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

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  Building capacity for sustainable debt management practices in Egypt

  by srona.editor on January 9, 2026

  11 July, 2025Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintCairo, 10 July 2025 (ECA) – The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with Global Sovereign Advisory (GSA) and the Government of Egypt, concluded today in Cairo (Egypt) a four-day capacity building workshop on Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA).About 35 officials from the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and External Debt Committee benefited from the training, which aimed to boost sustainable debt management practices through a combination of theory, exercises, best practices and guidelines tailored to the national needs. Key topics included borrowing cost analysis, financial and economic implications of sovereign debt, national debt portfolio optimization, financial risks, debt sustainability analysis as per the IMF framework and sovereign financing options. Participants also increased their capacity to carry out financial modelling and optimize debt management, with a focus on IMF and World Bank DSA tool and methodology to forecast debt sustainability, in addition to testing and discussing various financing solutions.“This workshop is part of a series of trainings held by our office in support to Egypt among other African countries,” said Adam Elhiraika, Director of the ECA office for North Africa. “The current global context characterized by declining official development assistance (ODA) and rising debt. It is therefore important that our member countries are equipped with the necessary tools to mobilize enough funds for sustainable development purposes while avoiding the trap of unsustainable debt,” he added.[Arabic Version]Media queriesHouda Filali-Ansary - Communications OfficerECA Office for North AfricaE-mail: filali-ansary@un.orgIssued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  [Blog] Why ending child marriage is key for seizing Africa’s demographic dividend

  by eskinder.tsegaye on January 5, 2026

  5 January, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintBy Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division and Omolola Mary Lipede, Fellow   Africa’s future prosperity needs its girls… Africa is home to approximately 160 million adolescent girls aged 10 to 19[1]. They embody the energy, creativity, and potential of the continent. It is undeniable that The Africa We Want, as envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, will not be realized without the full participation of this group which represents a key component of the continent’s current and future workforce. Yet one of the most persistent obstacles to realizing this vision is the prevalence of child marriage and its negative impact on Africa’s productive capacities. Child marriage is among the most underestimated structural constraints on Africa’s capacity to harness its demographic dividend. …yet millions are being left behind The statistics paint a concerning picture. According to the World Bank, four out of ten girls aged 15 to 19 in Africa (excluding North Africa) are not in school and not working, or are married or have children, compared to just slightly above one out of ten boys.[2] On average, nearly one-third (32 percent) of young women (ages 15–24) are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), compared with 23 percent of boys in that age range (Figure 1). Figure 1. Share of Africa’s youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), by gender (percent of population 15 – 24)   Source: Authors’ calculations based on the World Bank database. In Africa, 130 million women and girls were married before their 18th birthday, the highest incidence of globally (UNICEF, 2025). The prevalence of child marriage varies across the continent. Central and West Africa bear a disproportionate share of the global burden. But even North Africa, with the lowest yet significant rate of child marriages, shows that this harmful practice persists across the continent (Figure 2). Moreover, nine out of ten countries with the highest incidence of child marriage are in Africa (Figure 3). Figure 2: Prevalence of child marriage across Africa’s regions (% of girls married before the age of 18) Source: UNICEF global database, 2025. Figure 3. Countries with the highest rates of child marriage globally (% of girls married before the age of 18) Source:  UNICEF Child Marriage Portal, Prevalence and burden of child marriage. The data reflect the most recent available information for the period 2016-2023. …and economic costs are staggering Child marriage is most frequently portrayed as a human rights violation or a social and health issue. And indeed, complications from pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death for adolescent girls. These tragic and most visible aspects, however, are only part of the story. Less visibly, but most frequently, child marriages are associated with early pregnancies and effectively exclude girls from education and formal economic participation at the very stage when investments in skills and learning yield the highest returns (Figures 4 and 5). Besides limiting individual futures, this practice thus has major economic implications for African countries and regions. Figure 4. Prevalence of child marriages and adolescent fertility rates Source: Authors, based on the World Bank Gender Portal. Note: The graphs include both African (AFR) and non-African countries (ROW). Figure 5. Prevalence of child marriages and female tertiary enrolment (% of female population 19 – 24) Source: Authors, based on the World Bank Gender Portal. For African countries, as for some other developing countries, child marriage is a major unaddressed economic distortion. It distorts human capital accumulation and labor allocation, with economy-wide consequences for productivity and growth. More specifically: Child marriage truncates education, limits skills acquisition, and impedes women’s participation in the formal labor markets Girls who marry early are far more likely to enter unpaid care work or low-productivity informal activities, with limited prospects for upward social mobility (Figure 6). Child marriage limits girls’ full integration into society by depriving them of their rights, identities, and agency. It creates dependency and stalls leadership potential.   Figure 6. Prevalence of child marriages and female vulnerable employment (percent of total female employment) Source: Authors, based on the World Bank Gender Portal. The implications for Africa’s labor markets are particularly severe. Productive structural transformation requires a workforce that can move from low-productivity activities into higher value-added sectors, including manufacturing, modern services, and the digital economy. When girls’ education and skills acquisition are cut short, the supply of skilled workers for these sectors is reduced. In turn, incentives of entrepreneurs to create and grow productive firms are curtailed. At the macro level, productivity growth, job creation in the formal sector, and diversification into high value-adding activities are diminished. Economic costs of child marriages persist across generations. The practice is closely associated with early and high fertility, increased maternal morbidity and mortality, and poorer health and educational outcomes for children. If unaddressed, these social outcomes lead to lower human capital (educational attainments and health) of the next generation, thus reducing labor productivity and innovation. Over time, they result in a persistent barrier to achieving fiscal sustainability, regional integration and inclusive growth. These dynamics hamper Africa’s chances to seize demographic dividend. While the continent’s growing working-age population is viewed as a potential source of accelerated growth if accompanied by adequate investments in health, education, and job creation, child marriages are accompanied by reduced female employment in the formal sector (Figure 6). Subsequently, productivity gains fall below potential and demographic opportunity risks becoming a demographic burden. Despite the negative macroeconomic implications, child marriage is not included in the mainstream economic frameworks and discussions that inform macroeconomic planning and policies in Africa. It is typically addressed through social or legal interventions, while macroeconomic strategies, industrial policies, and fiscal frameworks proceed as if these aspects of human capital constraints were exogenous. Such disconnect results in systematic underinvestment in one of the most binding constraints on Africa’s productive capacities. Policymakers and the population at large need to rethink child marriage From an economic perspective, the case for investing in girls is compelling. Analysis consistently shows that investments in girls’ education and health yield high returns, raising lifetime earnings, boosting productivity. Closing gender gaps in education, employment, and decision-making could add up to a trillion USD to Africa’s GDP in 2043.[3]  Estimates also suggest that every dollar invested in adolescent girls’ health, education and empowerment can generate multiple dollar economic returns over time. Translating evidence into effective policies will require a shift in approach -- a one where ending child marriage is seen as a core component of Africa’s economic strategy. Indicators on adolescent girls’ education, employment, and unpaid care burdens should thus become an integral part of macroeconomic frameworks, labor market projections, and assessments of productive capacity. Against this background, addressing the child marriage issue in Africa is a matter of economic necessity, given that successful Africa’s transformation requires unlocking the full productive potential of its population. This, in turn, demands sustained investment in girls as economic actors and not merely as beneficiaries of social programs. Africa must finance Africa's girls, and measures such as strengthened domestic resource mobilization,  gender-responsive budgeting, and gender bonds could go a long way in this regard. Moreover, policymakers should view public spending aimed at reducing child marriages and supporting girls' continued education as capital expenditure instead of pure social spending.  This would help align fiscal frameworks with longer term growth targets. Ending child marriage practice will not, on its own, ensure that Africa will reach its development goals. However, unless addressed, this structural barrier will continue to hamper productivity, competitiveness, and the delivery of the Agenda 2063. Recognizing that ending child marriage is an economic as much as social imperative would be an important step forward. It would also place the girls’ empowerment where it belongs: at the center of Africa’s development strategy and its pursuit of inclusive and sustainable growth. [1] United Nations Population Division data (2022). [2] World Bank (2025), Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa:  Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa [3] Yeboua (2024), Get gender equality right in Africa, and prosperity will follow, Institute for Strategic Studies:  Get gender equality right in Africa, and prosperity will follow | ISS Africa .

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  Transforming Africa’s Borders into Gateways for Development

  by eskinder.tsegaye on December 29, 2025

  18 December, 2025Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintTransforming Africa’s Borders into Gateways for Development Cape Town, South Africa, 18 December 2025 - Senior policymakers, immigration officers, technical experts, and partners from across the African continent gathered in Cape Town for the 9th Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFoM IX), under the theme: “Smart, Integrated and Secure Border Management: Leveraging Technology for Efficient Human Mobility and Trade in Africa.” The 9th Pan-Africa Forum on Migration with a central focus on how technology serves as a catalyst in transforming human mobility and trade across Africa. The forum underscored that technology holds the promise of enabling unprecedented efficiencies in cross-border movement—if it is harnessed to address the longstanding barriers faced by African businesses and communities while appropriately regulated. This Forum marked a pivotal moment as Director Generals, Heads and Chiefs of Immigration, African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa’s officials among others came together in an inaugural high-level segment to take stock of migration trends, review policy responses, and chart a coordinated path for the future of migration and border governance in Africa. Key Highlights: 1.      Technology as an Enabler: Panelists stressed that solutions like e-visas, digital border management systems, biometric controls, and data-sharing platforms have the potential to minimize visa bottlenecks and administrative delays, adding “These innovations can reduce discretionary practices, increase transparency, and facilitate a faster movement of both people and goods”. 2.      The Reality of African Mobility While the aspiration for a borderless Africa is strong, the current reality depicts cross-border mobility as costly, uncertain, and exclusionary. And challenges extend beyond a single border checkpoint, involving visa regimes, bureaucratic processes, and limited access to social services that collectively hinder free movement. 3.      Bridging the Gap for Informal Sectors A critical part of the discussions focused on the large informal sector in Africa - comprising small-scale traders, seasonal workers, and many others who rely on mobility for their livelihoods. There is an acute need to adapt technology to consider these informal movers, particularly women engaged in informal trade, to avoid exposing them to arbitrary enforcement and undue financial burdens. 4.      Strengthening the Digital Infrastructure and Closing the Digital Divide The Forum underscored that or accelerated that digitalization and integration of border management systems that would support faster, safer cross-border movement hinges on development of adequate digital infrastructure. Addressing the digital divide and aligning tech innovations with structural reforms in institutions is also paramount to avoid amplifying current inefficiencies and inequalities. 5.      Beyond Digital Infrastructure Participants agreed that while digital tools are essential, they cannot substitute for comprehensive investments in physical and social infrastructure. Weak transport networks, inadequate housing, healthcare, education, and limited social protection remain significant challenges that need to be addressed in tandem with technological solutions. A system approach is necessary, where digital improvements complement broader investments in transport, border, and social infrastructure to truly transform mobility in Africa. 6.      A Call for Institutional Reform The forum reiterated that technology cannot replace the essential task of institution-building and to harness the full potential of tech-driven mobility, reforms that clarify agency mandates and strengthen institutional capacity across borders are urgently needed. In conclusion, the AUC-led forum emphasized that the road to efficient human mobility and thriving trade in Africa lies in aligning technological advancements with deep-rooted infrastructure and institutional reforms. Such a holistic strategy will help transform borders from physical barriers into strategic enablers—making free movement a tangible reality rather than a distant aspiration. About the Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFoM) The Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFoM) was established in 2006 following an African Union Executive Council Decision (EX.CL/276(IX)) on the Migration Policy Framework for Africa , which mandated the AU Commission to collaborate with IOM and other partners to support Member States in strengthening migration governance. It serves as a continental interstate dialogue platform  that brings together: Its objectives are to: Deliberate on topical and emerging issues on migration and mobility in Africa; Inform and shape policy development at national, regional and continental levels; Share experiences, knowledge and good practices on migration governance. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  Senegal embarks on localising the SDGs for greater, local development impact

  by eskinder.tsegaye on December 29, 2025

  19 December, 2025Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintDakar, December 19, 2025 (ECA) – The ECA’s African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), in partnership with the Directorate General of Planning and Economic Policy (DGPPE) of the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation in Senegal, concluded a capacity-building and knowledge-sharing workshop on localising public policies for effective implementation of the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda.  Held from December 17 to 19, 2025, in Dakar, the workshop brought together local stakeholders, including national and international experts, and representatives of the UN-Habitat Senegal Program. It aimed to promote the localisation of public policies through integrated planning, strengthening of local governance, innovative financing mechanisms, and identification of capacity-building needs for the inclusive and sustainable transformation of Senegal. Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director of IDEP, stressed that 70% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intrinsically dependent on the ability to anchor and achieve them at the local level, by mobilizing resources and actors as close as possible to the field.  "The Senegal 2050 Agenda marks a strong ambition for structural, inclusive, and sustainable transformation of the country. The success of this vision depends largely on our collective ability to localise public policies. Local authorities thus play a decisive role in the implementation of national and international agendas,” she said. Souleymane Diallo, Senegal’s Director General of Planning and Economic Policy, stressed the urgency of  localising public policies, as a means towards achieving equity at the local level. "The localisation of public policies is no longer a simple technical choice or an option; it is a strategic imperative and an urgent priority at the heart of Vision Senegal 2050, he said, adding that the government and relevant departments will work on development plans for the regional hubs identified in the national transformation agenda. Ms. Bounemra Ben Soltane also highlighted the challenges facing Africa, pointing out that the continent is experiencing the fastest urban growth in the world, with urbanization rates rising from around 35% in 2000 to nearly 45% in 2024, and expected to reach 50% by 2035, then 70% by 2050. This dynamic is putting increased pressure on territories and planning systems.  She added: "Territorial disparities remain a major determinant of economic and social inequalities, limiting the impact of national policies when they are not adapted to the local dimension. The challenge is not only to plan more, but to plan differently: in an integrated, inclusive, and locally sensitive manner." IDEP's strengthened commitment alongside Senegal This workshop is part of a process to strengthen the capacities of regional planning services, regional development agencies, and national actors involved in the implementation of the Senegal 2050 Agenda. It reaffirms the role and commitment of IDEP, an institution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in supporting Senegal and its other member states towards integrated, territorialized, and impact-oriented development planning. According to the Director of IDEP, Senegal can reduce disparities between urban, rural, and border areas if it applies the instruments needed to do so.   Furthermore, the instruments depend on the ability of stakeholders to articulate them, adapt them to local realities, and integrate cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, climate, and resilience. The current context is particularly favorable for this initiative, as Senegal will present its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), four years before the 2030 deadline. The success of this IDEP-DGPPE initiative, launched through this workshop, will help strengthen the connection and integration between the SDGs and the objectives of the national transformation agenda, in order to generate a concrete and lasting impact at the local level. After three days of peer learning and sharing of concrete experiences, a structured assessment of capacity-building needs was carried out. These needs translate into training requests in several priority areas, including: Development of integrated development plans for territorial hubs; Designing bankable projects at the inter-territorial level (green/climate funds); Mobilization of funding for local development and decentralized/cross-border cooperation; Monitoring and evaluation of the impact of public policies; Reference framework for planning and territorialization of public policies; Establishment of local economy observatories (platform for public and private actors, database and knowledge base). These actions are essential to achieving the objectives set out in Vision Senegal 2050 and maximizing the impact of public policies at the local level. The workshop ended on a note of appreciation for IDEP's ongoing efforts and its longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, a collaboration that spans six decades. Participants praised the quality of the discussions and the relevance of the topics addressed. In addition, a future agenda was announced to prepare a roadmap aimed at implementing the requests expressed, particularly in terms of training, knowledge production and management, and support and advice for political and technical actors in the clusters, in order to accelerate the implementation of Vision Senegal 2050. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  UN General Assembly adopts historic outcome on global internet governance at WSIS+20 Review: ECA’s advocacy leads to strengthened Internet Governance Forum mandate in Outcome Document

  by eskinder.tsegaye on December 23, 2025

  17 December, 2025Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintNew York, 17 December 2025 (ECA): The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) welcomes the adoption by consensus of the outcome document of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20). This decision, based on the resolution submitted by the President of the General Assembly during the High-Level Meeting held from 16–17 December, marks a historic milestone for the architecture of global Internet governance. Thanks to the strategic leadership and technical advocacy of the ECA, the outcome document fully integrates African priorities as articulated in both the Cotonou Declaration on WSIS+20 and the Dar es Salaam Declaration on African Internet Governance. The adopted outcome explicitly recognizes the important role that the regional commissions have played in developing regional action plans to fulfil the World Summit vision. It reaffirms their mandates to serve as regional mechanisms for implementation and follow-up of World Summit outcomes, encourages them to continue their work within their regions, and calls for them to scale up technical assistance, capacity-building, and partnerships. This direct mandate empowers the ECA to drive digital transformation more effectively across member states. Reflecting the urgent needs of the international community, the outcome strikes a balance between stability and adaptability, safeguarding proven approaches while meeting emerging challenges. Central to this balance is the confirmation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) as a permanent mechanism. This decision ensures stability by guaranteeing long-term continuity for the multi-stakeholder model, while maintaining a flexible framework for cooperation and dialogue closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The resolution further underscores the alignment of WSIS with the Global Digital Compact (GDC), emphasizing partnerships as the primary vehicle to bridge the digital divide. Speaking on the adoption of the outcome, Mactar Seck, Chief of the Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section at ECA, highlighted the strategic implications of this decision;  "By linking WSIS with the post-2030 agenda, digital transformation remains a driver for sustainable development. The Outcome not only extends the mandate of WSIS and IGF for the next ten years (until 2035), but also establishes a permanent mandate for the IGF, ensuring long-term continuity for the multistakeholder model. It further outlines the framework for implementing the Global Digital Compact. ECA will continue to collaborate with all member states, the private sector, civil society, the technical community, and academia to translate the WSIS+20 vision into concrete actions." This landmark decision paves the way for lasting advancements in worldwide Internet governance and confirms the United Nations' dedication to creating a connected, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for everyone. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  Yaounde: Central Africa adopts high-impact policy agenda to De-risk and fund economic diversification

  by eskinder.tsegaye on December 19, 2025

  27 November, 2025Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintYaoundé, 27 November 2025 (ECA) – Central Africa marked a pivotal moment in its economic transformation journey with the formal adoption of a strategic convergence framework at the High-Level Regional Political Dialogue held on 27 November 2025. Concluding the Regional Conference on Economic Diversification Financing, this framework establishes a clear, unified roadmap for the effective mobilization of sustainable finance, backed by specific national and regional policy recommendations. The Framework reflects the consolidation of a robust regional pipeline of bankable projects spanning high-impact sectors, including agro-industry, natural resource processing, the Blue Economy, cross-border value chains, and productive infrastructure. Unanimously endorsed by all stakeholders, this action transforms the region's approach to development finance, shifting it from isolated initiatives to a structured, coordinated, and jointly owned process. Opening the High-Level Political Dialogue, Mohamadou Lawal, Director-General for Cooperation and Integration and Representative of the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development of the Republic of Cameroon, highlighted the commitment of the States and praised the leadership of ECA: “By bringing together governments, investors, experts, and partners today, we are, in fact, thanks to this work, laying the foundations for a more solid industrial future for Central Africa.” Priorities and commitments: the action plan The Strategic Convergence Framework sets forth several key structural directives necessary to ensure the effective mobilization of finance for the pillars of economic diversification (productive capacities, regional trade, blue economy): systematically align national priorities with sustainable financing instruments, including guarantees, blended finance, and ESG standards; strengthen institutional capacity in project preparation and structuring by integrating multidisciplinary teams and harmonized methodologies at the sub-regional level; promote the regional dimension in economic transformation projects to support genuinely integrative initiatives; systematically integrate blue, green, and climate priorities into national and regional development strategies, particularly within coastal and maritime value chains. Regional Economic Communities (CEMAC, ECCAS) are specifically called upon to support the harmonization of regulatory frameworks and sustainable financing instruments to streamline the implementation of integrative projects and mutualize risks. They are also expected to ensure the regular update of the regional bankable project portfolio endorsed by Member States, thereby guaranteeing better visibility for donors. For effective coordination and follow-up, the Regional Economic Communities, Development Financial Institutions (AfDB, BDEAC), and ECA are mandated to promote a structured and continuous dialogue. “This strategic roadmap emerged from the direct, results-oriented discussions between project owners (including Member States, RECs, and UN Agencies) and International Financial Institutions, Regional Development Banks, and partners. Crucially, our Member States and CEMAC now possess the definitive blueprint for securing funds for economic diversification projects.” stated Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa. Leadership and strategic vision The successful organization of this high-level meeting confirmed Central Africa's readiness to seize promising financing opportunities. ECA’s technical support, its role as a facilitator for financial partners, and its support in formulating transformative projects aligned with regional priorities were highly commended. “This consultation platform represents a pivotal opportunity for our subregion to enhance the absorption rate of available funding. More importantly, it serves as the long-awaited leverage to fast-track the implementation of economic diversification projects enshrined in national development plans, the national and regional industrialization Strategies, and AfCFTA Action Plans”, Soumaya Iraqui, chief of the economic diversification Section at the ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa. The Yaoundé Conference clearly demonstrated that Central Africa's economic transformation is a political choice, now supported by a reinforced technical and institutional architecture. By facilitating this strategic dialogue, ECA has provided Member States with the necessary framework and consensus to transcend potential and move toward concrete implementation. “Moving forward, we are committed to institutionalizing this gathering. It will serve as a vital platform to assess the outcomes of this inaugural experience. Furthermore, it will enable us to facilitate targeted B2B and B2C engagements between financial institutions, Member States, and RECs to advance the subregion’s numerous economic diversification projects” concluded Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa. 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 Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org