Claver Gatete of Rwanda becomes ECA’s new Executive Secretary

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2023 (FBC) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced Friday the appointment of Claver Gatete of Rwanda as the next Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The Secretary-General extended his appreciation and gratitude to the former Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe of Cameroon, as well as to the Deputy Executive Secretary, Programme Support, Antonio M. A. Pedro of Mozambique, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Secretary until Mr. Gatete assumes his functions, official statement from the United nations indicated.

Mr. Gatete is currently Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations in New York, it is learned. A seasoned economist, he brings to the position extensive strategic leadership expertise, coupled with international experience in the political and financial landscape of the African continent. Mr. Gatete has served in senior government positions, notably as Minister of Infrastructure (2018-2022) and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (2013-2018), UN’s statement reads.

He has also served as Governor (2011-2013) and Deputy Governor (2009-2011) of the National Bank of Rwanda, Rwanda’s Central Bank, and Secretary General and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Rwanda (2003-2005).

Mr.Gatete was Director General for Economic and Social Affairs in the Office of the President of Rwanda (2000-2003), during which time, he served as the President’s Representative to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and Coordinator of the National African Peer Review Mechanism.

He began his diplomatic career in 2005 and was based in London until 2009 as Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Iceland.  Prior to this, he served as National Economist of the United Nations Development Programme in Kigali (1998-2000) and Economist of Agriculture and Agri-Food and of Statistics Canada, in Ottawa, Canada (1993-1997).

The Rwandan holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of British Columbia in Canada. He is fluent in English with working knowledge of French.