Latest news with #UNEconomicCommissionforAfrica
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's Workforce at a Crossroads: Navigating Climate Change and the Green Transition
A side event at the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) brought together policymakers, economists, and development experts to address the critical challenges and opportunities facing Africa's workforce in the context of climate change. Organized by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) – Macroeconomic Policy, Finance and Governance Division, the event focused on the findings of the Economic Report on Africa 2023 and 2024, highlighting the urgent need for strategic interventions to ensure a just and sustainable transition for the continent's labour market. In her presentation, Ms. Nadia Ouedraogo, Economic Affairs Officer, said that informal employment, which comprised 83% of all employment in Africa in 20024, is concentrated in agriculture, construction, and services. These sectors are highly susceptible to climate-induced stresses and seasonal shocks. Women and youth are particularly vulnerable to job losses and income reduction. Ms. Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of Macroeconomic Policy, Finance, and Governance Division, who moderated the session, stressed that climate change-induced shocks are reducing growth, depleting fiscal reserves and destabilizing financial systems while destroying lives and livelihoods. At the same time, this megatrend creates new opportunities for growth, innovation and structural transformation that Africa must seize. Mr Sam Mugume Koojo, Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda, urged policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to prioritize climate action and invest in a just and sustainable transition that creates decent jobs and promotes inclusive and sustainable growth. He emphasized the importance of co-creation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing to address the complex challenges facing Africa's workforce. "The tangible effects of climate change – rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental degradation – are already destabilizing job security, forcing communities to relocate, and widening the gap between the rich and poor," said Mr Andrew Mundalo Allieu, Senior Economist, ILO Regional Office for Africa. He highlighted the global scale of this crisis, noting that 1.2 billion workers whose livelihoods depend on the natural environment are at risk. Specifically, heat stress, as documented by an ILO study, is causing a 2.3% loss in working hours, a figure projected to escalate to 14 million lost jobs by 2030. Mr. Etienne Espagne, Senior Climate Economist at the World Bank and co-director of C3A, underscored that strategic regional coordination is vital to develop high-skill, climate-resilient employment. 'As climate change disrupts yields and redefines commodity value, aligning supply chains with regional strengths can reduce risk and boost shared prosperity. Although the costs of renewables are falling, uncertainty still poses challenges. Early investment and coordinated actions are essential to secure resilient and inclusive green jobs'. For Ms. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, 'Public-private partnerships are vital to mobilizing investment and fostering innovation in green sectors, while gender-inclusive approaches are essential to ensure that women equitably benefit from the green transition through participation in decision-making and access to skills development." Economic Losses and the Need to Transition to Greener Economies Panelists stressed the cascading effects of climate change, noting that a 1% temperature increase could lead to a 2.2% GDP loss across Africa by 2030, with West Africa facing the most severe consequences. They also pointed out that climate change exacerbates conflicts and displacement, placing additional pressure on already fragile labour markets." The transition to greener and more sustainable economies will result in job losses in fossil fuel industries, particularly in West and Central Africa. There's a risk of worsening inequality if targeted policies are not implemented to ensure equitable benefit distribution. However, the transition to a green economy also presents significant opportunities for job creation, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and the carbon market. The carbon market alone could support up to 400 million jobs by 2050. To ensure a just transition and mitigate climate change's adverse effects, panellists highlighted critical strategies, including: investing in reskilling and upskilling initiatives tailored for youth and informal sector workers; fostering innovative financing to support green projects; and strengthening social protection systems to provide vital safety nets for vulnerable communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global population data is in crisis – here's why that matters
Every day, decisions that affect our lives depend on knowing how many people live where. For example, how many vaccines are needed in a community, where polling stations should be placed for elections or who might be in danger as a hurricane approaches. The answers rely on population data. But counting people is getting harder. For centuries, census and household surveys have been the backbone of population knowledge. But we've just returned from the UN's statistical commission meetings in New York, where experts reported that something alarming is happening to population data systems globally. Census response rates are declining in many countries, resulting in large margins of error. The 2020 US census undercounted America's Latino population by more than three times the rate of the 2010 census. In Paraguay, the latest census revealed a population one-fifth smaller than previously thought. South Africa's 2022 census post-enumeration survey revealed a likely undercount of more than 30%. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, undercounts and census delays due to COVID-19, conflict or financial limitations have resulted in an estimated one in three Africans not being counted in the 2020 census round. When people vanish from data, they vanish from policy. When certain groups are systematically undercounted – often minorities, rural communities or poorer people – they become invisible to policymakers. This translates directly into political underrepresentation and inadequate resource allocation. As the Brookings Institution, a US research organisation, has highlighted, undercounts have 'cost communities of colour political representation over the next decade'. This is happening because several factors have converged. Trust in government institutions is eroding worldwide, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reporting that by late 2023, 44% of people across member countries had low or no trust in their national governments. Research shows a clear trend of declining trust specifically in representative institutions like parliaments and governments. This makes people less likely to respond to government-issued census requests. The COVID-19 pandemic created logistical nightmares for census takers. Many countries had to postpone their censuses. Budget cuts to statistical offices reduced capacity, while countries struggled with recruiting field staff. International funding for population data is also disappearing. The US-funded Demographic and Health Surveys program, which provided vital survey data across 90 countries for four decades, was terminated in February 2025. Unicef's Multi-Indicator Cluster program, which carries out household surveys, faces an uncertain future amid shrinking global aid budgets. US government cuts to support for UN agencies and development banks undertaking census support will likely have further impacts. This is incredibly worrying to us as geography academics, because gathering accurate population data is fundamentally about making everyone visible. As population scientists Sabrina Juran and Arona Pistiner wrote, this information allows governments to plan for the future of a country and its people. The US census directly impacts the allocation of more than US$1.5 trillion (£1.2 trillion) in public resources each year. How can governments distribute healthcare funding without knowing who lives where? How can disaster response be effective if vulnerable populations are invisible in official population counts? Countries are adapting. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to alternative census methodologies. Many countries turned to online questionnaires, telephone interviews and administrative data sources to reduce face-to-face interactions. The UN Economic Commission for Africa recommends that countries move from using paper forms for census data collection and embrace new digital technologies that can be cheaper and more reliable. Turkey's switch in 2011 reduced census costs from US$48.3 million to US$13.9 million while improving data quality and timeliness, and nearly 80% of countries used tablets or smartphones for data collection in the 2020 round of censuses. At WorldPop, our research group at the University of Southampton, we're also helping governments to develop solutions using new technologies. Buildings mapped from satellite imagery using AI, together with counts of populations from small areas, can help create detailed population estimates to support census implementation or provide estimates for undersurveyed areas. As we face growing challenges, from climate change to economic inequality, having accurate, reliable and robust population data isn't a luxury. It's essential for a functioning society. National statistical offices, UN agencies, academics, the private sector and donors must urgently focus on how to build cost-effective solutions to provide reliable and robust population data, especially in resource-poor settings where recent cuts will be felt hardest. When people disappear from the data, they risk disappearing from public policy too. Making everyone count starts with counting everyone. Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation's environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who've subscribed so far. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Andrew J Tatem works for the University of Southampton, and is Director of WorldPop. His research on mapping populations has been funded by donors such as the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, GAVI. Jessica Espey works for the University of Southampton. Her research on data, statistics and evidence use has previously been funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Gates Foundation and others.
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
East African countries face $160mln forfeiture in tax revenues under AfCFTA but long-term future gains
Four East African countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) face a potential loss of up to $160 million in tax revenues this year, the smaller penalty to pay for future bigger gains on open borders for goods and services. Findings from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) suggest the pain will be short-lived, to be compensated by bigger gains on larger sales between African countries. The report, Economic Report on Africa, for this year says Africa stands to lose three percent ($2 billion) in tax revenues in 2025 as a result of the 1.3 billion free market that came into effect from January 1, 2021, known as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).'Africa's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) would be granted longer timeframes for tariff liberalisation, with non-sensitive products to be brought to zero between 2021 and 2030, while tariffs on sensitive products are to be removed by 2033.'As a result, the decline in tariff revenues would be rather marginal in the early years of AfCFTA implementation, with an estimated marginal three per cent ($2 billion) reduction of tariff revenues for African governments in 2025,' the report says. The report shows that in East Africa Community region, Rwanda will be heavily impacted by AfCFTA agreement this year expected to lose 3.5 percent of its tax revenues equivalent to $70 million. It will be followed by Uganda (2.1 percent or $42 million), Kenya (1.5 percent or $30 million) and Tanzania (0.9 percent or $18 million). According to the report, tariff revenues for African governments will decline as the trade agreement is implemented, but the decline will be shielded by compensation from rising volumes of trade.'The reduction in customs duties due to the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement will inevitably reduce tariff revenues collected by African governments,' says the report. UNECA's latest empirical assessment foresees a 10.7 percent (or $21.1 billion) decline in Africa's total tariff revenues in 2045 following the full implementation of agreed tariff concessions under the trade agreement, compared with a situation without the reforms. However, this loss would be progressive in line with agreed liberalisation schedules under the AfCFTA protocol on trade in goods, thus giving time for countries to implement mitigating measures. According to the report, the decline in tariff revenues is expected to accelerate in 2030 with an anticipated 8.2 percent ($7 billion) reduction, before progressively reaching 10.7 percent ($21.1 billion) reduction in 2045. This decline following the AfCFTA implementation is expected to be uneven with Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe anticipated to be among the most affected, with estimated reductions of tariff revenues of over 15 percent in 2045.'However, governments have other sources of revenues at their disposal to compensate for such losses. Revenues generated from the large increase in intra-African trade would also be important and still help in reaching higher levels of welfare, despite reduction in revenues from customs duties,' the report says. An AfCFTA Adjustment Fund has been established as an integral part of the AfCFTA Secretariat structure with the support of Afreximbank to assist vulnerable countries to mitigate tariff revenue losses. The trade agreement seeks to remove barriers to trade and put in place common policies to ease movement of goods and services within the continent creating the eighth trading bloc in the world with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.3 trillion. Read: AfCFTA gains momentum as 48 African countries ratify agreementThe AfCFTA is the world's largest free trade area in the number of member states and the scope, and as of January 2025, all except one African country had signed the agreement. Eritrea is the only exception. Among signatories, 48 have also ratified the deal, which includes a series of protocols and annexes negotiated in two phases. Phase 1 covers trade in goods, services and procedures for dispute resolution. Phase 2, adopted in February 2024, includes protocols such as investment policy, competition policy, intellectual property rights, digital trade, and women and youth in trade. The schedule for liberalisation of the protocol in trade in goods of AfCFTA identified three types of products—non-sensitive, sensitive and excluded—and two groups of nations—least developing countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs. The LDCs have a longer period for tariffs liberalisation, with 10 years to liberalise 90 per cent of tariff lines for the non-sensitive products and 13 years to liberalise sensitive products. Non-LDCs have five years to liberalise 90 percent of their tariff lines for non-sensitive products and 10 years for sensitive products, which can constitute up to seven percent of tariff lines. LDCs and non-LDCs have the option to exclude up to three per cent of their tariff if this does not represent over 10 percent of intra-African import value. In practical terms, by 2033—13 years from the date of entry into force of the AfCFTA agreement—trade in 97 per cent of all goods originating in Africa should be traded across borders free of any customs duties or other charges having equivalent effect. The trade agreement envisaged to help in reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers within the continent, offers an unprecedented opportunity to widen the existing small base of formal intra-African trade. UNECA estimates that in relative terms, overall intra-African trade (exports) would increase by about 45 per cent (or $275.7 billion) in 2045, while intra-African trade is expected to increase by 60 per cent (or $58.6 billion) for agri-food, 48 per cent for industry (or $165.6 billion), and 34 per cent for services (or $4.9 billion), from a baseline situation without the agreement. The expected increase in intra-African trade for energy and mining, while significant at an estimated 28 per cent (or $46.6 billion), would therefore be notably less than that of other main sectors. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Morocco World
12-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Elected to Lead UN Economic Commission for Africa
Rabat – Morocco has been unanimously elected to preside over the 57th session of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. The election took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the ECA in Addis Ababa. This appointment reflects African countries' confidence in Morocco's ability to contribute to shaping a more integrated and prosperous economic landscape. Morocco has been an influential player in regional economic integration in recent years, with the kingdom being a prime policy mover towards inclusive development and growth. The 57th session centers on leading the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, a flagship initiative designed to boost intra-African trade and economic integration. The discussions touch beyond trade to include strategic recommendations on digitization, technological innovation, food security, and energy transition, sectors that play a more vital role in Africa's economic future. The session began with a Committee of Experts meeting from March 12 to 14, setting the stage for high-level deliberations. These discussions are to be followed by parallel events on March 15 and 16, bringing together policymakers, economists, and development specialists to explore innovative strategies for economic resilience. The ministerial segment is scheduled for March 17 and 18, and it will convene African finance and development ministers to outline priorities and concrete actions to support the continent's economic agenda. Morocco's election to this leadership role demonstrates its place in African economic decision-making and its growing prominence in promoting increased regional cooperation. With African nations navigating through world economic issues, Morocco's chairing of the ECA session provides an opportunity to promote initiatives fostering economic stability and collective advancement within the continent. Tags: Africa's economyECA moroccoMorocco economy
CNN
04-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
Gifted by an emperor, Ethiopia's iconic Africa Hall has been renovated for a new era
Only 26 African countries had achieved independence when, in February 1961, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie ascended a sloping staircase to inaugurate Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, which he gifted as the new headquarters for the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). A dominating presence in the heart of the Ethiopian capital, adorned with a sweeping 150-square-meter (1,614-square-foot) stained-glass window, the structure, designed by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi, had taken just 18 months to build. Fittingly then, it didn't take long before the building became the site of a landmark event in the story of modern Africa. Just over two years later, Selassie once again made the climb to welcome the founding members of the newly formed Organization of African Unity (OAU) to their home — a meeting place intended to foster cooperation, drive economic progress and eradicate colonialism across the continent. Addressing representatives of the then-32 independent African states, Selassie declared that the continent was 'at midcourse, in transition from the Africa of yesterday to the Africa of tomorrow.' 'We must act to shape and mold the future and leave our imprint on events as they slip past into history,' he continued. More than 60 years later, Selassie's message has come full-circle: Africa Hall has been shaped and molded anew. Last October marked the completion of a decade-long renovation across the entirety of the 12,800 square-meter site, commissioned by the ECA in 2013 with a $57 million budget to revitalize the landmark as a world-class conference and cultural venue. Australian design practice Architectus Conrad Gargett was entrusted with leading the re-design, giving project architect Simon Boundy a mission with dual themes — modernization and conservation. 'The two go hand-in-hand with projects like this,' Boundy told CNN, 'Where you've got an aging asset, but if it doesn't get used, it falls into disrepair.' 'It's about bringing the building back to life, making it accessible to the public and celebrating the story of the building for future generations.' The conundrum for Boundy and his team was that those two aims threatened to undermine the historical significance of Africa Hall. In essence, how do you modernize a historical landmark without losing some of its soul? As a heritage architect — regularly tasked with making sensitive changes to buildings of historical or cultural importance — Boundy is well-versed in answering that question. The first step was understanding Africa Hall's importance and history, which was aided by hiring local architects and engineers to work on the renovation. Among them was Mewded Wolde, who, a day before her university graduation in 2014, found herself on the roof of Africa Hall taking measurements. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Wolde says the building — which hosted OAU meetings until the organization was replaced by the African Union (AU) in 2002, which eventually moved into new headquarters in Addis Ababa — is a source of pride for herself and many others given its role in helping countries across the continent achieve independence from colonial rule. 'This building, still for the African Union, is a symbol,' Wolde told CNN. 'It's an artwork in itself that symbolizes the struggle that we have gone through in the past 60, 70 years to get to African unity.' Local knowledge helped Boundy navigate the 'balancing act' of modernizing Africa Hall without devaluing its legacy. Roughly 13 million new tiles were fabricated and reinstalled to exactly match the original material, staying true to the brown, orange and off-white color palette of Mezzedimi's modernist design. The old layout of the Plenary Hall was deemed to lack seating space, so after consulting the building's original architectural drawings, the team designed new furniture in the same style and added an extra ring of seating. Hidden in each desk is a digital screen, a subtle addition that — along with the arrival of a 13-meter-wide (42-foot-wide) LED display — leaves Africa Hall well suited to meet the technological requirements of modern conference hosting, while preserving the original architecture. 'We don't want to leave our mark on the building,' Boundy said. 'We want to just bring the original design to life again and hopefully everything that we do is behind the scenes, concealed in the ceilings, and it's not the feature.' Some aspects, however, demanded more radical change, especially those concerning accessibility and safety. The building — 'quite dilapidated' — was stripped back to its structural core and strengthened with carbon fiber and steel before being built up again, Boundy explained, to protect the concrete from the damage caused by rusting steel and the threat of seismic activity. Protective measures also included a strengthened frame for the crown jewel of Africa Hall: the two-story stained-glass window that has adorned the foyer since 1961. Titled 'The Total Liberation of Africa,' it was Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle's signature piece and is split into three panels; Africa Then, Africa Then and Now, and Africa Now and in the Future. Featuring a knight in shining armor emblazoned with the UN logo, a dragon and the grim reaper, the work tells a story of liberation, of 'slaying the demons' of colonization, Boundy explained. Tekle's work is Africa Hall's definitive symbol, and can be seen splashed across shirts, ties and more in the city. 'The symbolism of the artwork is something that's really hard to overstate, how important that is,' Boundy said. 'It really tells the story of what Africa Hall is trying to represent, which is the very best of what Africa can do, quite literally shedding the recent history, and looking very much forward … You can sit and spend hours staring at it.' With various original pieces either loose or missing, the entire artwork was meticulously disassembled, cleaned and restored panel-by-panel by Emmanuel Thomas, the grandson of the person who originally made the stained glass from Tekle's design. Its refreshed look was unveiled alongside a new permanent exhibition to highlight the key events at Africa Hall that have helped to shape Pan-African history. For Wolde, both the artwork and the renovation itself are reflective of Selassie's 1963 address, where he spoke of molding the Africa of tomorrow. 'Even now, even with all the upgrades that have happened in Africa Hall, this quote is actually true,' Wolde said. 'This is the space that we're going to use to shape the future. Even then it was where they were having meetings … to shape the future of Africa, and even now, it symbolizes that. I really love this.'
