It is only through economic cooperation and coordination of effort that African states can hope to maintain and strengthen their independence while ensuring the rapid progress of their peoples.
In order to achieve this common goal of strength through progress, it becomes necessary for us to abandon once and for all petty differences and artificial barriers that tend to perpetuate a state of division and confusion between our countries.
Emperor Haile Selassie (6th Session of the ECA, February 20, 1964)
Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom. The steps that are needed from the developed nations are clear: The first is ensuring trade justice.
Nelson Mandela (London, 3 February 2005)
Over the last six decades, there have been many developments on the continent and a shift from a doctrine of political liberation through one of self-determination, to a pan African Economic Agenda uniting all the children of the African soil.
ECA in these six decades has been fortunate to have a front row seat in Africa's development agenda: from the establishment of the Organization of African Unity to the creation of the African Development Bank and today, the African Agency for Development.
ECA’s contribution to the development of long term planning processes at the dawn of Africa’s independence; its resolute rejection of the structural adjustments policies; its contribution to Africa’s harmonized trade and infrastructure agenda; gender equality; statistical development; the climate debate; and the science innovation and technology agenda has impacted Africans from Cape Town to Cairo and Djibouti to Dakar.
In our sixth decade we are called upon to accompany the continent on the journey from the Millennium Development Goals crafted by one of our own sons of the soil turned Secretary General of the United Nations and a global statesman, H.E Kofi Annan to the Sustainable Development Goals on leaving no one behind and the African Union Agenda 2063 on building the Africa we want!
This book takes you through our privileged story made possible through the confidence of our continental leaders, the hospitality of our host country, and the trust of young men and women who have shaped our thinking, challenged our views and inspired us to continue walking with Africa towards an inclusive free, integrated and just Africa.
Vera Songwe