Brazzaville, Congo, March 1, 2021 (ECA) - Buoyed by growing economic opportunities and investment interest, the African continent is poised for transformation. At the same time Africa has to overcome political, economic, social and infrastructural challenges that remain a barrier to its development.
As Africa seeks to accelerate its economic transformation and human development, the continent has not escaped the impacts of fresh challenges such climate change which has compromised food and nutritional security. Climate change is projected by the African Climate Policy Centre of the ECA to cost African countries between 2 and 5 per cent of GDP by 2030. Furthermore, the current COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse a number of development gains in Africa as it has impacted on food security, trade, health, education and peace.
In Africa, COVID19 has severely tested the social, economic, political and environmental resilience, exacting a massive toll on the poor and most vulnerable and jeopardizing decades of hard-won development gains. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the continent’s financing gap to $345 billion and derailed progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It is in the backcloth of a changed and changing economic and political environment that the Seventh Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) is being held.
Convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and other partners, the ARFSD Forum is a premier platform for many development actors to dialogue, share perspectives and recommit action on moving the need on development in Africa. More importantly the Forum seeks to fast track the implementation of the 2030 Agenda - a holistic plan embodied in 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2063, a development blue print for Africa’s transformation within 50 years.
The Forum from 1-4 March 2020 is this year a hybrid event held virtually and in person in Brazzaville, Congo. It is a critical platform for building consensus on development pathways for Africa in line with the agendas of the two development blue prints adopted by African governments.
With the theme, “Building forward better: Towards a resilient and green Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”, the Forum will be attended by all 54 member States of ECA, the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, UN organisations, civil society, business and industry organizations, academic and research institutions.
The regional forum is an annual ECA event aimed at advancing an integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. It serves as a multi-stakeholder platform for follow-up and review of progress and challenges in the implementation of the two Agendas, while strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions.
ARFSD7 will undertake a regional follow-up and review of progress made, facilitate peer learning, and advance transformative solutions and actions to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and aspirations, goals and targets of Agenda 2063. In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, nine Sustainable Development Goals on no poverty; Zero hunger; Good health and well-being; Decent work and economic growth; Reduced inequalities; Responsible consumption and production; Climate action; Peace, justice and strong institutions will be considered at the 2021 high-level political forum. In addition, the Forum will consider corresponding goals of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.
Taking stock of Africa’s progress on SDGs, a total of 53 Acceleration Actions on SDGs in Africa have been published as of December 2020 with a majority of them addressing multiple SDGs leveraging interlinkages, while 15% of initiatives focus on addressing one SDG. Of the 53 registered actions, SDG 1 has mobilized the largest number, followed by SDGs 4, 13, 17, 2 and 5. Western Africa registered the highest number of acceleration action initiatives based on geographical location at 29% followed by Eastern Africa at 25%, Southern Africa at 21%, 19% from Northern Africa and Central Africa at 6%.
The Forum will enhance the capacity of the 2021 voluntary national review countries to undertake their reviews and present the review reports at the 2021 high-level political forum on sustainable development. It will also raise the profile of voluntary local reviews and strengthen the capacity of cities and local governments to implement and report on progress achieved in the context of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
At the same time the Forum will also increase the knowledge and capacity of member States, major groups and other stakeholders to design and implement policies and strengthen the commitment of relevant stakeholders to accelerate the pace of implementation and ensure effective follow-up to and review of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org