ECA’s Claver Gatete Unveils Africa’s Strategy to Fast-Track Gender Equality

Mr. Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to gender equality during a high-level interactive dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters. The event, held as part of the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, focused on presenting the outcomes of the regional Beijing+30 reviews and outlining the next steps to accelerate gender equality.

In his address, Mr. Gatete acknowledged the progress made across Africa in education, political representation, and women’s involvement in peace and security. However, he emphasized that deep-rooted inequalities persist, posing significant barriers to achieving full gender equality. “Women’s economic exclusion, the gender digital divide, and the impact of debt burdens on gender-responsive investments must be addressed with urgency,” he stated.

To accelerate progress, Mr. Gatete highlighted ECA’s four strategic priorities: strengthening enforcement of gender laws and ensuring national frameworks align with the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, and ILO conventions; expanding initiatives like the Africa Programme on Gender Statistics to enhance data-driven policymaking; advocating for reduced debt servicing to free resources for gender-responsive investments; and advancing financial inclusion, gender-responsive budgeting, and equitable access to capital, land, and markets while promoting women’s leadership in climate action and sustainable development.

The dialogue underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners, to drive gender equality efforts. The Chair’s summary of the discussions will contribute to the 2025 global review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, shaping future policy directions to close gender gaps and empower women worldwide.