Niamey, 2 March 2023 (ECA) - The 9th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development held in Niamey from 28 February to 2 March featured a session to discuss progress, challenges, opportunities, and priority actions needed to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9).
Representatives from various African countries and organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), were in attendance.
The forum's main focus was on the need to accelerate the evolution of science and technology education in universities to make their curricula more practical by combining theory with practice. By doing so, engineers and technicians who are inventors and producers of technological products would be better equipped to enter the labor market.
Participants urged governments and the private sector to implement policies and strategies to support small and medium-sized enterprises, create jobs, and boost productivity in Africa. They also emphasized the need to increase investment in hard and soft infrastructure, including transport, and in the development of skills related to information and communications technology and science, technology, and innovation.
The session called for increased efforts to help firms increase exports, attract foreign direct investment, and facilitate technology transfer. Participants also urged countries to build resilient regional value chains to develop productive and competitive economies that can take full advantage of the opportunities to implement the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The session recommended that entities of the United Nations and regional development organizations support States in accessing blended financing instruments, including concessional capital, climate and green funds, and risk mitigation tools. This would encourage private investors who are interested in infrastructure development projects.
The discussion on SDG 9 was framed by a background paper jointly prepared by ECA, UNIDO, and OSAA. The session was moderated by Salamatou Gourouza, Minister of Industry and Youth Entrepreneurship of Niger. Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of Industry of the Democratic Republic of Congo participated in the panel discussion.
In conclusion, the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development in Niamey proposed key actions to accelerate progress towards the implementation of SDG 9. The recommendations made by the participants are expected to provide a roadmap for African countries and organizations to foster innovation, create jobs, and improve the quality of life of their citizens, ultimately contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
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
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