ECA and UMA Assess Progress Made in Joint Cooperation

22 May 2015
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United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)
press release

ECA, 22 May 2015: The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) office for North Africa and the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) General Secretariat met on 20 May 2015 in Rabat (Morocco) for a mid-term review of the 2014-2015 multiyear programme (MYP).

The meeting fell under the framework of the cooperation agreement ECA co-signed with the UMA General Secretariat in January 2008, to support development and regional integration in North Africa, and based on the UMA General Secretariat vision: "Speeding up the regional integration process, making the most of youths' potential and responding more efficiently to their needs, strengthening inter-state cooperation to sustainably stem issues born from the relation between employment, migratory flows and border security".

"Our 2014-2015 cooperation programme is based on 3 pillars: strengthening the UMA General Secretariat institutional mechanisms and capacities; promoting the structural transformation of North African economies including in areas such as food security, economic integration and private sector participation; and supporting social development, especially through the gender, youth and migration dimensions", said Mrs Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director of the ECA office for North Africa in her opening speech.

UMA Secretary General Habib Ben Yahia expressed satisfaction at the close collaboration between his organisation and ECA and noted the complexity of the current regional and international context. "There is no doubt that security related, social and economic integration in North Africa is essential to speed up growth, job creation and to fight against the suffering caused by underdevelopment and chronic instability", he stressed.

The meeting was also an opportunity for both structures to examine UMA's gender strategy and consider support mechanisms for its set up. Both organisations confirmed their willingness to pursue their dialogue on upcoming activities.

In 2014, the MYP made it possible to set-up a regional UMA support platform and a sub-continental coordination mechanism for actions undertaken by partner organisations. Several activities were carried out and reports published to support the promotion and development of regional value chains, as well as transport and trade facilitation in North Africa.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its Office for North Africa aims to support the development of seven countries across the sub region (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and Sudan) by helping them formulate and implement policies and programs leading to economic and social transformation.

ECA's first cooperation agreement with UMA was signed in Algiers (Algeria) on 27 December 1994.

Read the original article on UNECA.

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