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United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, ECA Executive Secretary and Under-Secretary-General, and Mr. Michael Battle, Permanent Representative to the ECA (Photo courtesy: ECA)ECA holding staff retreat on way forward with new support from US

Posted: Tuesday, 27 June 2011, New York | Author: Economic Commission for Africa
The Economic Commission for Africa will soon be holding a retreat with staff members of the African Union in Addis to chart the way forward on the recent announcement by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton that the US government is committed to re-engaging with the ECA on the UN/AU Ten Year Capacity Building Programme (TYCPB).
According to Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, ECA Executive Secretary and Under-Secretary-General, the US government's announcement "comes at an opportune moment."
"One of the challenges we face is the lack of the resources necessary to continue the capacity-building of the Africa Union and we hope that the coming on board of the US government will help to mobilize resources towards our efforts," he says. 


The retreat with the AU, he adds, will focus on specific AU needs and strategic priorities that need strengthening. These include peace and security; human rights; political, legal and electoral matters; as well as food security and environmental protection. 


Janneh also points out that the announcement is also indicative of the US government’s recognition of the UN’s efforts under the delivering as one rubric.
"More importantly, Ambassador Michael Battle, who will serve as Permanent Representative to the ECA will participate in ECA's statutory meetings, such as the Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to not only contribute, but understand what ECA does in supporting Africa’s development," he says.


ECA is convinced that the re-engagement adds impetus to the role the US could play in the economic transformation of the African continent. "Through the Ambassador, we can continue to make a strong case for major commitments to support the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which is a key priority for the Continent's economic growth and development," says Emmanuel Nnadozie, Director, Economic Development and NEPAD Division.
He adds: "We also want to see the US more committed to improving its trade framework – the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) - and address the challenges that are hindering Africans from realization its full potential benefits."