Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), speaks during the African Regional Forum on Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action and the SDGs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug. 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Thursday announced that Vera Songwe has stepped down as its Executive Secretary.
ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Thursday announced that Vera Songwe has stepped down as its Executive Secretary.
"United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the ECA, Vera Songwe, has stepped down, effective September 1, 2022, after five years of dedicated service to ECA and its member states," the UNECA said in a statement.
According to the UNECA, Songwe, in a farewell note to staff on Wednesday, said she was "pleased to convey the Secretary-General's decision to designate Antonio Pedro as Acting Executive Secretary, beginning September 1, 2022 until further notice."
Prior to his latest appointment, Pedro has been serving as UNECA's Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Programme Support.
Songwe was the 9th Executive Secretary of the UNECA, Africa's premier thought leadership institution focused on generating knowledge and applying policy research in support of accelerated economic diversification and structural transformation.
Following her appointment, she became the first woman to lead the institution in the organization's 60-year history.
Announcing her decision to step down during a town hall meeting, Songwe thanked staff for their team spirit and support during her tenure, the UNECA said.
"It has been a privilege to work with you and serve the whole UN system. I cannot express enough my appreciation for the support, encouragement, guidance, patience, and friendship I received throughout these years from you," the statement quoted Songwe as saying.
The UNECA, under Songwe's leadership, played a key role in promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at national, subregional, and continental levels, according to the statement.
The agency has been also actively advocating for adequate resources to finance Africa's COVID-19 recovery initiatives, fostering public-private partnerships, and promoting local manufacturing to ensure sustainable economic growth and reduce growth volatility in Africa. ■
