Africa must build a new social contract for sustainable dev’t: ECA chief

Addis Ababa, November 3, 2023 (FBC) – A new social contract that will boost fair and equal opportunities for citizens is a must to accelerate sustainable development in Africa, the new Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Claver  Gatete, has told a meeting of experts and policy makers which opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this week.

“Governments must increase their commitment to forging new social contracts that ensure equal rights and opportunities for all, while integrating employment, sustainable development, and social protection,” said Mr. Gatete, in remarks delivered by the ECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, Hanan Morsy, at the opening of the Fifth Session of the Committee on Social Policy, Poverty and Gender of the ECA being held under the theme, Building New Social Contracts in Africa: Choices to fulfill Developmental Aspirations.

It is indicated that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed a “new social contract for a new era.”

Mr. Gatete said to build a new social contract for Africa’s future, requires a focus on the levers for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. High-quality education and lifelong learning can serve as catalysts in advancing multiple Goals, he said, noting that the effectiveness of education in building new social contracts depends on affordability, accessibility, and applicability which can make education policies more efficient, equitable and inclusive.

“Education can be made more affordable by providing subsidies and cash transfers that can alleviate the financial burden on the poor,” said Mr. Gatete, emphasizing that education programs can be redesigned to improve quality, strengthen institutional credibility, and align education with employable skills.

Underlining that the future of Africa will be significantly influenced by climate change, demographic shifts, rapid urbanization, and digital transformation, the Executive Secretary said how these are managed will determine if these trends are beneficial or detrimental to the continent. In Africa, social spending on health and education has been below the levels recommended by WHO and UNESCO.

A whole-of-society approach will foster a virtuous cycle of trust between the government and the people, resulting in policies that provide equal opportunities, promote intergenerational mobility, and reduce poverty, said Mr. Gatete, calling for the identification of urgent and practical measures that enhance efficiency in public spending and foster more inclusive development, to support the establishment of a new social contract in Africa.

Claver Gatete of Rwanda was appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on October 6, 2023. Mr Gatete has arrived in Addis Ababa this week to assume office as the new head of ECA.