Foreword

As we approach the new millennium, hopes are high that Africa can emerge from the stagnation and crises that have characterized much of its post-inde-pendence era. The emerging vision of a future Africa is of a continent that stands proudly alongside its global trading partners and sustains economic growth, a continent where access to health care is a given, where education is universal, where economic stability is a human right, and where poverty in all its manifestations is sharply reduced within the coming three decades.

This vision of an African renaissance is not a mirage. Tangible and encouraging progress has  been made by many countries in reforming their econo-mies, and in putting in place the right  policies and structures to ensure equitable growth and reduce poverty. Many of the interstate and inter-nal conflicts that for so long undercut development are on the decline although new disputes as well as the stubborn persistence of some long-standing hostilities serve to remind us that much more effort is needed in peace building.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) remains optimistic about the future prospects of the continent. As a member of the United Nations family, and at the same time an integral part of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well-placed to foster Africa’s renaissance, both by enhancing the coherence and coordination of the UN’s work in Africa and by delivering core services. Having reoriented itself to serve Africa better, ECA embarked upon a programmatic and administrative reform process in 1996. In light of these reforms, and given the new optimism about the continent’s development prospects, the time is right to alert the Commission’s stakeholders as to its strategic role and its efforts to optimize that role.

This publication is one step in that direction. In it, we articulate the vision that the overarching objective of every development intervention in Africa is the reduction of poverty. The challenges to which ECA is geared to respond are not only driven by this objective. They are, in and of themselves, integrally interlinked. As such, the relevance of the Commission’s work is firmly rooted in and the programme components clearly emanate from these challenges. At ECA, we are fully aware that no single development actor possesses the means or the comparative advantage to tackle the gamut of activities that need to be undertaken.

This is why the approach we have developed in identifying these specific services, as well as the associated modalities for partnership and implementation, are predicated on selectivity and leveraging  of the Commission’s comparative advantage. It is against this background that the publication spells out ECA’s role in Africa and how the Commission’s new programmatic focus responds to the prevailing challenges. It highlights some of the work that the Commission is engaged in, as well as the important partnerships we have already forged while carrying out our mission. It also explains how ECA relates to other UN agencies and African governments and institutions. FinThe Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa) for a more holistic ap-proach to Africa’s development, an approach supported by mutually reinforcing partnerships among development cooperation agencies partnerships in which African institutions and governments take the lead in defining priorities.

ECA’s new approach is underpinned by the credo that effective, high-impact developmental work in Africa can only be achieved through concrete and sustained partnerships. With this in mind, we are keen to work with partners within the UN system as well as beyond it in the private sector and civil society and with bilateral and multilateral donors to advance Africa’s development objectives. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you.

K.Y. Amoako
Under-Secretary-General, United Nations and
Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa