The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) was founded in 1958 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the African continent). It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters. With its main offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the ECA has 53 member states and reports to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

UNECA's work focuses on achieving results in two related and mutually supportive areas: promoting regional integration in support of the African Union vision and priorities and meeting Africa's special needs and emerging global challenges. Within these two areas, the UNECA focuses on the following:

• Trade and Infrastructure
• The Millennium Development Goals (with a special focus on poverty reduction, sustainable development and gender)
• Good Governance
• Communication, Science and Technology for Development
• Statistics

Work on gender

UNECA believes that women’s economic and social advancement is key for Africa’s development. Its African Center for Gender and Social Development (ACGSD) monitors gender issues, and builds and implements tools that promote gender mainstreaming into sector-related policies at national and sub-regional levels. ACGSD works with African governments and NGOs to further gender equality and the empowerment of women. In addition to organising conferences, forums, and workshops, ACGSD helps Member States utilise UNECA’s African Gender Development Index (AGDI).

Sources

UNECA Website

Additional resources

The African Gender Development Index, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa