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

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  COM 2026: Stakeholders and partners join ECA at high level side events on innovation, inclusion and fiscal transformation ahead of ministerial conference

  by eskinder.tsegaye on March 28, 2026

  28 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintTangier, Morocco, 28 March 2026  – On the margins of the fifty‑eighth session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, six high‑level side events will showcase concrete pathways to harness data, technology and innovation for Africa’s structural transformation. On 31 March, a Continental Youth Symposium on “African Youth at the Frontier of Technologies, Innovation, Sovereignty and Jobs in the Digital Age” will bring young innovators together with policymakers to shape a youth‑driven agenda for Africa’s digital future. Two additional events will focus on “Enhancing Africa’s trade flows through improved port infrastructure and operations” and on “Leveraging Data and Technology to Strengthen Domestic Resource Mobilization and Debt Governance in Africa”, highlighting how smarter infrastructure and digital tools can boost trade competitiveness, widen the tax base and strengthen debt management. On 1 April, a Ministerial Policy Dialogue on “Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion for Sustainable Development in Africa: Harnessing Data and Innovation” will elevate women’s economic empowerment as a core macroeconomic priority. A high‑level event on “Health as Sovereign Investment: Fiscal Strategy, Innovative Finance and Regional Transformation in Africa” will promote health spending as a strategic investment as part of the launch of several related initiatives, while a side event on “Financing for Innovation: The Role of African Multilateral Financial Institutions in Accelerating Africa’s Technological and Economic Transformation” will spotlight new financing models to scale home‑grown innovation. In addition to the side events, a vibrant Knowledge Fair, showcasing member states innovations and use of frontier technologies are on display. The Knowledge Fair is a key element of the Conference, aimed at encouraging peer learning among policy makers and other stakeholders. Outcomes from the six side events will feed into the deliberations of Ministers, enriching decisions under the Conference theme, “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for the economic transformation of Africa.” Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org  Follow the Conversation #COM2026

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  CoM 2026, Committee of Experts - Opening remarks by Deputy Executive Secretary Mama Keita

  by minilik.demissie on March 28, 2026

  28 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintConference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Committee of Experts   Opening Remarks Deputy Executive Secretary     March 2026     Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the United Nations Under Secretary General and ECA Executive Secretary, Mr. Claver Gatete, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this meeting. The theme of this year’s conference “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for economic transformation in Africa” is timely and will provide a unique opportunity for us to discuss the role of data and frontier technologies in accelerating Africa’s transformation and achieving sustainable growth through innovation. Ladies and Gentlemen, We are grappling with a situation where innovation has not had a significant impact on growth in Africa. Between 2000 and 2023, the continent’s growth in gross domestic product (GDP) averaged 3.5 per cent but the composition of the growth shows that the continent made limited progress in productivity-enhancing transformation.  Africa’s growth has been propelled mostly by factor accumulation, capital and labour. Total factor productivity, which captures efficiency, technological progress, institutional quality and unmeasured inputs, has not contributed significantly. We need to increase this contribution. But how can this be done? In order words, how can Africa leverage frontier technologies to utilize its natural resources, youthful population and its sizeable markets to boost productivity growth? Distinguished delegates, Frontier technologies and innovation are not only useful to unlock Africa’s growth potential and enhance the competitiveness of African economies through productivity growth and diversification. They can also be used to accelerate structural transformation, allowing the much-needed reallocation of resources from low- to high-productivity sectors. When embedded within an enabling policy and regulatory environment, supported by adequate financing and informed by data analytics, frontier technologies and their ongoing innovation can improve living standards and build countries’ capacity to secure a durable competitive advantage. Ladies and Gentlemen, Africa is progressing in the adoption of frontier technologies but is clearly not doing so as quickly as other regions. Permit me to illustrate this point with a few examples: Artificial Intelligence is expected to contribute 5.6 per cent to the GDP of Africa, Oceania and developing Asian markets by 2030. This may seem substantial but is far below the 10.4 per cent expected for developed economies in Asia, 14.5 per cent for North America and 10.3 per cent for Europe. The market for the Internet of Things in Africa may expand from $7 billion in 2024 to more than $20 billion by 2031, driven by rising smartphone penetration, expanding licensed cellular connections, increased use of smart agriculture, logistics and utility management systems. The figure, however, is only about 0.9 per cent of the projected $2.65 trillion global market in 2031. The biotechnology market size in Africa is expected to reach $138.2 billion by 2030, compared with a global market of $3.88 trillion. Distinguished Delegates, The opportunities offered by frontier technologies, across economic sectors, are enormous and multidimensional. For instance, there is no doubt that digital platforms, underpinned by frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and blockchain, to name just a few, hold significant potential to reduce poverty, generate employment opportunities, promote economic integration, and drive economic growth. Digital payment systems and mobile-money platforms are transforming Africa’s economies by lowering transaction costs, boosting efficiency, enhancing access to finance and markets, and advancing financial inclusion. At the same time, nearly 30 per cent of the world’s critical minerals that are essential for clean-energy technologies are in Africa, giving the continent a comparative advantage over other world regions. Strategic industries such as digital technologies and telecommunications also depend on these critical minerals, making Africa an indispensable actor in this vital and fast-growing space. Frontier technologies also have the potential to transform agriculture in Africa, since they can be used to boost crop productivity, enhance water and land-use efficiency and promote climate resilience and adaptation. For example, in Kenya and Tanzania, a genetically modified, drought-tolerant hybrid variety of maize was developed that produces 35–50 per cent higher yields during drought conditions than conventional maize varieties and wastes 30% less water. Similarly, sugarcane farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are using multispectral satellite imagery to detect early signs of water stress, allowing for timely irrigation adjustments. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, The global digital revolution and advances in frontier technologies require an adaptive workforce. Africa has the youngest population of any region in the world, with a median age of 19, compared with 33 years in Asia, 42 years in Europe, 33 years in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 39 years in Northern America.  Young people tend to be more adaptive and creative, and they consume more digital and innovative technologies, creating a broader market. Underscoring another competitive advantage of Africa. Globally, Artificial Intelligence and automation are expected to create 170 million jobs while displacing 92 million jobs by 2030, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs.  Africa can only benefit from these new jobs if it prioritizes the provision of enhanced digital skills training to its population.  Ladies and Gentlemen, At the ECA, we are convinced that to realize the boundless potential of frontier technologies requires African countries to take several actions. First a high-level, dedicated national leadership on frontier technologies is crucial. An agile, high-level national team is needed to spearhead the design of relevant national policies and strategies, provide adequate resources, monitor progress and adjust to new and emerging issues. Such teams can mobilize the entire Government, identify industrial champions, attract investment and signal to the world that their country is prepared to harness technology for good. Second, we must empower informal and micro-enterprises to harness frontier technology by establishing centres of excellence for the rapid development and application of artificial intelligence and providing funding and training for these actors. Third, we must fix Africa’s infrastructure deficit and pursue data sovereignty, two things that go hand in hand. Currently, Africa accounts for less than 1 per cent of the global data centres, which are critical for the deployment of Artificial Intelligence. The operation of data centres requires huge amounts of energy, which underscores the urgent need to close the continent’s energy gaps. Distinguished Delegates, Emerging frontier technologies are vital for advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area, since they can reduce transaction costs, improve transparency and increase trade efficiency. E-commerce and payment interoperability are crucial to the effective implementation of the Protocol to the Agreement on Digital Trade, and with it a single digital market, which would reduce fragmentation, improve market efficiency and facilitate seamless cross-border trade. The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System enables instant cross-border payments among local currencies, cutting transaction costs by almost half.  The Africa Trade Exchange platform, developed by the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Export-Import Bank with support from the African Union and the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area, enables businesses of all sizes to access new markets and to streamline their supply chains in Africa. Ladies and Gentlemen, The adoption of frontier technologies is not all roses, as this is associated with several risks that cannot be ignored. In this regard, the storage of most of Africa’s data in data centres outside the continent is a big problem, particularly for sensitive data such as medical, financial, and security data, given the sensitivity of such data. It isalso costly, and results in delays in data transmission. Gaps in institutional and human capacity, along with outdated or missing data protection, cybersecurity, and digital identification policies, further impede progress towards data sovereignty on the continent. Dependence on imported hardware, software, cloud infrastructure, and specialized components also exposes African economies to supply shocks, price volatility, and technology lock-in.  Limited domestic manufacturing and insufficient capacity for Research and Development further restrict opportunities for local value addition. The disruptive effects of new technologies in the African labour market cannot also be ignored. Job losses due to technology tend to occur quickly, while job creation often happens slowly. Furthermore, new roles associated with emerging technologies are often in different industries or locations and differ from those displaced.  Labour- market disruptions, combined with existing rigidities, can worsen unemployment numbers and deepen or even magnify social and economic inequalities across the continent. The need to addresses the challenges and risks that I have just mentioned informed the theme of this ministerial conference “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for economic transformation in Africa”.  This is also the theme of the Economic Report on Africa 2026 that will be launched during next week’s Ministerial segment and that highlights: The impact of innovation on economic growth and development through enhanced productivity. The opportunities, risks, and challenges in harnessing data and frontier technologies to drive economic transformation, and The actions that African countries can implement to maximize the transformative potential of frontier technologies. As we ponder the mission of this ministerial conference of identifying and proposing transformative strategic actions to harness data and frontier technologies for Africa’s economic transformation, I invite all of us to be bold but also creative. Thank you for your kind attention.

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  In Tangier, experts set to chart Africa’s innovation driven economic transformation

  by eskinder.tsegaye on March 28, 2026

  28 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintTangier, Morocco, 28 March 2026 – The Committee of Experts segment of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development opened today in Tangier, setting the stage for ministerial deliberations on how to boost growth through innovation, data and frontier technologies. Over three days, senior officials from across the continent will review Africa’s recent economic and social developments, assess progress on regional integration, and examine the theme of this year’s Conference, “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for the economic transformation of Africa”. The opening took place at the Palace of Art and Cultural Centre, in Tangier, Morocco. Experts will also consider a comprehensive package of statutory reports, including the Executive Secretary’s report on the activities of the Economic Commission for Africa, follow-up to past ministerial resolutions, United Nations support to the African Union and AUDA‑NEPAD, and outcomes of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. They will examine the work of ECA’s subsidiary and intergovernmental bodies, as well as progress under the Doha Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries and the Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries, with a view to sharpening evidence-based policy recommendations for ministers. The Committee’s conclusions will inform the ministerial segment of the fifty‑eighth session of the Commission, where African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will adopt concrete decisions on leveraging data and frontier technologies to accelerate structural transformation, job creation and inclusive growth. The opening ceremony concluded with the launch of a special commemorative postal stamp issued by Poste Maroc on the occasion of the conference as a tribute to the long and fruitful cooperation between ECA and the Kingdom of Morocco, and as an echo to the stamp issued on the occasion of the first time the conference took place in Tangier, in January 1960. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org Follow the Conversation #COM2026

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  Ministerial policy dialogue on African women's economic inclusion

  by minilik.demissie on March 25, 2026

  25 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintTangiers, Morocco — March 28 – April 3, 2026  — The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), proudly announces a high-level Ministerial Policy Dialogue as a key side event on the margins of the 58th session of the ECA Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (CoM), taking place from March 28 to April 3, 2026, at the Palace of Art and Culture, Tangier, Morocco.  This significant gathering coincides with Women's Month. The dialogue, themed “Ministerial Policy Dialogue on the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion,” aims to place women's financial and economic inclusion at the forefront of Africa's economic transformation agenda. This is in alignment with the overarching Conference’s theme, "Growth through innovation: Harnessing data and frontier technologies for Africa's economic transformation." During this timely event, discussions will center around three key Africa-led measurement frameworks that will guide the dialogue: The African Gender and Development Index (AGDI): Developed by ECA, this Index assesses government commitments and policies for advancing gender equality from a rights-based perspective. The Africa Gender Index (AGI): A joint initiative of ECA and the African Development Bank, this Index measures progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment across the continent. The African Women’s Inclusion Index (AWII): Developed by ACET, it evaluates the lived economic outcomes of women, exploring how they engage with and benefit from Africa’s economies. Comprehensive analyses, including the upcoming Africa Women's Report 2025, will offer insights into the interplay between women's and youth employment, financial inclusion, and technology. By utilizing gender-responsive data systems and frontier technologies, the dialogue seeks to unlock women’s full economic potential, ultimately driving inclusive growth. The Ministerial Policy Dialogue aims to achieve the following objectives: Elevate Women’s Economic Inclusion: Establish women's economic inclusion as a core macroeconomic and fiscal priority using Africa-led evidence. Enhance Understanding: Provide ministers and senior officials with insights on leveraging gender-responsive data and digital solutions in broader economic transformation strategies. Identify Policy Actions: Develop policy messages and priority actions for integrating women's economic empowerment into various economic frameworks. Clarify Usage of Indices: Outline practical applications of the AGDI, AGI, and AWII to support the implementation of CoM decisions and the African Union’s Women's Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion. Foster Collaboration: Create opportunities for follow-up support, peer learning, and regional initiatives linking women's empowerment and structural transformation. Through this dialogue, participants will enhance their approach to advancing women's economic participation where the key outcomes will include a clearer understanding of how data and technology can advance women's financial inclusion, an identification of a concise set of policy measures tailored to bolster gender-responsive fiscal and financial sector reforms, frameworks for utilizing analytical tools that support Africa’s economic strategies and opportunities for ongoing collaboration in policy implementation and best practices. This event will feature prominent speakers, as well as Finance Ministers and Ministers responsible for Gender Equality and Women's Affairs across the African continent. Issued by: Communications Section Economic Commission for Africa PO Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251 11 551 5826 E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  Media advisory - Ministerial policy dialogue on the African women’s decade on financial and economic inclusion

  by minilik.demissie on March 25, 2026

  25 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintMedia Advisory   58th Session of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development   WHAT: Ministerial Policy Dialogue on the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion   WHO: The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) WHEN: 31st March 2026 (Time) WHERE: Palace of Art and Culture, Tangiers, Morocco    Dear Media Colleagues, We are pleased to invite you to the Ministerial Policy Dialogue on the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion under the overarching Conference of Ministers theme’s "Growth through innovation: Harnessing data and frontier technologies for Africa's economic transformation", taking place from March 28 to April 3, 2026, at the Palace of Art and Culture, Tangier, Morocco. The event is organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET). This Dialogue, centered around the three key Africa-led measurement frameworks, The African Gender and Development Index (AGDI), The Africa Gender Index (AGI) and The African Women’s Inclusion Index (AWII) will guide the dialogue and aims to enhance approach to advancing women's economic participation. The key outcomes will include a clearer understanding of how data and technology can advance women's financial inclusion, an identification of a concise set of policy measures tailored to bolster gender-responsive fiscal and financial sector reforms, frameworks for utilizing analytical tools that support Africa’s economic strategies and opportunities for ongoing collaboration in policy implementation and best practices. We look forward to welcoming distinguished guests and participants to this vital dialogue that aims to foster women's financial and economic inclusion across the continent. Target Audience: Ministers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and ministers of Health

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  Charting the Future of African Infrastructure

  by eskinder.tsegaye on March 24, 2026

  17 March, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAbuja, Nigeria 17 March 2026 (ECA) : The Steering Committee of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) convened in Abuja, Nigeria, on 16–17 March 2026, hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The meeting brought together senior officials from the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to advance the continent’s infrastructure development agenda. The session was opened by Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission, underscoring the strategic importance of coordinated infrastructure investment in realizing Africa’s long-term development goals. Deliberations centred on the midterm review of PIDA PAP 2, preparations for PIDA Week, financing mobilization, implementation instruments, and critical sectoral updates spanning transport, energy, and digital connectivity. “The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa remains the continent’s most comprehensive and strategically significant framework for closing the infrastructure gap and realizing the full promise of African integration and prosperity,” said Commissioner Mataboge. The two-day meeting concluded with a series of agreed actions and institutional commitments designed to sustain and accelerate the PIDA implementation agenda. Delegates reaffirmed the centrality of PIDA as the continent’s primary infrastructure programming framework and endorsed a set of coordinated next steps. Midterm Review Process - Finalization and adoption of the agreed PAP 2 midterm review methodology, with institutional focal points designated to lead data collection and project assessment across all regions by the second quarter of 2026. PIDA Week Readiness - Confirmation of programming structure, project pipeline, and communication strategy for PIDA Week, ensuring the event delivers investment commitments and partnership agreements aligned with the Luanda Summit conclusions. Financing Mobilization - Escalation of efforts to operationalize blended finance structures, de-risking instruments, and project preparation pipelines emerging from the Luanda Infrastructure Financing Summit 2025. Technical Initiative Integration - Stronger integration of ECA’s infrastructure initiatives and related technical tools into PIDA monitoring and reporting systems to improve evidence quality and accountability. REC Coordination Enhancement - Establishment of a more structured operational interface between RECs and PIDA secretariat functions, including joint technical missions, harmonized reporting, and quarterly implementation reviews. Advancing Africa’s Infrastructure Agenda The Abuja Steering Committee meeting reaffirmed that PIDA is not merely a technical program — it is a continental commitment to the belief that infrastructure is the foundation upon which Africa’s economic transformation, regional integration, and sustainable development must be built. The active participation of senior leaders from the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, ECA, AfDB, ECOWAS, and multiple RECs demonstrated the breadth of institutional ownership that underpins PIDA’s legitimacy and operational reach. As PIDA PAP 2 approaches its midterm inflection point, the collective determination expressed in Abuja provides a strong basis for optimism. The decisions made regarding the review methodology, PIDA Week preparation, financing mobilization, and REC coordination set a clear and actionable course for the months ahead. With sustained political commitment, adequate financing, and strengthened institutional coordination, the infrastructure corridors, energy networks, and digital highways that PIDA envisions are within reach — and with them, the integrated, prosperous Africa that Agenda 2063 demands. For his par Robert Lisinge, Director, TICID, United Nations Economic Commission for Africat, stressed: “Frontier technologies are not merely tools — they are the force multipliers that will determine whether Africa’s infrastructure ambitions become a living reality or remain aspirations on paper. PIDA PAP 2 is our generational opportunity, and technology is the accelerant that will get us there.” Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org