Previous Forums

Fifth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 TO THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019
Palais des Congrès de la Palmeraie de Marrakech, Morocco

Background

The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with regional organizations and the United Nations System, seeks to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and the goals set out in Africa’s Agenda 2063. The Forum does so by providing a multi-stakeholder platform for follow-up and review of implementation progress and challenges, strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions to achieve the goals of the two agendas. In so doing the Regional forum makes important contributions to strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement and synergies, and thus promoting concerted efforts to implement and achieve the development goals of the two mutually reinforcing agendas. Four sessions of the Forum have been held since 2015. Read more

 

Fourth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 TO FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018
King Fahd Palace Hotel, Dakar, Senegal

Background

Across the globe, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which forms the global development framework around 17 Sustainable Development Goals, began in January 2016. In Africa, the 2030 Agenda is being implemented concurrently and in an integrated manner with the First 10-year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, a 50-year strategic framework for socioeconomic transformation in Africa, which is aimed at accelerating the implementation initiatives for growth and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 are mutually reinforcing and together are focusing attention on and framing efforts at national, subregional and national levels in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable structural transformation and sustainable development in Africa. Read more

 

Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 TO FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background

The 2017 Africa Regional Forum on sustainable development in preparation for the 2017 High-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) will convene at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 17 to 19 May 2017, under the theme: “Ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth and prosperity for all.” This theme is well aligned with that of the 2017 HLPF, which is “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. The theme of the regional Forum is premised on a number of considerations and trends with respect to poverty eradication. For example, that the economic growth in Africa has been inadequate to eradicate poverty is well documented. Additionally, the growth generated has largely been unequal. Seven out of the 10 most unequal countries in the world are in Africa. Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in Africa therefore hinges on fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in region. Achieving gender quality and women empowerment is a critical dimension of inclusion in the region. To restructure their economies and achieve sustained growth, African countries have identified agriculture, resilient infrastructure, industry, innovation, and sustainable management of marine resources as some of the priority areas for domestic and foreign investments. Read more

 

Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

17 MAY 2016 TO 19 MAY 2016
Cairo, Egypt

Introduction

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) convened the second session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD 2016) on 17-19 May, in Cairo, Egypt. The ARFSD 2016 met on the theme “Ensuring inclusive and integrated implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063”

This year’s conference took place against the backdrop of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, agenda 2030, where African leaders, along with other world leaders, recommitted themselves to the pursuit of a more sustainable development pathway. In this context, African countries are confronted with a dual transition: a global level transition from the Millennium Development Goals to agenda 2030; and a regional level transition to Agenda 2063. By signing onto Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063, African member States demonstrated commitment to the implementation and follow-up on both agendas.

The regional forum was the first following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015 and therefore focused on integration Africa’s transformation blueprint, Agenda 2063 with 2030 to ensure seamless implementation of the two.

The conference deliberated on pertinent issues of how countries can harmonise frameworks and establish common mechanisms of implementation, monitoring and evaluation to achieve Africa’s collective goals of sustainable development and transformation. A common development framework for Africa has the potential to be a powerful driver of sustainable pro-poor growth in African countries.

The Forum engaged member States, United Nations institutions and other institutions, major groups and other stakeholders on regional priorities for the implementation of the two agendas 2030. Read more

 

Ninth Session of the Committee on Sustainable Development and the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

16 JUNE 2015 TO 18 JUNE 2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

The ninth session of the ECA Committee on Sustainable Development (CSD-9) will deliberate on statutory and programmatic matters related to the ECA subprogramme on innovations, technologies and the management of natural resources under the auspices of the Special Initiatives Division (SID). The session will in addition provide a platform for the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), which ECA is organizing jointly with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In keeping with the UN General Assembly resolution, the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) will bring together government ministries and agencies, major groups and other stakeholders, to deliberated on and provide Africa’s collective input to HLPF-2015. Read more