Reviewing Africa’s sustainable development progress

The Tenth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development recently concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a focus on innovative financing and the reform of the international financial system to help Africa achieve its sustainable development goals. The forum, hosted by the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including government officials, civil society, private sector, academia, and youth to review progress, challenges, and opportunities related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want. Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary & Chief Economist of UNECA, shared key insights from the conference, highlighting the importance of addressing goals such as poverty reduction, zero hunger, climate action, peace, justice, strong institutions, and partnerships. The forum emphasized the need for affordable financing at scale and leveraging Africa's unique opportunities and assets to drive sustainable development. A key message that emerged was that Africa has the opportunity to accelerate action towards realizing its development goals and asserting its leadership position in global discussions and decision-making. Moving forward, continued efforts and collaboration will be crucial in the journey towards 2030 and creating an inclusive Africa for all to thrive.