The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA; French: Commission économique pour l'Afrique,[2] CEA) was established in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the African continent)[3] following a recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly.

The ECA has 54 member states, corresponding to the 54 member states of the United Nations that lie within the continent of Africa or in oceans nearby the continent.

The ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member states, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.

[1] On October 6, 2023, the UN Secretary-General appointed Claver Gatete of Rwanda as the Executive Secretary of UNECA, replacing the Cameroonian Vera Songwe.

[5] The commission's work is structured into seven programme divisions: *Top country subdivisions by GDP *Top country subdivisions by GDP per capita *Top country metropolitan by GDP