THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
ECA
EASTERN AFRICA SUBREGIONAL OFFICE (EA/SRO)
1. What is the Economic Commission for Africa and when was it founded ?
The ECA was founded in 1958 (five years before OAU). It is part of the UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT and one of the five regional commissions established by the United Nations to assist in promoting cooperation for economic development in the five continents (ESCAP in South East Asia and the Pacific; ECWA in the middle East; ECLAC in Latin America; ECE in Europe).
The East Africa Subregional Office is a Subregional office of the ECA and is based in Kigali (EA/SRO).
2. What does the ECA do?
The ECA work focuses on five major strategic directions :
(i) The promotion of regional cooperation and integration by
a. Promoting the development and efficient utilization of infrastructures in areas such as transport, communication and energy.
b. Facilitation of intra-regional trade
c. Promoting investments towards increased production of goods and services to be traded
d. Harmonizing macro-economic and sectoral policies among members of subregional groupings.
e. Promoting institutional arrangements for the economic cooperation and integration (COMESA, CEPGL, OBK, EAC)
(ii) Assist in the formulation of economic and social policies through
a. Socio-economic analysis
b. Promoting economic management and planning capacities
c. Convening policy fora to discuss policy options and exchange experiences
(iii) Promoting food security and sustainable development with a particular focus on the linkage between population – environment – food production. This is done by developing planning models, carrying out analysis and providing advisory services to individual countries, institutions and fora of policy makers.
(iv) Promoting information for development through the promotion of institutional, technical and human capacities in the areas of
a. information technologies including geo-information (Cartography and remote sensing)
b. statistics and by providing advisory services and training in policy formulation
(v) Development Management: In this area ECA assists in policy formulation towards more efficient administrative systems, participatory community development (Civil Society ), good governance and the promotion of private sector participation in the economy (trade, industry, services…)
(vi) Gender: Furthering the national, regional and international agenda including the Beijing Platform – Promoting gender sensitive policies at national level and spearheading advocacy for the advancement and empowerment of women in areas including ownership of land and leadership in business. Read More
Contacts:
ECA/EA-SRO
KIMIHURURA III
PO.BOX: 4654 KIGALI
TEL: (250)586544 /8 /9 ; (250) 510675 /6 /7
FAX: (250)586546
E-mail: easrdc@uneca.org
Website: www.uneca.org
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