© UNECA
26 April 2024, Rome, Italy. The New Global Order (TNGO) was invited by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), receiving accreditation to attend both in person and virtually the United Nations 10th Session of the Africa Regional Forum hosted at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) at ECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 22 to 25. The theme of this year focused on reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Agenda 2063 with priorities on the eradication of poverty and hunger.
The tenth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations system organizations. The Forum convened high-level policymakers and experts from ministries and agencies from the 54 ECA member States; the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, and other regional and subregional organizations; the United Nations system organizations; civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia.
The Forum aimed at reviewing the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063; strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions at the national, regional, and global levels to advance the implementation of SDGs and Goals of Agenda 2063; deliberating on transformative, innovative and ambitious interventions to drive integrated and accelerated implementation at the scale necessary to achieve the SDGs and goals of Agenda 2063; reaching consensus and adopting Forum outcomes on Africa’s priorities, key policy options and recommendations to inform and spur actions at subnational, national, regional and global levels to accelerate the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the implementation plan of Agenda 2063.
Throughout the Forum, key messages and resolutions emphasized prioritizing the preservation of food systems in Africa, given their key role in the continent’s economies and its vulnerability in the face of climate change. Moreover, key messages also highlighted the need to ensure greater allocation of budgetary resources to efforts to reduce poverty and tackle inflation, with a particular focus on women and young people.
After three fruitful days of discussion and debate, the Forum agreed that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa should place young people at the center of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, by championing entrepreneurship, job creation, institution-building, technology, and other initiatives, all led by young people, and by enabling them to serve as a link between their communities and the Goals. The Forum also agreed on investing in human capital and the development of the vulnerable groups and young people of Africa, including through improved access to education and healthcare.
The Forum also touched on climate action and urged African nations and the United Nations:
- To invest in the development of their own green technologies, and make optimal use of their abundant resources to build resilient economies, unlock socioeconomic benefits, create green and decent jobs, achieve sustainable industrialization, and empower women, young people, local communities, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples, all of whom are among the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change
- To prioritize climate literacy and enhance risk knowledge and risk governance in support of an integrated approach to planning and implementing disaster risk reduction, and promote formal, informal, and non-formal education and training programs for women and young people to equip current and future workforces with the skills needed for green jobs, thereby ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon economy.
Attending the United Nations 10th Session of the Africa Regional Forum was a unique opportunity for The New Global Order. Being one of the few international youth-led think tanks with an African division, allows our NGO to actively participate as a member of civil society in such forums, centering the voices of the African youth in policy discussions, leading and influencing African affairs. The New Global Order’s Central and Southern African Department remains committed to engaging in similar meetings and networking with policy experts on African geopolitics.
