The 10th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-10) will convene in a hybrid format from April 23rd to 25th, 2024, at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The ARFSD-10 theme, “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: Effective Delivery of Sustainable, resilient, and Innovative Solutions,” underscores its focus on addressing critical development challenges.

Nassim Oulmane, Acting Director of the Technology Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division of the ECA, highlights the urgency to intensify efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda, as progress on most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa remains insufficient. Attaining the SDGs by 2030 necessitates ambitious and decisive actions.

ARFSD-10 presents a timely platform to rectify deficiencies and seize emerging opportunities for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063. Additionally, it will facilitate mobilizing Africa’s contributions for the September 2024 Summit of the Future.

Jointly organized by the ECA in collaboration with the AUC, the African Development Bank, and UN system organizations, the ARFSD-10 aims to evaluate progress, exchange knowledge, and devise policy solutions aligned with regional priorities to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The agenda of ARFSD-10 encompasses SDGs 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and corresponding goals of Agenda 2063.

Pre-events and side events preceding ARFSD-10 from April 17th to 22nd include initiatives such as a Coding Camp for African Girls, a Science Technology and Innovation Boot Camp for young people, a Youth Forum on the Summit of the Future, and the 6th African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum. Other events include discussions on Carbon Markets, Africa Climate Talks, and Progress Review on Food Systems.

Key stakeholders, including policymakers, experts, and representatives from ministries, agencies, regional bodies, and UN organizations, will participate in ARFSD-10. The outcomes will encompass key messages and a declaration, informing the global UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development later in the year.

ARFSD serves as one of the mechanisms mandated to monitor progress and catalyze actions towards achieving the SDGs outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.