Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Abdul Rashid Thomas
Published on 2024-04-09 08:41:16
The 10th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-10) is set to take place in a hybrid format from April 23-25, 2024, at the headquarters of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme for this forum is “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.”
Nassim Oulmane, Acting Director of the Technology Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division of the ECA, highlighted the need for urgent action to ensure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is on track. While progress has been made, many goals are not being met at the desired pace. Oulmane emphasized the importance of ambitious and bold solutions to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline.
ARFSD-10 presents a timely opportunity to address these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities for accelerated implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063. Participants will also play a crucial role in mobilizing Africa’s contributions for the upcoming Summit of the Future scheduled for September 2024.
Organized jointly by the ECA, AUC, African Development Bank, and UN system organizations, the forum aims to assess progress, exchange knowledge, best practices, and policy solutions to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in alignment with regional priorities. The goals to be discussed at ARFSD-10 include Goal 1 (No poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as well as corresponding goals of Agenda 2063.
Leading up to ARFSD-10, several pre-events and side events will be held, focusing on themes related to the forum. These events include opportunities for young people such as a Coding Camp for African Girls, a Science Technology and Innovation Boot Camp, a Youth Forum on the Summit of the Future, and the 6th African Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum. Additionally, there will be sessions on Carbon Markets, Africa Climate Talks, and the Review of Progress on Food Systems.
Key messages and a declaration stemming from ARFSD-10 will inform the global UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development later in the year. The participation at the forum will include high-level policymakers and experts from various ministries and agencies across the 54 ECA member states, as well as representatives from the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia.
ARFSD is one of the mechanisms mandated to track progress and catalyze actions towards achieving the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This forum serves as a platform for collaboration, dialogue, and collective action towards sustainable development in Africa.
Read the original article on Sierra Leone Telegraph
