Statement by Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary, Programme Support
4 September 2024, Kampala
Your Excellency the Rt Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda,
Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, Your Excellencies,
Honourable Ministers, Ambassadors, and members of the Diplomatic Corps,
United Nations Resident Coordinator for Uganda, Ms. Emelia Susan Ngongi Namondo,
Distinguished Permanent Secretaries,
Heads of Agencies, religious and traditional leaders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Claver Gatete, I extend our deepest appreciation to the Government and people of Uganda, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for hosting the Eleventh session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) in Kampala in April 2025. Special thanks go to the Rt Honorable Prime Minister, Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, for her essential role in making this possible.
Uganda has been a leader in Africa’s pursuit of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, setting up innovative frameworks like the SDG Secretariat and aligning its national development plan 95% with the SDGs. Uganda has also been a pioneer in conducting Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews, collaborating with ECA on multiple occasions. Uganda’s active participation in the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, including serving in the Bureau for 5 of the 10 sessions held so far, further demonstrates its commitment.
The ARFSD, mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, serves as a multi-stakeholder platform to review progress and advance actions towards the SDGs and Agenda 2063. The 2025 Forum in Kampala will focus on the theme: “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.” This theme aligns with Africa’s priorities for economic transformation, job creation, and poverty reduction.
With 2030 fast approaching, the urgency to accelerate progress towards the SDGs cannot be overstated. ARFSD-11 presents a unique opportunity to drive impactful change and depart from the business-as-usual model. Under Uganda’s leadership, the Forum will provide a platform for member states to share knowledge, advocate for actionable policies, and adopt key messages for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum and the second World Summit on Social Development.
To meet these objectives, we must embrace transformational leadership and a systemic change in thinking across all sectors. This includes leveraging Africa’s resources, empowering youth and women, and promoting sustainable economic development that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the environment.
ECA and its partners look forward to collaborating with Uganda to ensure that ARFSD-11 leads to tangible, meaningful results that positively impact the lives of people across Africa. We look forward to developing a joint roadmap with the Government of Uganda and the United Nations Country Team to successfully organize the Forum and translate its objectives into actionable results.
Thank you all for your attention.