10/28/2026
The current Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA) is Claver Gatete of Rwanda. He serves as the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Official ECA publications in 2026 continue to identify Mr. Claver Gatete as the Executive Secretary.
Claver Gatete is a Rwandan economist and diplomat with extensive experience in government, finance and international development.
Before becoming Executive Secretary of ECA, he served in senior positions in Rwanda, including as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Minister of Infrastructure.
His professional background includes economics, public finance, development policy and international economic cooperation.
Claver Gatete was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as Executive Secretary of ECA in 2023.
He succeeded Vera Songwe, who served as Executive Secretary from 2017 to 2022.
Since taking office, Gatete has represented ECA in discussions concerning Africa's economic transformation, financing for development, industrialization, regional integration and sustainable development.
UNECA stands for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
It is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
ECA was established in 1958 and is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Its central purpose is to promote Africa's economic development and help African countries address regional and global economic challenges.
ECA provides research, economic analysis, policy advice and technical assistance to African countries.
Its work covers areas such as:
Economic growth
Poverty reduction
Regional integration
Trade
Infrastructure
Digital transformation
Climate change
Sustainable development
Public finance
Governance
Industrialization
Economic diversification
ECA also supports African countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
During his leadership, ECA has emphasized structural transformation and the need for African economies to increase productivity.
ECA has highlighted areas including:
Industrialization
Digital technologies
Innovation
Regional economic integration
Domestic resource mobilization
Sustainable financing
Infrastructure
Critical minerals
Climate resilience
In a 2026 ECA statement, Gatete emphasized the importance of data and frontier technologies in accelerating Africa's economic transformation.
Africa faces challenges involving debt, infrastructure gaps, unemployment, inequality, climate change and limited industrialization.
At the same time, the continent has a young population, substantial natural resources and growing regional markets.
ECA acts as a source of economic research and policy support for governments dealing with these issues.
It also gives African countries a platform within the UN system to discuss issues affecting the continent.
The headquarters of UNECA is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The complex includes the historic Africa Hall, which has an important place in the history of African multilateral diplomacy.
Yes.
UNECA is an official UN regional commission.
It works closely with the African Union, African governments, development institutions and other UN organizations.
Claver Gatete is the current Executive Secretary of UNECA in 2026. He leads the UN Economic Commission for Africa, which supports African countries through economic research, policy advice, technical assistance and regional cooperation.
UNECA – Official Website
UNECA – Executive Secretary
United Nations – Regional Commissions
Wikipedia – United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Unchannel - 10/28/2026