UN, AU rally for stronger ties to tackle Africa’s development challenges

The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have made a resounding call for heightened cooperation in addressing the myriad challenges hindering Africa’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the 10th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development commenced in Addis Ababa.

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, in her keynote address, underscored the pressing need for a robust partnership between the UN and the AU to confront Africa’s complex crises.

She highlighted the staggering increase in debt, which has risen by 183 percent since 2010, far surpassing the region’s growth rate. Mohammed emphasized that last year, a staggering 47.5 percent of government revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa was consumed by debt servicing alone.

“The gap is enormous,” Mohammed declared, noting that an additional $4 trillion USD must be invested annually until 2030 to stand a chance of achieving the SDGs globally.

Echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for an SDG stimulus of at least $500 billion USD annually, Mohammed stressed the imperative of Africa’s leadership and unified voice to realize this ambitious goal.

African Union Commission (AUC) Deputy Chairperson, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, reiterated Africa’s steadfast commitment to Agenda 2063.

Reflecting on the AUC’s adoption of the second ten-year implementation plan in February, Nsanzabaganwa acknowledged both the achievements of the first decade and the necessity of addressing emerging challenges and opportunities.

Representing President Sahlework Zewdie, Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa emphasized the imperative of prioritizing poverty eradication and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.

Assefa underscored that eradicating poverty necessitates a comprehensive approach with significant investments in peacebuilding, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The three-day forum, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission, aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to expedite progress towards the SDGs and Agenda 2063.

The discussions is slated to continue until Thursday.