Meeting The Sustainable Development Goals Is Urgent

The tenth ARFSD is set to take place in Addis Ababa in late April 2024, at a critical time when African nations are struggling to meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The forum will focus on five SDGs ahead of major UN meetings later in the year, including the Summit of the Future in September.

Key challenges facing the continent include:

• Post-pandemic recovery setbacks
• High levels of debt (24 of 35 low-income African countries are in or at high risk of debt distress)
• External debt of over $650 billion, with $69 billion due in repayments this year
• Climate change impacts on food systems and energy supply
• Limited access to climate finance (Africa receives only 2% of global climate investment)

The forum will address several innovative solutions and initiatives, including:

• The Congo Basin's potential as a carbon sink (holding 29 billion tonnes of carbon)
• The Great Blue Wall initiative for coastal areas from Mozambique to Somalia
• Debt-for-climate investment swaps, similar to the arrangement between Cabo Verde and Portugal
• Development of regional frameworks to attract investors

The urgency of these discussions is underscored by Nassim Oulmane from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, who warns about crossing planetary boundaries and the risks of climate-induced crises affecting food security, migration, and regional stability.

The forum's theme reflects these pressing concerns: "Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions."

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