Economic Commission for Africa

The SADC region must seize the mineral moment to supply the world’s energy transition minerals & power its economic & social transformation through the abundant critical energy transition minerals” - Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary, ECA

SADC
United Nations in Zambia
UN in Ethiopia

🌍 Registration is now open for ADIF 2026!
🔹 Africa Development Impact Forum
🔸 Theme: Best Practices and Innovative Solutions for Job Creation in Africa
📅 11–12 June 2026
📍 United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Join us to move from dialogue to action, policy to impact, and evidence to scalable job-creation solutions.

Register: https://indico.un.org/event/1019394/registrations/26415/

🌍 Africa’s young people are working, innovating and shaping the continent’s future. The focus now is on ensuring national youth policies keep pace with their ambition.
In this new blog, ECA’s Senior Social Policy Advisor Jalal Abdel-Latif reflects on our new initiative designed to help countries turn youth policies into real livelihood opportunities for young people across Africa.

🔗 Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/4vbnPXx

🌍 From Baku to the Continent: ECA at the World Urban Forum 13
At WUF13 in Baku, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, ECA stood at the forefront of Africa's urban development agenda — as a convener, technical partner, and champion of the continent's collective voice.
At the Africa Ministerial Meeting, we delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Executive Secretary alongside UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach and the African Union Commission, reaffirming ECA's commitment to the Nairobi Declaration and the African Urban Position.
We also convened a side event; "United for Change: Translating Africa's Urban Position into Transformative Actions", which brought together the AUC, UN-Habitat, the Government of Kenya 🇰🇪, the Mayor of Harare, and the City Manager of Nakuru to discuss actionable pathways for Africa's cities.

Key themes discussed:
✅ Local governance & decentralization
✅ Municipal finance & investment readiness
✅ Digital transformation for African cities
✅ Climate-resilient & affordable housing
Africa's urbanization is not just a challenge, it is a historic opportunity for structural transformation, economic growth, and shared prosperity. ECA is committed to ensuring Africa speaks with one, evidence-based voice on the global stage. 🏙️

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-, 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦-𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 : 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐢, 𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐬, 𝐌𝐨𝐳𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞, 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐚, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚

How can science, technology, and innovation help MSMEs reach their potential in Southern Africa? This new publication by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Subregional office for Southern Africa, offers timely insights into opportunities, challenges, and policies shaping innovation-driven trade and industrialisation in the region.

The report explores:
🔹 The role of MSMEs in economic transformation and job creation
🔹 Digital innovation and technology adoption trends
🔹 Access to finance, markets, and energy challenges
🔹 Innovation ecosystems, incubators, and regional trade opportunities
🔹 Country case studies and practical policy recommendations

This publication is a valuable contribution to advancing inclusive growth, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Africa.

Discover more by accessing the publication and join the conversation on how technology can drive growth for MSMEs in Southern Africa!

📖 Publication available here: https://www.uneca.org/unlocking-growth-technology-and-innovation-among-micro-%2C-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-in



United Nations in Zambia
UN in Ethiopia
University Of Eswatini
University of Zambia Business and Economics Association - UNZABECA
The University of Zambia -UNZA

Driving Ethiopia into a cleaner, smarter, and electric future

Highlights from the Launch of the Ethiopia E-Mobility Strategy 2025–2030 at Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a bold step toward sustainable transport, green innovation, and Africa’s climate-resilient future.

Happy Africa Day.
Today, ECA joins all Africans in celebrating the spirit, resilience and promise of our continent. Africa’s strength lies in its people, its diversity, its youthful energy and its shared determination to build a more prosperous, integrated and sustainable future.
As we mark this day, let us renew our commitment to accelerating economic transformation, deepening regional integration, advancing the AfCFTA, and investing in our women and youth.
Africa’s future is not a distant aspiration. It is being shaped now through our collective action, ambition and unity.
Happy Africa Day to all Africans, on the continent and across the diaspora.

🌍 Registration is now open for the 2026 Africa Development Impact Forum!
Theme: Best Practices and Innovative Solutions for Job Creation in Africa
📅 11–12 June 2026
📍 United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Join us to move from dialogue to action, policy to impact, and evidence to scalable job-creation solutions.

Register: https://indico.un.org/event/1019394/registrations/26415/

Workshop on the Launch of the Ethiopia E-Mobility Strategy (2025–2030)
Date: 25 May 2026
Time: 09:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Venue: Conference Room 2 (CR2), United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
This workshop, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics (MoTL) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) ), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), will bring together government institutions, development partners, private sector actors, academia, and civil society to officially launch the Ethiopia E-Mobility Strategy (2025–2030).
The discussions will focus on presenting the strategy’s priorities and implementation roadmap, sharing best practices in electric mobility, exploring opportunities and challenges for scaling e-mobility in Ethiopia, and identifying concrete actions to mobilize partnerships and investment for effective implementation.
For in-person participation, registration is required in advance to access the UNECA premises.
We kindly invite you to reserve this date in your calendar.

Click here for more 👉 https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/workshop-launch-ethiopia-e-mobility-strategy-2025-2030