The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, convened the third session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 17 to 19 May 2017, in preparation for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017, to be held in New York from 10 to 19 July 2017. The theme for the Regional Forum was “Ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth and prosperity for all”. This theme is well aligned with that of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017: “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”.
Since 2015, the Africa Regional Forum has been convened on an annual basis in Africa to undertake follow-up to and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063. The Forum promotes coordination and coherence, learning and sharing of best practices. It therefore serves as an important mechanism, not only for tracking progress in implementation, but also for keeping all the stakeholders in Africa mobilized and engaged to strengthen their commitment to concerted action, and to garner international support for efforts to translate the Sustainable Development Goals and aspiration of Agenda 2063 into measurable and shared prosperity that benefits the planet and its people.
The third session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development undertook in-depth review of the implementation of the cluster of Sustainable Development Goals for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017, under the following corresponding sub-themes:
- Eradicating all forms of poverty in Africa
- Ending hunger and achieving food security in Africa
- Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all
- Promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls
- Building resilient infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation
- Conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
The Forum was attended by high-level representatives of Governments, intergovernmental bodies, major groups and other stakeholders; United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, and other International Organizations. Women Environmental Programme (WEP) as a Major Group was represented by her Executive Director Priscilla Achakpa and Damaris Uja, Programme Officer.
WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME (WEP) 