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

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  Niger and the United Nations join forces to strengthen Domestic Resource Mobilization

  by eskinder.tsegaye on June 9, 2026

  5 June, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintNiamey, Niger – 5 June 2026 – The Government of Niger, in collaboration with the United Nations System in Niger, the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched on 3 June in Niamey a validation workshop aimed at strengthening domestic resource mobilization. Organized under the framework of the United Nations Flagship Programmes, the workshop brings together key stakeholders to review and validate two strategic reports underpinning the national domestic resource mobilization agenda: An assessment of tax policies and tax administration in Niger; A set of priority recommendations and reform measures to enhance domestic resource mobilization. The primary objective of the workshop is to validate the diagnostic findings and recommendations, and to collectively define a set of reforms and measures to be implemented through a Priority Action Plan (PAP), including clear modalities for execution. In his opening remarks, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mr. Sama Mamane, underscored the critical role of domestic revenue as a cornerstone for financing national priorities, particularly those outlined in the Programme for the Refoundation of the Republic. “Domestic resources must serve as a catalyst to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respond to climate and security challenges, strengthen the delivery of basic social services, and reinforce the State’s financial autonomy,” he stated. He further emphasized that in a context of increasing public financing needs, strengthening domestic resource mobilization remains a strategic imperative. Speaking on behalf of the interim United Nations Resident Coordinator in Niger, the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Rudasingwa Laurent, highlighted that enhancing both the volume and efficiency of domestic resource mobilization is no longer a technical option, but a structural necessity. “It is essential to reinforce the State’s capacity to finance its development priorities, maintain macroeconomic stability, and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs,” he noted. The workshop is expected to conclude with a validated set of recommendations and a clear, operational roadmap to strengthen domestic resource mobilization in Niger, backed by strong consensus among stakeholders. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  AU ministerial session backs continental frameworks on transport and energy

  by minilik.demissie on June 5, 2026

  30 April, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintJohannesburg, South Africa, 30 April 2026 (ECA) - Ministers from across Africa have approved continental frameworks on transport and energy, including frameworks on energy security, electric mobility, and aviation resilience, all of which the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) played a central role in developing. The decisions were adopted at the 5th Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Transport and Energy, held from 27–30 April 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Convened under the theme The Africa We Build: Transport and Energy as Catalysts for Africa's Prosperity, the session brought together AU member states, regional economic communities, and continental institutions including the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and AUDA-NEPAD. Speaking at the opening of the Experts Meeting on 27 April, Mr. Robert Lisinge, Director of ECA's Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division (TICID), underlined the urgency of building Africa's energy security and accelerating sustainable transport solutions. He drew the link between reliable energy infrastructure and the continent's broader ambitions, from transport electrification and digital transformation to reducing logistics costs and unlocking intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). At the Ministerial Meeting on 30 April, Mr. Lisinge delivered opening remarks on behalf of ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete, calling for integrated approaches to energy, transport, and digital infrastructure that drive structural transformation across the continent. Mr. Yohannes Hailu, ECA's energy expert, presented the Commission's continental and regional energy work during the experts' session. He outlined ECA's lead role in developing the Continental Energy Security Policy Framework, its contribution to the SADC Energy Transition Framework and Action Plan, and its ongoing support to PIDA infrastructure initiatives and PPP capacity-building across member states. During a special session on nuclear energy, Mr. Hailu presented analysis on economic and financial barriers to nuclear energy development in Africa and outlined potential policy pathways. The Ministerial Declaration formally approved the following ECA-led continental instruments: The Continental Energy Security Policy Framework and its recommendations The Continental Framework on Electric Mobility in Africa The Strategy for Strengthening the Resilience of Africa's Aviation Industry Ministers also issued a series of requests to continental institutions, placing ECA at the center of several key follow-up actions: The AUC, ECA, AFREC, AUDA-NEPAD, and RECs to support member states in implementing the Continental Energy Security Policy Framework; The AfDB, in collaboration with AFRAA and ECA, to develop specific financial measures to support the aviation industry; AFCAC, working with ICAO, AUC, ECA, AFRAA, Africa CDC and other aviation stakeholders, to develop a harmonized framework for rapid response in the aviation sector; AFREC and the AUC, in collaboration with AFCONE, ECA, the Nuclear Energy Agency, and RECs, to develop a continental framework and action plan for nuclear energy deployment for enhanced energy access, security, and development; AFREC, in collaboration with the AUC, ECA and partners, to coordinate implementation of the Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan (ETSAP) and support its domestication across member states for a just and inclusive transition; The AUC, AFREC, and ECA to support RECs in developing just energy transition frameworks aligned with the AU Common Position on energy access and transition ECA and the AUC, in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, AfDB, and the African Legal Support Facility, to establish and institutionalize a biannual PPP Forum for Africa for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and investment mobilization; AUDA-NEPAD, AUC, AfDB, ECA and relevant stakeholders to work with the African Social Security Association (ASSA) in developing the ASSA Infrastructure Fund for Africa, ensuring it is structured to effectively support key continental infrastructure and energy initiatives; All continental, regional and specialized institutions including AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, AFREC, ECA, AFCAC, AFCAO, AfDB and RECs, to accelerate mobilization of financial and technical resources for the implementation of continental transport, energy and infrastructure programmes. The outcomes of the 5th STC session mark a significant step in advancing Africa's infrastructure agenda and affirm ECA's role as a key technical and policy partner in shaping the continent's energy and transport future. 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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  Turning data into growth: strengthening tourism measurement to unlock investment and economic diversification in São tomé and Principe

  by eskinder.tsegaye on June 5, 2026

  5 June, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintSão Tomé, 5 June 2026 – Tourism is widely recognized as one of São Tomé and Príncipe’s most promising pathways to economic diversification. Yet realizing its full potential requires more than attractive destinations and growing visitor numbers. It requires a clear understanding of the sector’s real contribution to the economy. How much wealth does tourism generate? How many jobs does it support? Which investments does it attract? And where are the greatest opportunities for future growth? Without reliable answers to these questions, it becomes difficult to design effective policies, target investments and fully harness tourism as a driver of development. It is against this backdrop that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe and the United Nations Resident Coordination Office, is organizing a capacity-building workshop from 8 to 11 June 2026 on the processing and analysis of data collected through the national survey of tourism establishments. The workshop represents an important step in helping national institutions transform raw data into reliable evidence that can support policymaking, investment planning and long-term sector development. Over four days, participants will work directly with data collected from tourism establishments, strengthening their practical skills in data processing, statistical analysis and interpretation. The objective is not only to improve technical capacities, but also to ensure that tourism data can be translated into meaningful insights capable of guiding decisions and shaping future development priorities. The initiative also contributes to the completion of São Tomé and Príncipe’s Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA), the internationally recognized framework used to measure tourism’s contribution to economic activity, employment, investment and value creation. Once operational, the TSA will provide policymakers with a clearer picture of the sector’s economic footprint and its role in supporting national development. More broadly, the workshop forms part of a long-term effort to strengthen the country’s capacity to produce, analyze and use tourism economic data. The ambition is to build a sustainable national system capable of generating regular, internationally comparable data and supporting evidence-based decision-making over time. This work builds on ECA’s continued support to the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe in modernizing its tourism information system. Following assistance in designing the survey methodology and conducting data collection, ECA is now supporting the development of national expertise to analyse, interpret and make effective use of the information generated. "You cannot transform what you cannot measure. Understanding the real contribution of tourism to growth, jobs and investment is essential for designing effective policies and unlocking new opportunities for economic diversification. Better data lead to better decisions, and better decisions lay the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth," said Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of ECA’s Subregional Office for Central Africa. Reliable statistics are more than a technical asset. They help identify investment opportunities, assess sector performance, improve public policy effectiveness and strengthen investor confidence. For São Tomé and Príncipe, the stakes extend far beyond statistical production. The ability to measure tourism more accurately is also the ability to better promote its strengths, attract new investments and position the sector as a key pillar of economic diversification and sustainable growth. “Tourism is far more than a source of revenue. When properly measured and understood, it becomes a powerful catalyst for job creation, investment attraction and structural transformation. Our objective is to help São Tomé and Príncipe build the statistical foundations needed to make informed decisions today and unlock new opportunities for tomorrow,” concluded Jean Luc Mastaki. [Portuguese version] Media Contact Zacharie Roger MBARGA Communication Officer United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Yaoundé, Cameroon Email: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  African island states seek stronger credit ratings for climate and blue economy finance

  by eskinder.tsegaye on June 3, 2026

  3 June, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAddis Ababa, 3 June 2026 (ECA) — Experts, policymakers, and financial practitioners from across African Island States will gather in Mombasa on 12–13 June 2026 for a high-level workshop to enhance sovereign credit ratings and unlock access to sustainable climate and blue economy financing. Jointly organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Island States Coordination Committee (AISCC) under the theme “Unlocking pathways to resilience: reframing risk and enhancing credit ratings for sustainable financing in African Island States”, the workshopwill provide a platform to strengthen capacities in credit rating analysis, resource mobilization, and climate finance integration. It will be organised as a side event to Our Ocean Conference, scheduled for 16-18 June. African Island States face a unique combination of structural constraints, including small domestic markets, geographic isolation, and heightened exposure to external shocks and climate risks. These factors significantly influence sovereign credit ratings. These, in turn, determine the cost of borrowing and access to global capital markets and innovative financing instruments such as climate and blue bonds. The workshop will address critical challenges facing participating countries, including limited access to affordable long-term financing and the underrepresentation of climate vulnerability and resilience investments in credit rating assessments. It will also explore how countries can better communicate their economic and environmental strengths, including blue economy assets such as marine resources, sustainable tourism, and fisheries, to investors and rating agencies. Participants will engage in technical sessions and peer exchanges covering key areas such as sovereign rating methodologies, integration of climate resilience into macroeconomic frameworks, improvement of data systems, and alignment of debt management and climate finance strategies. The programme will also examine innovative financing tools, including sustainability-linked bonds, resilience clauses, and blended finance mechanisms. The AISCC, which brings together nine African Island States along with the Kingdom of Morocco as a founding partner, plays a critical role in advancing coordinated approaches to climate resilience, financial innovation, and sustainable development. By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to strengthen their understanding of rating agency methodologies, enhance coordination across ministries and central banks, and identify practical pathways to improve creditworthiness and mobilize resources more effectively. A set of actionable recommendations and a roadmap for sustained engagement with credit rating agencies and investors will be developed. The workshop will bring together representatives from Ministries of Finance, Ministries of Environment, Central Banks, and national stock exchanges from participating island states, fostering a whole-of-government approach to financing resilience and sustainable growth. For further information, please contact: Ms. Sonia Essobmadje Chief, Finance and Domestic Resource Mobilization Section United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Email: sonia.essobmadje@un.org Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  SADC launches landmark initiative to build sustainable energy transition mineral value chains

  by eskinder.tsegaye on June 3, 2026

  2 June, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintLusaka, Zambia, 2 June 2026 – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has many of the sought after critical energy transition minerals. Now a five-year regional project is working to retain the mineral wealth locally while promoting livelihoods and driving industrialization. The SADC region holds vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and platinum group metals which have for many years been exported  raw or semi processed, denying full developmental benefits to countries. A landmark initiative, the project, Fostering Environmentally and Socially Responsible, Decarbonized, Inclusive and Transformative Value Chains for Energy Transition Minerals in the SADC Region launched today in Lusaka is aimed at changing that. Opportunities for SADC region The project, supported financially by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and led by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with regional stakeholders, will be implemented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It will support the building of value chains that are environmentally responsible, inclusive and transformative. The project runs from March 2026 to February 2031. The stakes are high. With the rising global demand for critical energy transition minerals, the project seeks to promote the beneficiation of these resources at source to drive industrialisation and transformation, create sustainable jobs, enhance skills and support local enterprise development. “The SADC region is uniquely positioned to contribute to the global energy transition,” Dr. Hapenga M. Kabeta, Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, said adding that, “Our region is significantly endowed with strategic minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and rare earth elements. We have an opportunity not only to supply raw materials to the world but also to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs, foster innovation, and improve the livelihoods of our citizens.” Dr. Kabeta noted that while demand for critical minerals presented unprecedented opportunities, the region must address challenges related to beneficiation, environmental and social governance, and the inclusion and participation of local communities, women, youth and persons with disabilities. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Zambia cautioned that the mining and mineral processing of critical minerals should not undermine ecosystems and other natural resources. Instead, it should create opportunities for employment, local enterprise development, skills transfer, and transparent benefit sharing. “As we launch this project, I emphasize three priorities; responsible mineral development that protects the environment and safeguards communities;  value addition and green industrialisation that creates sustainable jobs, and inclusion of women, youth, local communities, persons with disabilities and civil society organisations in energy transition mineral value chains.” Realising these priorities require more than mining and collaboration. “No single country in the region possesses all the inputs required to develop complete value chains for energy transition minerals. Strong regional cooperation and partnerships are therefore essential to realising the full potential of the sector,” said Ms Eunice Kamwendo, ECA Director for Southern Africa. International Support for Equitable Development Representing the Government of Germany, Ms Verena Stöckigt, Counsellor and Head of Environmental Affairs and Climate Action at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa, reaffirmed Germany’s support for sustainable and responsible mineral development through the International Climate Initiative. “The mission of the International Climate Initiative is to promote the energy transition through the development of mineral value chains while ensuring that this is done in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” said Ms Stöckigt. She highlighted that the growing global demand for critical minerals driven by the transition to renewable energy technologies emphasised the need to ensure that mineral development delivers sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits. The five-year project is expected to contribute to the development of national and regional policy frameworks with strong ESG directions, strengthen environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight. Besides, the project will support climate and biodiversity initiatives and empower civil society and local communities to participate meaningfully in mineral governance. Furthermore, the project aligns with key continental and regional frameworks, including the Africa Mining Vision, the Africa Green Minerals Strategy, and the SADC Regional Mining Vision, while contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Participants at the launch expressed confidence that the project will help position the SADC region as a leading and trusted supplier of sustainable energy transition minerals while advancing industrialisation, climate resilience and inclusive economic growth. Contact Information For media inquiries: Busani Bafana Communications Consultant ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia Email: busani.bafana@gmail.com Lavender Degre Communications Officer ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia Email: lavender.degre@un.org Further information and queries on the meeting and related matters on the project should be addressed to: Godfridah Sitali Project Management Assistant ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia Email: Godfridah.sitali@un.org 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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  Energy, fertilizers and trade under pressure: ECA calls for bold regional action in Central Africa

  by minilik.demissie on June 2, 2026

  28 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintYaoundé, 28 May 2026 (ECA) – The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could fundamentally reshape global energy, logistics and industrial dynamics, with particularly severe implications for Central African economies. This was the key message emerging from the high-level webinar organized by the Subregional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) under the theme: “The Middle East war and its implications in Central Africa.” Bringing together government officials, experts from regional economic communities, academics, financial institutions and private sector actors, the discussions highlighted the growing complexity of a crisis now widely recognized as multidimensional spanning energy security, food systems, geopolitics, industrial development and regional stability. Opening the discussions, the Director of ECA’s Subregional Office for Central Africa stressed the urgent need for the subregion to move beyond short-term responses and embrace a collective vision for economic sovereignty and strategic transformation. “Central Africa possesses all the assets required to become a major energy, metallurgical, agricultural and green growth powerhouse. The subregion holds nearly 65 per cent of Africa’s energy resources and around 25 per cent of the continent’s water resources. Yet without stronger regional integration and local value addition, these resources will continue to fuel the economies of other continents.” Participants underscored the increasing geopolitical complexity of the conflict. In his keynote presentation, Adama Ekberg Coulibaly, Chief of the Subregional Initiatives Section at the ECA Subregional Office for Central Africa, recalled that the Middle East accounts for nearly 48 per cent of proven global oil reserves and close to 40 per cent of global natural gas reserves, making the region the epicenter of global energy tensions. At the centre of global concerns lies the Strait of Hormuz; a strategic maritime corridor through which nearly 20 million barrels of oil transit every day, representing close to 25 per cent of global seaborne oil trade, alongside a significant share of global fertilizer and gas shipments. Any prolonged disruption in this critical passage would automatically trigger major shockwaves across global energy, fertilizer and maritime transport markets. According to experts, the impacts are already being felt across Central Africa. Since the escalation of the conflict, international prices for hydrocarbons, gas and fertilizers have risen sharply, placing growing pressure on public finances and economic stability. Data presented during the webinar showed that some global fertilizer price indices have reached historic highs, at times exceeding USD 1,600 per tonne across certain market segments. According to Abdelmadjid Attar, senior expert and former Algerian Minister of Hydrocarbons, the crisis above all exposes the structural vulnerability of African economies to external dependencies. “Africa is not merely witnessing a distant conflict. It is directly experiencing the consequences of a global system in which energy, food, logistics and financial supply chains are deeply interconnected.” He warned of compounded risks including slower economic growth, imported inflation, widening trade deficits and rising social pressures across several countries in the subregion. Paradoxically, speakers also emphasized that the crisis could represent a historic opportunity to accelerate Central Africa’s structural transformation. For Adama Ekberg Coulibaly, the region must now position itself as: “an essential hub for energy, logistics and green solutions, as well as a strategic manufacturing base capable of locally transforming critical minerals and strategic products.” He further stressed the importance of treating hydrocarbons not merely as export commodities, but as strategic instruments for regional integration, industrialization and economic resilience. Participants called for ambitious and coordinated regional responses, including: the development of integrated regional value chains in hydrocarbons, fertilizers and agricultural products; investments in regional refineries and strategic storage infrastructure; the establishment of next-generation special economic zones focused on industrial transformation; accelerated development of transport corridors and logistics infrastructure; industrial upgrading within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); and the creation of a permanent regional platform for strategic foresight and crisis anticipation. “We must seize this crisis as an opportunity to reposition Central African economies onto a path of transformation, innovation and sustainable growth,” concluded Jean Luc Mastaki. 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