United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary Claver Gatete on Wednesday called on African countries to mobilise and manage development financing more effectively while accelerating continental market integration to cushion the impact of global economic uncertainties.
Speaking at the opening of the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Gatete told foreign ministers they were meeting at a time of “profound economic transition”, marked by slowing global growth, rising trade tensions and the reorganisation of global supply chains.
He said the world economy is increasingly shaped by industrial strategy, geopolitical rivalry and control over strategic resources, signalling a shift in the traditional rules of development. At the same time, capital is becoming more expensive, development assistance is shrinking, and security and climate
pressures are intensifying.
Gatete cautioned that Africa’s longstanding reliance on exporting raw commodities, importing manufactured goods and depending on concessional external financing is no longer sustainable. He stressed that the continent’s development must increasingly be anchored in its own integrated economic system.
To navigate the changing global landscape, he urged African nations to harness and add value to their natural resources and pursue five priority actions: improving mobilisation and management of development finance; investing in integrated productive infrastructure; accelerating regional value
chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); deepening continental market integration; and leveraging technology and data as core economic infrastructure.
The Executive Council meeting forms part of preparations for the 39th AU Summit and is being held under the AU’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”