Africa’s 11th Forum for Sustainable Future, Mauritius Elected 1st Vice-President

In a poignant gathering that echoed with the urgency of our times, the 11th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) unfolded from 9th to 11th April in Kampala, Uganda. This pivotal event brought together African leaders, united in their commitment to a vision that places innovation, inclusion, and local transformation at the heart of Africa’s development narrative.

A Clarion Call for Sustainable Solutions
Fabrice David, the Junior Minister for Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, articulated a clarion call:

“We must stimulate job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive solutions grounded in science and evidence, all within the frameworks of the 2030 Agenda and the 2063 Agenda.”

Understanding the Global Frameworks
The 2030 Agenda, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, is a global blueprint comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each with specific targets to be achieved by 2030.

This framework serves as a common language for governments, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and institutions worldwide.

In parallel, the 2063 Agenda, established by the African Union in 2013, aims to transform Africa into a prosperous continent by the year 2063.

Assessing Progress on Key Goals
The forum sought to assess the strides made by African nations in the joint implementation of these two ambitious frameworks.

Discussions centred on several priority SDGs, including health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), marine resource preservation (SDG 14), and partnerships for development (SDG 17).

On 18th April, the Council of Ministers convened to acknowledge the participation of the Junior Minister, Fabrice David, who not only contributed as a panellist in the session on “Ocean Preservation and Sustainable Use” but also chaired a roundtable on “Life Below Water,” addressing Africa’s progress in implementing SDG 14.

New Leadership for Regional Collaboration
This 11th edition of the forum was also marked by the election of a new regional bureau for a one-year mandate, with Uganda assuming the presidency and Mauritius elected as the first vice-president.

Establishing High Standards for Action
The forum transcended mere dialogue, establishing high standards for regional collaboration.

The declaration adopted at its conclusion is unequivocal, action-oriented, results-based, and measurable, paving the way for effective monitoring and evaluation at the next meeting.

Key Themes from the Forum
In the closing statement, Leonard Zulu, the United Nations representative and Resident Coordinator in Uganda, highlighted five key themes that emerged from the forum’s discussions.

Over the course of five days of dialogue, countries reaffirmed their commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive development, aligned with the 2030 and 2063 Agendas.

Investing in the Future
Zulu underscored the critical importance of investing in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as essential drivers of economic growth, job creation, and resilience.

He stressed the urgent need for a genuine paradigm shift to generate quality employment, advocating for the cessation of raw material exports in favour of local transformation.

Innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms are vital for resource mobilisation and accountability.

Furthermore, inclusive growth must encompass gender equality, youth empowerment, decent work, and social protection, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable.

Strengthening Partnerships for Success
Finally, Zulu called for strengthened partnerships among governments, civil society, the private sector, universities, and international institutions to ensure collective success.

“As we depart from Kampala, let us transform our rich discussions into concrete actions. Let us move forward with inspiration, determination, and unity.

We must maintain this momentum and bolster our collective efforts,” he concluded. “Together, we can build a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Africa.”

Source: l’Express