The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) continues to engage actively in global events and initiatives, advocating for Africa’s interests and strengthening the continent’s voice on important issues across various international forums, including the African Climate Summit, Financing Development, World Information Summit, and Food Systems Summit.

Said Adejumobi, Director of the Strategic Planning, Oversight, and Results Division of the ECA, disclosed in a corporate report at the Accountability and Programme Performance Review Meeting (APPRM), a key ECA accountability and transparency mechanism held every quarter, that tracks the progress of programmes against the Annual Business Plans (ABP) and monitors performance on budget and programme delivery.

The 3rd Quarter APPRM meeting was held in Addis Ababa on 6 October 2025, under the leadership of Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Commission. It was under the theme “Connecting the dots: Gathering momentum for Q4 Annual Reporting.” The meeting was attended by all management members of the ECA and their teams.

Director Said further disclosed that the ECA has also made significant progress in supporting African countries in macroeconomic policy and financial profiles, including on domestic resource mobilisation, which has helped improve financial stability of African countries.

At the II BRICS Forum “Traditional Values,” a roundtable was held on “Public Health and Preventive Medicine: Increasing Longevity, Quality of Life, and Happiness in BRICS Countries.” The discussion was moderated by State Duma Deputy Dmitry Kuznetsov and Maria Maryasova, Head of Preventive Medicine at the New People party. Parliamentarians, experts, physicians, and public figures from BRICS countries took part in the event.

Experts emphasized that preventive medicine is a crucial field for the future, aimed at preventing diseases by forming conscious and healthy habits. The key challenges remain the rise in obesity, chronic illnesses, and the related social and economic losses.

Currently, every third adult in Russia is overweight, and by 2035 half of the world’s population may be at risk of obesity. All BRICS countries are experiencing an increase in metabolic risks and mortality.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) convened a press roundtable with senior leadership to explore how Africa’s financial sector can unlock and channel domestic capital toward sustainable development. The session was led by IFC’s Regional Director for Southern Africa Claudia Conceicao, to discuss innovative financial solutions driving inclusive growth across the continent.

The roundtable was held in the lead-up to the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS), co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique Media Groupe on November 3–4 in Casablanca, Morocco. At the summit, the role of Africa’s financial sector in advancing sustainable development will be examined in depth.

Claudia Conceicao joined IFC in September 2023 and leads the organization’s strategy and operations in 12 countries within the Southern Africa region. She is responsible for increasing IFC’s impact and supporting development in the region’s agribusiness, infrastructure, and financial sectors, among others, as well as supporting green and climate response projects. Before joining IFC, Cláudia held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for Angola at Standard Chartered Bank. Previously, she was based in Nairobi, where she demonstrated her leadership skills and expertise in managing key strategic assets in the East Africa region.

UNOPS has handed over 9 surveying drones to the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands of Ethiopia. The handover ceremony took place on October 7, 2025 in the presence of Abraham Belay, Minister of Irrigation & Lowlands. The drones are designed to bring practical solutions to farmers and communities across Ethiopia. With their advanced sensors, they can estimate crop yields even before harvest, giving farmers a clearer picture of what to expect and how to plan ahead. They can also monitor crop health, spotting early signs of pests or disease that might otherwise go unnoticed until too late. In irrigation and soil management, the drones help prevent common challenges like water loss, fertilizer waste, or equipment failures that can damage plants and reduce harvests.

The high-quality images they capture can also be transformed into vegetation maps, helping experts and farmers make better decisions about land use and crop rotation. Beyond crops, the technology supports the wider rural environment: it can aid forestry and wetland management, and even allow farmers to remotely check on their cattle, ensuring that livestock have safe grazing areas and access to water. Together, these applications make farming more efficient, sustainable, and resilient helping farmers protect their livelihoods and secure food for their communities.