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

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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

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  Can Africa break the cycle of crisis and recovery?

  by eskinder.tsegaye on June 2, 2026

  1 June, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAddis Ababa, 1 June 2026 (ECA) - Having weathered three major global shocks in just six years, African economies have had no shortage of lessons. Yet many of the vulnerabilities exposed by those crises remain unresolved. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 exposed deep dependence on imported pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Then, in 2022, the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted grain and fertilizer markets, sending food and transport costs soaring across much of the continent. Now, the Iran conflict is once again disrupting energy and fertilizer markets, trade routes, and supply chains, exposing Africa's continued vulnerability in an increasingly unstable global economy. Concerns are growing not only about the human cost of the war, but also about its economic consequences. Oil prices have surged, aviation routes have been disrupted, and uncertainty around global trade is once again putting pressure on fuel, food, and transport costs. Disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important corridors for oil, gas, and fertilizer exports, are fueling fears of a wider global economic slowdown. Economists warn that if oil prices remain above $100 a barrel for a prolonged period, the world could face another global recession. The United Nations is also warning of a growing humanitarian toll. “When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world's poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned. He added that prolonged disruption could push 32 million more people into poverty and leave 45 million facing extreme hunger, particularly among the world's most vulnerable populations. African countries are among the most vulnerable to such disruptions, largely because of the continent's dependence on critical imports. Roughly 80 per cent of African countries are net importers of refined petroleum products, while sub-Saharan Africa imports nearly 80 per cent of its fertilizer needs. As a result, disruptions spread quickly across economies. Rising fuel prices drive up transport costs, while fertilizer shortages threaten agricultural production in countries already grappling with inflation and food insecurity. Governments across Africa are responding with a range of measures, including fuel subsidies, public transport initiatives, and efforts to strengthen energy security and fertilizer supply. Airlines are also facing mounting pressure. According to the International Air Transport Association, global jet fuel prices nearly doubled during the height of the conflict. Fuel now accounts for between 30 and 55 per cent of operating costs for some African airlines, well above the global average of 20 to 30 per cent. Passengers are also on the receiving end of those higher costs. "Because of fuel surcharges, which have increased between 20 and 50 per cent across airlines, we've seen ticket prices rise by anywhere from 20,000 to 100,000 birr," says Iman Durri, Deputy General Manager of Safeway Travel & Tours PLC. As conflict disrupts air travel through parts of the Middle East, some passengers shifted to African transit hubs, particularly Addis Ababa and Nairobi. Maureen Kahonge, Director of Communications at the African Airlines Association, says about 22 per cent of intra-African air traffic normally transits through hubs outside the continent. The disruption has “drawn greater attention to African hubs as transit points for passengers travelling between Africa and the rest of the world.” Global shipping routes have also been severely affected. With disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and parts of the Red Sea, some cargo vessels have been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding both time and cost to global trade. ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete says the current crisis, despite its challenges, presents an opportunity to accelerate efforts to strengthen regional value chains and reduce dependence on external supply chains. "Talking to member countries about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and how to implement it becomes much easier because they have seen what is likely to happen if you don't do it," says Mr Gatete. Africa, he argues, already has many of the resources and market opportunities needed to begin reducing its reliance on imported fuel and fertilizer. He points to the Dangote refinery in Nigeria, Morocco's phosphate reserves, and the AfCFTA operationalization as examples of how the continent can strengthen regional value chains and build greater resilience to future shocks. Mr Gatete also argues that crises tend to accelerate reforms that would otherwise struggle to gain momentum. One lesson from recent years is that business as usual until the next crisis hits is not a sustainable path for Africa. Whether it comes in the form of a pandemic, a war, or an energy shock, countries with stronger domestic financial resources, industrial capacity, efficient transport networks, and deeper regional integration are better positioned to absorb the impact. For Africa, that places renewed focus on implementation, from the AfCFTA and regional transport links to investments in refining, manufacturing, and logistics.
 The next global shock may come from a different part of the world. Will Africa be better prepared when it does? Watch our latest episode of the Sustainable Africa Series for more insights. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  Chad joins Africa’s unified data governance and AI readiness movement for a trusted digital future

  by eskinder.tsegaye on May 29, 2026

  21 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintN’Djamena, Chad, 21 May 2026 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digitalization of Administration of the Republic of Chad, and with the support of the European Union and GIZ-AU, has concluded a series of national engagements to support the development of Chad’s National Data Governance Strategy. Held in N’Djamena from 13 to 21 May 2026, the activities brought together a broad range of stakeholders from government and other sectors, including the Office of the President and Prime Minister, the National Assembly, the Court of Auditors, sectoral ministries, and key digital governance institutions from the Office of the President of the Republic, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Assembly, sectoral ministries, and key national institutions including telecommunications regulation, cybersecurity and electronic certification, ICT development, national statistics, and secure identity management, academia, and development organizations. As part of the process, a national assessment mission conducted from 13 to 15 May reviewed Chad’s existing legal, institutional, and technical data governance landscape. This was followed by the Capacity Building Programme held from 18 to 20 May 2026, which convened 45 participants and focused on strengthening national capacities in key areas of data governance, including governance frameworks, data policy development, data protection, digital infrastructure, data sharing, and the public value of data. As part of the broader partnership between the ECA and Google, the programme also featured the introduction of the Government AI Campus, a free learning platform aimed at equipping public officials with practical AI knowledge and skills. Participating officials further engaged in an AI Readiness Assessment exercise to help identify existing capacities, institutional gaps, and priority areas for future support and national-level AI capacity building for public servants. To conclude the first phase of the national strategy development roadmap, a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop was held on 21 May 2026 to deliberate on the preliminary findings of the country assessment and contribute to the development of a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable data governance framework for Chad. Discussions focused on key national priorities, including strengthening governance frameworks, advancing secure and resilient digital infrastructure, and reinforcing data protection, interoperability, and institutional capacity. The workshop was officially opened with remarks delivered by Agnès Kovacs, First Secretary of the European Union Delegation to Chad; Samir Felich, First Counsellor at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany; Sonia Essobmadje, representing ECA; and Mahamat Saleh Brahim Salah, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digitalization of Administration. Speaking on behalf of ECA, Sonia Essobmadje underscored the strategic importance of data governance in advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda. “The stakeholder engagement workshop on data governance in Chad marks an important step forward in building a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable national data governance framework. It also reflects a collective commitment to positioning data as a strategic lever for digital transformation, public sector efficiency, and sustainable development,” stated Sonia Essobmadje. ECA further emphasized that the series of engagements is designed to complement the strategy development roadmap, strengthening stakeholder readiness from inception through to validation and supporting the effective operationalization of Chad’s evolving data governance agenda. This initiative marks an important milestone toward strengthening Chad’s digital sovereignty and promoting a secure, inclusive, and trusted digital ecosystem aligned with continental and global digital governance priorities. For more information ECA Supporting Chad in Developing a National Data Governance Strategy to Advance the AU Data Policy Framework Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org

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  ECA launches regional initiative to accelerate women’s digital entrepreneurship across four African countries

  by eskinder.tsegaye on May 29, 2026

  29 May, 2026Share this:facebooktwitteremailprintAddis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25 May 2026 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division (TICID), has officially launched a regional project titled “Fostering Digital Entrepreneurship Among Women in Africa”, aimed at strengthening women’s participation in the digital economy across Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Namibia, and the Republic of Congo. The initiative responds to persistent structural barriers limiting women entrepreneurs’ access to digital skills, financial services, and online markets, while also addressing gaps in enabling policy and regulatory environments. It adopts a dual-track approach that simultaneously empowers women entrepreneurs and strengthens the capacity of policymakers to design inclusive and gender-responsive digital ecosystems. The project is expected to directly benefit over 1,000 women entrepreneurs through digital literacy and financial management training, alongside more than 200 policymakers and government officials engaged in capacity-building workshops and regional policy dialogue. Across the four participating countries, the initiative will deliver eight national workshops, one regional training programme, a dedicated online learning module, and targeted study tours designed to strengthen practical skills, policy frameworks, and regional knowledge exchange. A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a multi-stakeholder coordination taskforce during a virtual kick-off held on May 18th, bringing together departments from across the ECA. The task force will ensure coordinated implementation, knowledge sharing, and alignment with national priorities across all participating countries, in close collaboration with implementing UN entities and national counterparts. The taskforce also convened a technical follow-up meeting to discuss the way forward, and emphasized the importance of context-specific implementation, taking into account the socio-economic realities of the selected countries, as well as gender and youth considerations. They further underscored the importance of prioritizing the first activity under the project, a comprehensive assessment study to be conducted in each country over the next six months. Implemented over a four-year period, the project is expected to achieve its intended results by 2029 as part of ECA’s broader efforts to promote inclusive digital transformation in Africa’s digital economy. By supporting women entrepreneurs and strengthening enabling policy environments, the initiative aims to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development across the continent. Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org