ECA boss urges Africa to embrace innovation shift

Claver Gatete, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa has warned that Africa must act urgently or risk remaining a consumer of foreign technologies and low-value labour.

According to him the window is narrowing. The time to act is now,” Mr Gatete said.

He said “with the AfCFTA, Africa has a platform for growth and integration”. Africa’s growth over two decades has been real but not transformative, driven more by labour, capital, and commodities than productivity and innovation.

Mr Gatete said this following the 58th session of the ECA and the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development meetings, which began on Saturday in Tangier, Morocco.

In a statement by ECA’s communications section, Mr Gatete said too little labour had moved from subsistence agriculture into higher-productivity sectors.

“Too little labour has shifted into higher-productivity sectors. This constrains job creation for millions of young Africans entering the workforce,” Mr Gatete said.

He said discussions at the Africa Business Forum in Addis Ababa underscored the urgent need to pivot toward innovation, data and frontier technologies.

“The shift to innovation-led growth is no longer optional. It is essential for resilience, inclusion and sustainability,” he said.

Mr Gatete said the ECA’s 2026 economic report showed the transition was critical amid climate shocks, tightening finance and rapid technological change.

“Frontier technologies are already reshaping global value chains. Africa must decide whether to shape this change or adjust to it,” he said.

He highlighted a widening skills gap, citing low literacy levels, weak enrolment in technical training, and limited tertiary education.

“This is a recipe for exclusion from a technology-driven global economy. We must urgently reform education systems,” Mr Gatete warned.

He called for national skills compacts that prioritise STEM education, digital literacy, and problem-solving capabilities across all levels.

“Curricula must emphasise coding, data literacy and creativity. Teacher upgrading and industry partnerships are equally critical,” he said.

Mr Gatete said some countries were already aligning education, industry and digital strategies to support future job creation.

“Kenya’s digital ecosystem is creating jobs that did not exist a decade ago,” he said, citing fintech and e-commerce growth.

He noted Rwanda’s investments in broadband and digital services, positioning it as a hub for emerging technologies.

“Rwanda is building a workforce ready for data-driven and AI-enabled jobs,” Mr Gatete said.

He added that Egypt, Morocco and South Africa were generating employment through automotive and renewable energy industries.

“These value chains are creating roles in advanced manufacturing and clean energy,” Mr Gatete said.

Mr Gatete stressed that skills development alone would not deliver jobs without productive firms and supportive innovation ecosystems.

“Workers need firms that can hire. Firms need an enabling environment to innovate and expand,” he said. He said future agricultural jobs would centre on climate-smart farming, agri-data services, and digital advisory platforms.

“This requires investment in irrigation, rural broadband, and agritech innovation,” he said. Mr Gatete called for the creation of industrial zones and special economic areas to attract technology-driven manufacturing and boost skilled employment.

“Governments must negotiate technology transfer and support local suppliers,” he added.

He emphasised that Africa must treat data as a strategic economic asset rather than allowing its value to be captured offshore.

“Data underpins all frontier technologies. Africa must capture value across the data chain,” Mr Gatete said.

He warned that exporting raw data while importing digital services could replicate the continent’s traditional commodity dependence.

“We risk reproducing the commodity trap in digital form,” he cautioned.
Mr Gatete advocated new financing models, including blended finance, venture funding, and innovation-driven public procurement.

“Traditional banking is not suited to high-risk technology ventures. We must crowd in private capital,” he said

He said governments could stimulate demand for local technology firms through targeted procurement and innovation-friendly policies.

“Public procurement can create markets for start-ups and SMEs,” Mr Gatete said.

He cautioned that frontier technologies could widen inequality, displace workers, and deepen digital divides if not properly managed.

“Jobs will change, and some will disappear. We must prepare for disruption,” he said.

Mr Gatete called for strong social protection systems, skills retraining, and inclusive policies to mitigate labour-market shocks.

“We must support women and youth to access training, finance, and technology,” he added.

He highlighted Africa’s advantages, including its youthful population, mineral resources and renewable energy potential.

“These assets can drive green industrialisation and future-oriented jobs,” Mr Gatete said. Mr Gatete said frameworks such as the AfCFTA could support continental scaling and shared prosperity.