès à l'énergie produite par les combustibles fossiles, dans l'accès aux engrais. Ces difficultés d'accès sont bien plus grandes pour l'Afrique, les coûts sont plus élevés, l'inflation sera plus dure et l’impact sur la dette et sur les finances publiques sera plus dramatique en Afrique que dans d'autres régions.  C'est une raison additionnelle pour tout faire pour appuyer le continent africain dans ce moment particulièrement difficile.  Et n’oublions pas, nous n'avons aucune garantie que ça va s'arrêter aujourd'hui et l’analyse que nous avons faite pour la fin de l'année nous dit qu'il y a un risque de récession mondiale avec des conséquences qui seraient absolument effrayantes (inaudible).  Alors, je crois que c'est la responsabilité de nous tous de tout faire pour finir ce cauchemar qui vient de toute la crise au Moyen-Orient, mais en particulier du fait de la circulation sur le détroit d’Hormuz (inaudible).  Je voudrais exprimer au Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine toute ma solidarité et tout notre appui et je voudrais remercier la France parce que, quand on a discuté, notamment dans le Pacte du futur, des réformes qui sont nécessaires dans le Conseil de sécurité et dans les agences internationales de développement, l’architecture financière internationale, la France a été un des pays développés qui s’est battu et qui a réussi à convaincre d’autres pays pour que le Pacte soit accompli. Alors, quand on voit un pays développé qui a conscience de l’importance du continent africain, c’est magnifique.  Merci

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  [Blog] Why the next four years are crucial for north Africa’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

  par eskinder.tsegaye le May 13, 2026

  13 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAuthors: Wafa Aidi, and Oumaima Tounchibine North Africa is at a crossroads. In the coming decades, a large share of its population will reach working age, offering a major demographic opportunity. Realizing this potential will require creating enough jobs. SMEs—representing 80–90% of formal firms and about half of formal employment—are key to this effort and, with stronger development programs, could drive more inclusive growth. The Untapped Potential The data presented in the figure below reveals both strong potential and persistent challenges across countries. Morocco leads in SMEs' socio-economic contribution, with SMEs accounting for about 86% of employment and 40% of GDP, underscoring their central role in driving job creation and economic activities. Tunisia and Egypt also show strong participation (50–75% of employment, 40–43% of GDP), reflecting supportive entrepreneurial ecosystems. In contrast, SMEs in Libya, Mauritania, and Sudan contribute only 5–11% to GDP, revealing significant untapped potential and pointing to structural constraints that hinder private-sector development. Key barriers include financing gaps, regulatory burdens, low digital adoption, weak managerial capacity, and limited preparedness for climate risks (World Bank, 2024[1]). Figure 1: SME employment and GDP contributions in North African countries[2]   ECA based on various data sources   Revitalizing North Africa’s SMEs: The Three A’s Framework (Access to Finance, AfCFTA, Adoption of digital technologies and   Climate  adaptation measures) Three developmental levers could reshape the SME landscape in North Africa. First, access to finance should be improved through enhanced accessibility, affordability and de-risking policies. Second, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gives SMEs access to a market of 1.4 billion consumers, with intra-African trade projected to grow by up to 45% by 2045 and particularly strong gains in agrifood (60 percent increase), industry (48 percent), and services (34 percent). Third, accelerating digitalization—Africa’s digital economy could reach $712 billion by 2050, making digital tools and e-commerce essential for market access and value chain integration. In the same vein, acceleratingclimate adaptation offers SMEs that integrate environmental, social, and governance standards into their operations opportunities improved access to climate finance and position themselves for long-term sustainability in a region particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, droughts, and water stress. Figure 2: The 3 A’s Framework for SME Development in North Africa   ECA, 2026   Recommendations: Evidence and Policy Imperatives The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s SME initiative (2023–2025) in Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia shows the impact of targeted support. Based on the “3 A’s framework”—Access to finance, AfCFTA readiness, and Adoption of digital and climate practices—the program supports women- and youth-led SMEs. Evaluations show significant improvement in business and managerial skills. In Mauritania, SMEs increased knowledge scores by 10.55 points, with major gains in business planning and export readiness. Tunisian SMEs nearly doubled their export readiness, from 34.6% to about 66%, while Libyan SMEs significantly improved their knowledge of sustainability practices. Moreover, the program directly informed national policy processes: feeding into Mauritania's national SME development strategy, underpinning Tunisia's upcoming 2026,2030 SME Development Strategy, and supporting Libya's economic diversification efforts. The convergence of a growing demographic dividend, AfCFTA opportunities, and rapid digitalization is creating strong momentum in North Africa. With the next four years critical for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, SMEs will play a key role in job creation and inclusive growth. Well-designed support programs—improving access to finance, strengthening AfCFTA readiness, promoting digital adoption, and integrating climate considerations—can enhance SME productivity, regional integration and resilience. [1] World Bank. (2024). SME Finance. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/smefinance [2] Last available data are reported, Algeria (AfDB 2018 for GDP and Review of developments and prospects for research Libya (OECD, 2016), Egypt (Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises, 2024), Mauritania ( Chikh and Yacoub, 2021 “Les PME-PMI en Mauritanie : Etat de lieu, contribution, contraintes et perspectives SMEs and SMIs in Mauritania: Status, contribution, constraints and prospects”, El Behith Review Vol 21), Morocco (Report High-Level Policy Dialogue on SMEs, 2024 and Ministry of Economy and Finance, 2023), Tunisia (National Statistical Institute, 2018) and Sudan( Elsheikh Abdelrahman, Bt Abdullah, Aba (2017) “Conceptual Model of Predictors of SMEs’ Performance in the Context of Sudan”, Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, Vol.3)  

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  Guterres highlights Africa’s leadership in speech to summit in Nairobi

  par eskinder.tsegaye le May 13, 2026

  12 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAfrica continues to advance and demands investment at scale, justice in global systems, and partnerships grounded in respect, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday. The UN chief was speaking at the opening of the Africa Forward Summit, co-hosted in Nairobi by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.  “The name of this Summit captures the moment – and the mission,” he said.  “Africa is not waiting. Africa is moving. Africa is leading.”  Driving debate, finding solutions  Mr. Guterres highlighted how Africa is driving the debate around reforming global financial institutions that were “designed in 1945 for a world that no longer exists.”  He credited the continent’s leading role in other areas, including getting the Pact for the Future approved, building new tools for debt negotiations, and challenging credit ratings systems.  African leadership also helped to secure the Sevilla Commitment on expanding lending by multilateral development banks, and alongside small island States, put the climate emergency “at the centre of the global agenda,” he added.  “This is not a continent waiting for solutions. This is a continent producing them,” he said.  “But let us be honest about what stands in Africa’s way.”  Old injustices persist  The Secretary-General pointed to “a global system designed without Africa – and still largely operating without Africa, perpetuating century-old injustices.”  Despite being home to more than 1.5 billion people, Africa has no permanent seats on the UN Security Council and limited decision-making power within the international financial institutions that shape its economy.  “It is not Africa that loses. It is the world that loses by the fact that the voice of Africa is not conveniently taken into account,” he said.  ‘Crisis of solidarity’  He warned that meanwhile, official development assistance (ODA) is falling and aid budgets are being cut when needs are at their highest, representing “not only a financing crisis” but “a crisis of solidarity.” Citing climate change, he emphasised that although “Africa did not cause it”, the continent is bearing the harshest consequences such as displaced communities, food insecurity and economic shocks.  “Africa must be at the centre of climate justice,” the Secretary-General said, noting that even though the continent holds 60 per cent of the world’s best solar potential, it receives only two per cent of overall clean energy investment  “With the right finance, Africa could generate ten times more electricity than it needs by 2040 – entirely from renewables. Yet, 600 million Africans live without electricity.”  Furthermore, a billion people there still rely on unclean cooking fuels, responsible for some 800,000 deaths annually, mostly women and children.  ‘No more exploitation’  Africa also holds vast reserves of the critical minerals needed for the global transition to “green” energy, but for too long its “resources have been extracted, the value captured elsewhere, the environmental damage left behind,” he said.  In this regard, the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals points the way, promoting fair value chains, in-country processing and manufacturing, and other actions that benefit communities.  “No more exploitation. No more plundering,” he said.  “The people of Africa must benefit, first and most, from the resources of Africa.”  Partnership and investment The Secretary-General also stressed the need for international partnership with Africa that is “built on equality, complementarity, and mutual benefit.”  He called for co-investment in industry, strengthening universities and research institutions, and building capacity in artificial intelligence (AI), thus shaping the technology by using data, languages, researchers and systems – all African-owned.  The power of youth  The UN chief also focused on Africa’s burgeoning youth population.    “The largest transformation of this century is not a market – it is a generation,” he said, as by mid-century one in four people worldwide will be African.   “The success of this continent is not Africa’s interest alone – it is the world’s,” the Secretary-General said, concluding his remarks.  “Together, let us move Africa Forward – with confidence in its people, solidarity with its journey, and hope for our common future.”  

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  Boosting “Made in Central Africa”: Cameroon pioneers tailored Special Economic Zones

  par eskinder.tsegaye le May 11, 2026

  5 February, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintYaoundé, 5 February 2026 (ECA) – Positioning municipalities as key drivers of industrialization and economic transformation is at the heart of a strategic consultation convened in Yaoundé by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the Authority for the Development and Management of Industrial Zones (MAGZI) and United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (CVUC). The consultation focused on the implementation of Tailored Special Economic Zones (TSEZs), an innovative territorial development approach designed to strengthen local value chains and accelerate industrialization across Central Africa. The meeting marks a significant step toward operationalizing the Central Africa Industrialization and Economic Diversification Master Plan (PDIDE-AC), which identifies Tailored Special Economic Zones as a strategic instrument for advancing productive transformation, strengthening regional value chains and promoting a stronger “Made in Central Africa.” As the first country in Central Africa to move toward the concrete implementation of this model, Cameroon is seeking to pilot a new approach to territorial industrialization built on local economic potential, SMEs integration and value addition within production basins. The consultation brought together government institutions, decentralized local governments, development partners, experts and private sector actors around a shared objective: developing a coordinated framework capable of linking industrialization, local economic development and regional competitiveness. Discussions identified several priority sectors, including agro-processing, cassava, maize, soybean, rice, aquaculture and livestock, with the aim of strengthening local processing capacity, reducing dependence on imports and developing more competitive value-added products. Participants also emphasized the importance of building integrated territorial ecosystems that combine industrial infrastructure, financing mechanisms, innovation, entrepreneurship and SME support in order to ensure the long-term viability of future Special Economic Zones. While municipalities help structure local economic ecosystems, Tailored Special Economic Zones provide an industrial framework adapted to the agricultural, mining, industrial and economic realities of each territory. MAGZI will play a central role in the planning and technical development of future industrial zones, while CVUC will continue advancing territorial economic profiling and the structuring of municipal and intermunicipal projects. Through this initiative, ECA and its partners aim to lay the foundations for a new generation of territorial industrial policies in Central Africa capable of fostering inclusive, competitive and sustainable industrialization driven by local territories themselves. Media QueriesZacharie Roger MBARGA - Communications OfficerUnited Nations Economic Commission for Africa637, rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaoundé, CameroonTel: (+237) 222504348E-mail: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org

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  African experts seek to innovate on debt reform, sustainable finance and fiscal resilience

  par srona.editor le May 8, 2026

  8 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAddis Ababa, 8 May 2026 (ECA) – The UN Economic commission for Africa  (ECA) and Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa concluded on Friday 8 May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Second African Forum on Sovereign Finance, under theme: “Enhancing Fiscal Space and Debt Sustainability.” Over three days, participants at the forum discussed the relationship between sustainable development and debt sustainability, credit ratings, and borrowing costs, as well as how debt management offices can leverage these interactions to support development. “Africa’s debt challenge extends far beyond fiscal concerns — it has become a development crisis, a climate vulnerability, and a governance emergency, all of which must be tackled together in an integrated response” said ECA Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support, Mama Keita. “The global debt system must shift away from prioritising wealthy lenders over the development and well-being of citizens. Africa's debt managers are building that shift — instrument by instrument, institution by institution,” she added, stating that African debt managers are not merely administrators of inherited liabilities but stewards of intergenerational equity, making decisions that will shape the opportunities of tomorrow. “Despite current economic headwinds, Africa’s macroeconomic fundamentals have demonstrated resilience, but this momentum is threatened by our debt burden: External debt has reached approximately US$1.2 trillion, representing a significant share of GDP – and in many countries, more than a quarter of public revenues are now absorbed by debt service,” said ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete earlier in the week. “In practical terms, this means classrooms not built, clinics not staffed or equipped, and jobs not created. It means that development is not just delayed; it is diminished,” he warned.  Debt management is no longer a technical function of government, it is now central to macroeconomic stability, development strategy and policy, said Semereta Sewasew, Ethiopian State Minister for Economic Cooperation as she outlined Ethiopia’s macroeconomic and debt strategies and their positive impacts for the national economy: “An important lesson is that debt sustainability is not only about the size of debt, but about its structure, the foreign exchange backing it, and the credibility of policy frameworks,” she added. Jointly organized by ECA and FSD Africa, the Second African Forum on Sovereign Finance took place as global discussions on debt reform and climate finance are setting new benchmarks for sustainable development financing. The Forum provided African Debt Management experts with a platform to operationalize post-COP30 priorities, aligning sovereign debt management with the evolving global architecture for sustainable and climate finance. Discussions focused on how African stakeholders can innovate by linking Medium-Term Debt Strategies, Debt Sustainability Analyses, and Liability Management Operations with environmental, social performance targets and reforms to help optimize economic growth while transforming Africa’s debt management and aiming towards more proactive, investor-engaged and sustainability-informed fiscal resilience. The Forum also examined the IMF’s Debt Sustainability Framework, where participants identified significant gaps: climate downside risks are modelled in, but the risk-reduction benefits of resilience investments are not. The forum also aimed to foster partnerships with philanthropic foundations, multilateral agencies, and guarantee providers and support the joint design of guarantee and risk-sharing mechanisms tailored to African debt contexts. “Current circumstances suggest that we should double down on financing strategies for climate and nature action to build medium and long-term resilience. The connection between sovereign debt and climate, sovereign debt and domestic capital markets reform are part of an interconnected system, and we should look at how these things come together,” said Mark Napier, CEO of FSD Africa. African economies are currently navigating an increasingly complex policy landscape shaped by tightening fiscal space, rising debt vulnerabilities, and escalating climate risks. This combination of pressures is impacting macroeconomic resilience and limiting governments’ capacity to invest in sustainable development including critical sectors such as health or education. According to the African Development Bank (2024), total debt service in Africa has more than doubled over the past decade, reaching USD 163 billion, while interest payments alone now exceed public health budgets in thirty countries. In 2025, external debt service obligations are projected to reach USD 88.7 billion, further constraining fiscal space and crowding out essential investments in infrastructure, climate adaptation, and human capital. This rising fiscal burden threatens to entrench a cycle of low investment, weakened growth, and reduced resilience to external shocks. “At the core of Africa’s debt challenge, lies a structural issue in how our continent is assessed and priced in global financial markets.  Are we accurately pricing risk; or systematically mispricing Africa?,” said Claver Gatete at the start of the Forum this week. He called on participants to focus on four key priorities: embedding sustainability at the core of debt management; strengthening institutional and data foundations; engaging with investors and partners as strategic allies and setting clear; country-level priorities and actionable roadmaps guiding implementation through 2026 and beyond.  The Second African Forum on Sovereign Finance on “Enhancing Fiscal Space and Debt Sustainability” drew representatives from debt management offices and ministries of finance from 18 African countries, multilateral and regional financial institutions, philanthropic and guarantee partners, credit rating agencies, institutional investors, think tanks, academic institutions, and technical organizations working on sustainable finance, debt management, and climate economics. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org