Highlights from the Eighth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

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The eighth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development highlighted key challenges such as the climate crisis, COVID-19, and financial system issues. Despite some progress, there are concerns about lagging implementation of SDGs in Africa, particularly in areas like education, gender equality, and forest conservation. The forum emphasized the importance of partnerships, sustainable technologies, and inclusive growth for achieving the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

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Summary report on the eighth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (Doc Ref. No. E/ECA/COE/41/9) Nassim Oulmane, Chief of Green and Blue Economy Section Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Division Thursday, 16 March 2023

A. Context The UN Secretary-General: Has laid out the contemporary challenges that we ought to tackle Calls for urgent and bold action on these challenges: with Our common Agenda and the 2030 Agenda as the Blueprints for action Title In the words of the UN Secretary-General, Ant nio Guterres: Countries are called upon to mobilize against a five- alarm global fire , i.e., COVID-19 The climate crisis An unprincipled global financial system Lawlessness in cyberspace, and a rise in violent conflict.

B. The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) Is an annual Regional Platform for review of progress and advancing implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063: 2030 Is the set deadline for attainment of SDGs: looms closer- Time is of Essence The 2030 Agenda and SDGs adopted in 2015: Provide a framework for people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnerships 2022 Almost midway the set time frame for achieving SDGs Eighth session of ARFSD: Theme - Building forward better: A green, inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 - Spotlight on: SDGs 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17 2015 2030 Main outcomes adopted by ARFSD-8: Key messages of the Forum Kigali Declaration

C. Trends and emerging issues: Highlights from ARFSD-8 outcome documents Title 1. Overall: General lag in implementation of the SDGs 2. On SDG 4: Despite progress, the number of out of school children in Africa remains high 3. On SDG 5: Lack of sex disaggregated data is a key challenge to the effective mainstreaming of gender equality and women s empowerment into national development plans in Africa. 4. SDG 14 : Mixed performance, but overall, not on track to achieve SDG 14. 5. On SDG 15: Widespread deforestation, Africa had the largest annual rate of net forest loss in 2010 2020 6. Partnerships and means of Implementation: Growing Debt distress and large financing needs Need to achieve universal VNR coverage and scale up VLRs to drive implementation AfCFTA key to promoting sustainable technologies and infrastructure, and supporting inclusive green growth:

D. Call for Action by ARFSD-8: Seven key areas (1) Title 1. Education: African countries should invest in developing more resilient education systems Strengthen centres of excellence for and rollout STEAM education. 2. Gender and women empowerment: Strengthen institutional arrangements, to enhance national ownership and responsibility. 3. Marine and aquatic resources: African countries to strengthen their institutional capacity for marine resources management: Member states and partners called to embrace and support the Great Blue Wall initiative. 4. Forests, biodiversity and land management: strengthen the capacity for valuation of natural capital, and better integrate biodiversity into development planning and decision-making processes.

D. Call for Action by ARFSD-8: Eight key areas (2) 5. Alignment of national development plans with SDGs and Agenda 2063: Member states and partners to strengthen integration of SDGs and Agenda 2063 in national and sectoral plans and policies Take advantage of the IPRT developed by ECA to support countries. Title 6. Data and Statistics: Scaleup investments in the generation and use of quality statistics to better address gaps in SDG implementation Need to invest in big data management 7. Financing SDGs in the context COVID-19 and debt distress: Demands immediate multi- level interventions: Reforms to the international financial architecture to integrate innovative financing mechanisms that are initiated and led by African countries Renewed vigor on the part of African Governments, UN entities and development partners in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda ECA and the United Nations system to support establishment of a truly developmental carbon market on the continent

Highlights of the Ninth Session of ARFSD of 2023 Title ECA with the Government of Niger, AUC, the AfDB and UN system In Niamey, from 28 February to 2 March 2023. President of Niger, HE Mohamed Bazoum presided over the Forum Organization Theme: Accelerating the inclusive and green recovery from multiple crises and the integrated and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 with Focus on: 1. SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 &17 and the corresponding goals Agenda 2063 2. Following -up on the outcomes of COP27 of UNFCCC & COP15 of CBD. 3. Harnessing the green energy transition for Africa s industrialization and climate resilient and inclusive development. 4. Closing the financing gap for the Goals 5. STI, ACTs, and Workshops on VNRs &VLRs and MGOs and other events. Theme & Focus (i) summary and key messages including policy actions to accelerate implementation at different levels; and (ii) Niamey Declaration Main Outcomes

Few selected actions called for by ARFSD-9 The 2023 SDG summit should adopt transformative and accelerated actions to realize tangible results across SDGs. Urgently reform the global financial architecture. UN, AUC, AfDB, Afreximbank and partners to continue and expand their support to scale up and deliver transformative initiatives. Operationalize the Sustainable Debt Coalition. Operationalize the loss and damage fund. Design and implement a road map for the modernization and transformation of national statistical systems. African countries to redefine and develop their economic models to promote renewable energy, a just transition and the implementation of green and resilient infrastructure