The present report, which is being submitted to the forty-third session of the Commission, covers the period between June 2009 and March 2010 and highlights the main achievements of the secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) during the past year. It provides a synoptic overview of the major trends, events and activities undertaken by the ECA secretariat in the context of its broad mandate of fostering the economic and social development of Africa.