United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA; French: Commission économique pour l'Afrique,^[1] CEA) was established in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the African continent)^[2] following a recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly.^[3] It is one of five regional commissions.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Abbreviation	UNECA/ECA
Formation	1958; 66 years ago (1958)
Type	Primary Organ - Regional Branch
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Africa Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Head	Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa Claver Gatete
Parent organization	United Nations Economic and Social Council
Website	www.uneca.org
Politics portal

The ECA has 54 member states, corresponding to the 54 member states of the United Nations that lie within the continent of Africa or in oceans nearby the continent. The 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.[1]

On October 6, 2023, The UN Secretary General appointed Rwandan Claver Gatete as the Executive Secretary of UNECA, replacing the Cameroonian Vera Songwe.^[4]