Niger To Host 9th Session Of The Africa Regional Forum On Sustainable Development To Take Stock On Progress

By Wallace Mawire Niger is set to host the ninth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in the capital city of Niamey on 28 February to 2 March, 2023. The forum is being jointly organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of Niger in collaboration with the African Union Commission,the Africa Development Bank including other various entities in the United Nations system. The theme of the ninth forum is:Accelerating the inclusive and green recovery from multiple crises and the integrated and full implementation of the 2030 agenda and Agenda 2063. According to an ECA spokesperson, durring the forum,participants will undertake an in-depth review of progress made in the implementation of five Sustainable Development Goals,namely Goals 6 on clean water and sanitation,7 on affordable and clean energy,9 on industry,innovation and infrastructure,11 on sustainable cities and communities and Goal 17 on partnerships for the Goals along with the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063:The Africa We Want of the African Union. ECA says that the regional forum will also serve as a platform for sharing experiences,good practices and lessons learned with regards to voluntary national reviews,voluntary local reviews and other efforts to implement the two agendas. Participants are also expected to identify and build a consensus on policy options and actions to be adopted as key messages and a declaration to drive action towards an accelerated,inclusive and green recovery from multiple crises,alongside the full implementation of the two agendas. It is also expected that the key messages and the declaration will also serve as the collective african input tothe 2023 high-level political forum on sustainable development to be held in New York from 10 to 19 July 2023 and to the Sustainable Development Goals Summit to be held during the high level week of the General Assembly in September 2023. According to ECA, the regional forum is expected to bring together ministers and other high level policy makers and experts from governments and intergovernmental organizations,the private sector,civil society organizations and other major groups and international development partners.