Africa: Vera Songwe Steps Down as ECA Executive Secretary

UNECA
La Secrétaire générale adjointe de l'ONU et Secrétaire exécutive de la Commission économique pour l'Afrique (CEA), Vera Songwe
1 September 2022
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)

Addis Ababa — United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Vera Songwe, has stepped down, effective 1 September 2022, after five years of dedicated service to ECA and its Member States.

Announcing her decision to step down during a town hall meeting on 22 August, Ms. Songwe thanked ECA staff for their team spirit and support during her tenure.

"It has been a privilege to work with you and serve the whole UN system. I cannot express enough my appreciation for the support, encouragement, guidance, patience, and friendship I received throughout these years from you," said Ms. Songwe.

Under her leadership, ECA played a key role in promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at national, subregional and continental levels; advocating for adequate resources to finance Africa's COVID-19 recovery initiatives; fostering public-private partnerships; and promoting local manufacturing to ensure sustainable economic growth and reduce growth volatility in Africa.

In the following document titled  Q&A with the Executive Secretary , she reflects on her time at the ECA and what the Commission was able to achieve under her leadership.

In a farewell note to staff on 31 August, Ms. Songwe said she was "pleased to convey the Secretary-General's decision to designate Antonio Pedro (ECA's Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Programme Support) as Acting Executive Secretary, beginning 1 September 2022, until further notice." She urged staff to extend their full support to Mr. Pedro.

-Ends-

Issued by:


Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail:  eca-info@un.org

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