United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

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Acronym: ECA

Established: 1958

Address: Menelik II Ave., P.O. Box 3001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Website: https://www.uneca.org/

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is one of the UN’s five regional commissions. ECA’s mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. ECA also provides technical advisory services to African governments, intergovernmental organisations and institutions. In addition, it formulates and promotes development assistance programmes and acts as the executing agency for relevant operational projects.

The Commission provides specialised regional advisory services and meaningful capacity development support to member states in the following areas: promotion of industrialisation, design and implementation of macroeconomic policy, design and articulation of development planning, supporting mineral resources contract negotiations, promoting the proper management of natural resources for Africa’s transformation.

ECA’s activities in the area of innovation and technology are focused on assisting African countries in the formulation, adoption and implementation of new technology and innovation policies that will help them accelerate the development processes. 

ECA is one of the key organisations behind the African Internet Governance Forum, and it hosted the Secretariat of the Forum between 2011 and 2014.