The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is undergoing reforms to ensure greater effectiveness in achieving its mandate.
ECA Executive Secretary, Mr Gatete Claver, made this known in a statement on Thursday by the Communications Section of the UN body.
The 2nd mid-year review meeting of the activities of the commission started on Tuesday with the theme: “Enhancing Programme Monitoring and Performance through Tracking the Progress of the Annual Business Plan Implementation”.
The four-day Accountability and Performance Review Meeting (APPRM) is aimed at providing the commission with an opportunity to evaluate its mid-year performance.
They include challenges, opportunities, lessons learned and how to ensure the organisation’s targets are met by the end of the year.
The meeting involves presentations by all thematic areas of the commission and a review of those presentations.
Claver said that the commission’s success in achieving its mandate would hinge on cutting-edge policy research and technology.
According to him, this will be a catalyst for enhancing its work.
He tasked all thematic areas of the commission, including Data and Statistics; Economic Development and Planning; and Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.
Others are macroeconomics and governance; poverty, inequality and social Policy; private sector development and finance; and regional integration and trade; and technology, climate change and natural resource management.
The ECA boss also tasked the sub-regional offices to work in a concerted effort for collective results and impact.
He further urged commission members to develop more focused programmes that would ensure that the planned activities were achievable.
They are also to strengthen their partnerships with partners, including the African Union Commission (AUC), to avoid duplication.
On his part, Director of the Strategic Planning, Oversight, and Results Division (SPORD), Mr Said Adejumobi, described the meeting as essential for assessing progress and making necessary adjustments for effective results delivery.
SPORD is responsible for organising and coordinating the APPRM.
According to Adejumobi, the commission is on track to meet its 2024 strategic goals.
He noted that this was primarily based on the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union member-states.
Adejumobi explained that in 2024, the commission supported 254 interventions in 46 countries, as part of its effort to contribute to the continent’s development.
