Delivering as One: UN organizations discuss how to help Africa achieve MDGs
ECA Press Release No. 62/2009
Addis Ababa, 5 November (ECA): The broad effects of climate change and the global financial crisis have overshadowed the impressive economic growth rates brought by prudent macroeconomic policies, improved governance and private sector reforms in many African countries, UN Deputy Secretary -General, Asha-Rose Migiro today in Addis Ababa today.

Address by Ms. Asha Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary General of the UN
10th Session of Regional Coordination Mechanism of United Nations Agencies and Organizations Working in Africa in Support of the African Union and its NEPAD Programme
05 November 2009

The next session of the West Africa Intergovernmental Committee of Experts to focus on food security
ECA Press Release No. 61/2009
Niamey, 05 November, 2009 (ECA) – The Twelfth Session of the West Africa Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) will be held on 12 and 13 November, 2009 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The Session, to be held under the theme, “Food Security in West Africa”, will examine ways and means of dealing with the economic and social challenges posed in the subregion by economic and food crises.

Health experts agree on steps for achieving Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria services
ECA Press Release No. 60/2009
Addis Ababa, 02 November 2009 (ECA) - About 50 experts in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria who met here last week at the 3rd inter-agency meeting on coordination and harmonization of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Strategies, have agreed on broad steps for the final push for action for achieving the Abuja Call for Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services by 2010.

African Countries Must be Mindful of the Trade and Environment Linkages in Policy Making, says ECA’s Official at the Third Forum for Development in North Africa
ECA Press Release No. 59/2009
Rabat, 30 October 2009 (ECA) -“Environmental policies and the related regulations on quality control could potentially affect exports competitiveness and export promotion strategies in African countries”, warned Ms.  Amal Nagah Elbeshbishi, Regional Adviser on Trade at the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). She was addressing the third Forum for Development in North Africa, which is taking place from 29 to 31 October 2009 in Rabat, Morocco.

South Africa elected chair of the Bureau of the 6th Session of Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development
ECA Press Release No. 58/2009
Addis Ababa, 27 October 2009 (ECA) - African countries attending the Sixth Session of the Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development (CFSSD-6) have elected South Africa as the Chair of its Bureau and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the First Chair for 2009/2010 as the Committee’s meeting opened today in Addis Ababa.

Statement by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD +15) Ministerial Conference
23 October 2009, Addis Ababa

Africa Calls For a Fair, Inclusive, Effective and Equitable New Agreement in Copenhagen
ECA Press Release No. 56/2009
Addis Ababa/Nairobi, 23 October 2009 - Africa should be equitably compensated, in the context of environmental justice, for environmental resources, economic and social loses considering developed countries historical responsibilities on climate change. In this respect, Africa requires new, sustained and scaled-up finance, technology and capacity for adaptation and risk management.

Population and Development Ministers Recommit to Full Implementation of ICPD Programme of Action
ECA Press Release No. 55/2009
Addis Ababa, 23 October 2009 (ECA) – African ministers responsible for population and development have re-committed themselves to fully implement the 20-year Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD PoA) by the time it expires in five years.

African civil society organizations demand to be given a bigger role in regional evaluation reviews
ECA Press Release No. 54/2009
Addis Ababa 22 October 2009 (ECA) – In a statement issued on the second day of the ICPD+15 expert meeting gathered in Addis Abeba to review progress achieved in the implementation of ICPD Plan of Action, members of the civil society attending the meeting made a number of observations and recommendations for the improvement of the final phase of implementation of ICPD Programme of Action (PoA).

Good Governance is Everyone’s Responsibility, ECA Official Says
ECA Press Release No. 53/2009
Addis Ababa 21 October 2009 (ECA) – Good governance in Africa is everyone’s job, not just the compliers of reports or even government officials, a governance expert said.
“The burden is upon all of us to claim ownership of this report,” said Mr. Said Adejumobi, chief of the Public Administration Section of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.  “So go ahead, take it! It’s yours!”

Africa must accelerate efforts to achieve social and human development goals, ECA committee concludes
ECA Press Release No. 50/2009
Addis Ababa, 19 October 2009 (ECA) - Experts attending the inaugural meeting of the ECA Committee on Human & Social Development ended their meeting today with a commitment to scale up efforts to accelerate progress toward the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the Plan of Action of International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Africa. There is an urgency in light of the slow rate of progress of in social development in Africa, with just 5 years to the end date of ICPD and 6 years to the 2015 target date for the MDGs.

Delegates from 26 African countries conclude gender and climate change sensitization training
ECA Press Release No. 49/2009
Addis Ababa, 19 October 2009 (ECA) -Delegates from 26 African countries, plus Canada, Jamaica and Philippines, today in Addis Ababa concluded a three-day sensitization training on gender and climate change, resolving to put necessary pressure on political leaders and African lead negotiators to integrate gender issues in climate change negotiations ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Africa Climate Change Talks Enter Decisive Week as Lead Negotiators and High Level Experts Gather to Refine Climate Platform and Position Towards Copenhagen
ECA Press Release No. 48/2009
Addis Ababa/Nairobi, 19 October 2009 - About 150 African lead negotiators and high level experts on climate change from all African countries gather for their Second Technical Meeting in Addis Ababa to map out the region’s climate platform, barely 44 days before the crucial negotiations in Copenhagen.

United Nations Ethiopia Staff Stand Up Against Poverty
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 16 October 2009 -- More than 300 members of the United Nations staff in Ethiopia took a stand against poverty during the annual “Stand Up and Take Action” event.

The Second African Governance Report shows marginal progress and urges for scaled up efforts
ECA Press Release No. 47/2009
Addis Ababa, 16 October 2009 (ECA) - African countries have made marginal progress of an average of 2% in the core areas of governance over the last 4 years , says   the second edition of the African Governance Report (AGR II) released recently by the Economic Commission for Africa.

Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) Seminar on Transnational Trafficking and Political Instability in Africa
Addis Ababa, 16 October 2009 (ECA) -The Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) is convening a seminar on "Transnational Trafficking and Political Instability in Africa"in Abuja, Nigeria, on 22-23 October 2009, in partnership with the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

African Governments Urged to Recommit to People-Centred   Development 
Joint Press Release No. 46/2009
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 13 October 2009 – With the deadline of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) close at hand, African governments need to recommit to pushing forward policies that address population and other critical social development issues, especially the health and rights of African women, a review report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) states.

African experts to address the low level of implementation of regional integration initiatives on the continent
ECA Press Release No. 45/2009
Addis Ababa, 13 October 2009 (ECA) - The Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration (CTRI)-a subsidiary body of the Economic Commission for Africa- opened its 6th session today in Addis with calls to fast track the effective implementation of regional integration instruments at national level.

Experts to formulate strategies for mainstreaming Africa’s regional integration agenda at national level
ECA Press Release No. 44/2009
Addis Ababa, 09 October 2009 (ECA) - Senior officials from African countries and experts representing pan-African institutions and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) will convene next week in Addis Ababa to devise strategies to translate commitments to regional integration into concrete actions at national level. Discussions will be held under the framework of the sixth Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration (CTRI) which is being organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 13 to 15 October 2009.

"The e-SADC initiative launch meeting” opens in Gaborone, Botswana, 05-06 October 2009
Addis Ababa, 06 October, 2009 ( ECA) - eSADC is a joint United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative. Twenty-five participants drawn from NICI National Focal Points from eight SADC member States, Southern African Postal Operators’ Association (SAPOA), Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA), Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), NEPAD e-Africa Commission, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and e-SADC consultants are attending a two-day technical meeting to launch the e-SADC initiative - a framework for the implementation of the Information Society in the sub-region at the Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana. The member States in attendance are Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

ECA’s work on sustainable development in line with Africa’s priority, says Dione
Addis Ababa, 01 October, 2009 ( ECA) - The Director of Food and Sustainable Development Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Josue Dione said today in Addis Ababa that the Commission’s work, especially in land policy, agriculture and climate change, were in line with the most serious development challenges faced by Africa.

Joint Press Release:   UNCTAD and UNECA Subregional Office for Eastern Africa
Press Release No. 43/2009
Kigali, 28 September 2009 (UNCTAD/UNECA): “Although external assistance will continue to play an essential role in Africa’s development, a focus on domestic resources to meet the medium- to long‑term development needs of African countries is justified” outlines the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’ s policy Handbook on Enhancing the Role of Domestic Financial Resources in Africa’s Development.  The launching of the handbook took place on Monday, 28 September 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda during a ceremony jointly organized by UNCTAD in collaboration with the ECA Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa (UNECA/SRO-EA).

African Women Professionals Asked to Submit CVs for Compendium
Press Release No. 42/2009
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15 September 2009 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) along with the African Union (AU) are seeking curriculum vitae (CVs) from African  women professionals.

ECA Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa and ICGLR Joint Press Communiqué 
Press Release No. 41/2009
Bujumbura, 14 September 2009 - The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in collaboration with the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Office of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is organising a Workshop for Partners on the Feasibility and Implementation of the Joint Program on Food Security in Eastern Africa, in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 14 to 15 September 2009. The Partners include the ICGLR, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community for the Great Lakes Region (CEPGL).   

Meeting Concludes with a Firm Strategy on Future Negotiations on the Doha Round.
ECA Press Release No. 40/2009
Nairobi, 08 September 2009 (ECA) - The African Group of trade negotiators and experts concluded their two-day meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday 8th September with a firm commitment to work towards the resolution of the Doha Round of trade negotiations by the end of next year.  However, the group cautioned that even though deadlines are important, the negotiations will remain content driven, rather than time driven.

ECA hosts special session on Africa’s climate change concerns and expectations
ECA Press Release No. 39/2009
Addis Ababa, 01 September 2009 (ECA) - About 100 experts and stakeholders from Africa and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries will hold a one-day high level session of the Africa Partnership Forum (APF) on September 3 in Addis Ababa to reinforce the concerns and expectations of Africa on climate change as global negotiations continue towards a new agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

The 57th Session of the International Statistical Institute Concludes in Durban to Resounding Acclaim.
Addis Ababa, 26 August 2009 (ECA) - The 57th Session of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) 2009 concluded in Durban South Africa on the 22nd August to widespread acclaim from the statistical fraternity.  The session lasted from 16th August and was held in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time in the institutes 124 year history.

ECA Sub-Regional Office for East Africaand the Government of Rwanda Launch Three Economic Reports.
Kigali, 18 August 2009 (ECA) -The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Sub-Regional Office for East Africa (SRO-EA), in collaboration with the government of the Republic of Rwanda jointly launched three economic reports in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday 14 August.

ECA to Host International GIS Conference
Addis Ababa, 12 August 2009 (ECA) - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Society of Ethiopia and ESRI Eastern Africa, is organizing the Fourth Annual ESRI Users Conference taking place for the first time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 24- 25 September this year. 

Promoting agro-industry in Africa is essential for development – experts.
Addis Ababa, 23 July 2009 (ECA) -A group of experts meeting at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have called for the promotion of agro-businesses as an essential element to Africa’s industrialization efforts.
:: Opening Remarks by Dr. Josue Dioné, Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division (FSSDD), ECA

ECA and its partners building ICT measurement capacity in Africa
Addis Ababa, 13 July 2009 (ECA) - A two-week training course on “Measuring ICT Use and Access in Households and Business” opened in Addis Ababa today to build the capacity of African National Statistical Offices (NSOs) in measuring ICTs.

Seminar to promote road safety in Africa as a development priority
Addis Ababa, 8 July 2009, (ECA)- Road traffic deaths and injuries are rising.  Africa records 28 deaths on the road per 100,000 populations, the highest in the world and yet road safety is not considered as a sustainable development issue.

Conference Calls for an Emphasis on Knowledge for Development in Africa.
ECA Press Release No. 37/2009
Addis Ababa, 01 July 2009 (ECA) - The Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ms Lalla Ben Barka, has called for the promotion of knowledge as an essential element in the development process.

International Experts Meet on Improving Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems in Africa
Addis Ababa, 01 July 2009 (ECA) - Few countries in Africa and Asia have complete civil registration systems. The Working Group on Monitoring Vital events has called this “A scandal of Invisibility” because “Most people in Africa and Asia are born and die without leaving a trace in any legal record or official statistics.

Experts adopt report calling for increased productivity and competitiveness.
ECA Press Release No. 36/2009
Lusaka, 25 June 2009 (ECA) – Experts called on Southern African governments to adopt innovative ways of increasing productivity and improving business competitiveness. The call was made in the final report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts meeting of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Southern Africa office, which closed in Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday 25 June.

Current crisis could wash away years of achievements, says new report
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 June 2009 (ECA) - The 2009 edition of the African Economic Outlook (AEO) was launched at the UNECA Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning with renewed warning that the results of 8 years of economic growth in Africa could be entirely consumed by the current global downturn.

Conference of Ministers of Finance Opens in Cairo with a Call to Use Economic Crisis to Reshape Policies
Joint AU/ECA Press Release
Cairo 7 June 2009 – A good crisis should not go unexploited, and Africa should exploit the current crisis to reshape its dealings with the outside world, reshape African policies towards its poor, and reshape the continent's potential for future growth.

Ethiopia-based UN Staff Learn to be prepared for Influenza A H1N1
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 19 May 2009 (ECA) – Ethiopia-based UN Staff learned about measures being taken to protect themselves and their families against the Influenza A H1N1 pandemic should it occur here, during a Town Hall meeting, on Tuesday 19 May 2009.

African Ministers of Finance to Meet in Cairo to discuss Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Africa
ECA Press Release No. 25/2009
Addis Ababa, 18 May 2009 (ECA) - African ministers of finance, planning and economic development will meet in Cairo, Egypt from 6 to 7 June 2009, to discuss measures for dealing with the global economic crisis.

Private Business Investment Key to Economic Success - UNECA Official
ECA Press Release No. 14/2008
Addis Ababa, 05 March 2009 (ECA) - The private sector is the most important vehicle for economic growth and regional integration, the Director of NEPAD and Regional Integration Division at the United Nations Commission for Africa told participants at the 5 th African World Business Congress (AWBC) and the 1 st IGAD Investment Forum 2009 (IIF), which ended here today.

Climate Change and Aid for Trade Dominate ECA Partners Forum
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 February 2009 – Despite not having contributed to the global problem of climate change, Africa is suffering the most from its effects and the industrialized countries should assist the continent to manage the fall out, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Economic Commission on Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh said.

High transport costs, bribery, long delays impede intra-African trade - report
Walvis Bay, Namibia 26 February 2009 – It is not just h igh transport costs that impede intra-regional and external trade in the Africa sub-region; bribery and long delays on the trade corridors are also hampering factors, according to the conclusions of a trade facilitation workshop on the promotion of intra-African trade, which ended in Walvis Bay, Namibia on 26 February 2009.

ECA Holds Expert Meeting Assessing Anti-Corruption Efforts Across Africa
ECA Press Release No. 02/2009
Addis Ababa, 30 January 2009 (ECA) – As part of its anti-corruption programme, the Governance and Public Administration Division (GPAD) will hold a meeting of anti-corruption officials, assessing how well the national anti-corruption institutions in Africa are working.