A F R I C A N U T I L ITT Y W E E K Next-generation utilities and smart cities In conversation with Dr Carlos Lopes, executive secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, we uncover the path for African utilities and cities development. T he United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) holds an annual statutory meeting, jointly with the African Union, where African Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Planning & Economic Development assess, review and make decisions that will impact the transformation of the African continent. 2015 is particularly important because in July the United Nations will hold, at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. We will be contributing with knowledge products and analytical work, in line with the African Union Agenda 2063, adopted by the African Heads of States and Government in January 2015 in Addis Ababa, and the Common African Position on the post-2015 development framework. What are the UNECA projects and developments that readers should know about? One key policy research put forward by the ECA has recently found that private equity investments – usually associated with long term growth – have risen significantly, with an average annual growth of 26%, thus reflecting an improved and sound African business environment. Yet Illicit Financial Flows through trade mispricing are widespread in resource rich economies – growing at 32.5% over 2000-2009 (close to $60 billion a year) – equivalent to nearly all the overseas development assistance (ODA) received by Africa. Furthermore, our recent analyses on industrialisation through trade, regional integration and structural inclusive transformation positions the ECA as a “go to” institution for cutting edge policy research and advisory. Our intention is to become the major think tank of reference in Africa. The ECA has been implementing a number of initiatives to fast track energy development in the region. One of the identified priority areas is in project preparation, particularly relating to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Over the past two years, and with collaboration with other United Nations Regional Economic Commissions, we Dr Carlos Lopes has over 24 years of senior leadership experience at the United Nations, including serving as executive director of the UN Institute for Training and Research, director of the UN System Staff College, director for Political Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary- General – all at the level of Assistant Secretary-General – and UN Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe and Brazil. CLEAN POWER AFRICA have been providing capacity directed at African Project Developers. This capacity building has included training in project development and in pro-poor Public Private Partnerships for rural energy development. Are there any successful stories that you would like to share? Across the continent, the ECA’s relevance is increasing because we are changing the nature of the narrative on Africa through our publications and various interventions in African countries. There is a greater demand by African leaders for us to assist in strategic thinking in different areas that will transform their economies and ultimately Africa. I could highlight here: the fact that the Ebola scare is now out of the limelight is due to the extraordinary efforts of our Member States and the development community. We contributed significantly through the publication of the Socio-Economic Impacts of Ebola on Africa to put in perspective the impact of Ebola Virus Disease on the GDP of the three affected countries, namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Our contribution also focused on working with affected countries to focus on post-Ebola recovery. Using country data, we were able to estimate that for 2015 growth in West Africa will be affected by 0.1 percentage point and a mere 0.02 percentage point for Africa. Together with the affected countries, we changed the perception of doom as well as the perceived threat of the Ebola epidemic on Africa’s development, thus rebutting the previous narrative of catastrophic downswings of Africa’s growth trajectory. Another important story relates to the ECA’s ongoing contribution pushing 12 – 14 May 2015 Cape Town, South Africa