UN Economic and Social Commission for Africa

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as 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. Made up of 54 member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. ECA’s strength derives from its role as the only UN agency mandated to operate at the regional and subregional levels to harness resources and bring them to bear on Africa's priorities. ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions: 1. Advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; 2. Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; 3. Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; 4. Contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; and 5. Advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.