By Baboloki Semele: The bustling city of Kampala will host a critical event in Africa’s development agenda, as it welcomes the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11). From 8 to 10 April 2025, key players from across the continent will gather at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo to discuss strategies aimed at driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
Jointly organized by the Economic Commision for Africa- United and the Government of Uganda, in collaboration with the African Union Commission- https://au.int/, the African development Bank https://www.afdb.org/en , and various United Nations system organizations, ARFSD-11 offers a unique platform to address Africa’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.
According to the concept note availed to this publication,under the theme “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” this forum comes at a pivotal moment as Africa, like much of the world, is off-track in achieving the majority of its SDG targets, and, in some areas, has regressed. With just six years left until 2030, the urgency for multi-level action cannot be overstated. The note says the forum aims to accelerate the pace of implementation and provide concrete solutions to the challenges hindering progress on these vital development goals.
ARFSD-11 will also serve as an important platform for reflecting on the outcomes of the https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future and laying the groundwork for Africa’s common position at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar later in November 2025 https://sdg.iisd.org/events/second-world-summit-on-social-development/#:~:text=The%20Second%20World%20Summit%20on,2030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development.
Key Objectives of ARFSD-11
The forum is poised to accomplish several crucial objectives:
- Review Progress: A comprehensive review of Africa’s progress on SDGs, with a focus on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). These will be considered alongside corresponding goals from Agenda 2063, especially its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP).
- Strengthen Learning: The forum will advocate for science- and evidence-based solutions to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, offering policy measures to advance both national and regional implementation.
- Follow-up on Summit Outcomes: It will chart a path for taking forward the key results of the Summit of the Future and ensure Africa’s contributions to the global discourse are captured.
- Preparatory Meeting: ARFSD-11 will also serve as a preparatory meeting for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York in July 2025, producing Africa’s collective inputs.
A key outcome document, the Kampala Declaration, is expected to emerge from the forum, outlining Africa’s priorities and strategies for accelerating the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
The forum will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and virtual participation. Attendees will include ministers, high-level policymakers, experts, and practitioners from various sectors such as planning, economic development, gender, social affairs, health, environmental management, and science and innovation. Representatives from the African Union, African Development Bank, Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations, civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia will also join, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.
The concept note says as ARFSD-11 kicks off in Kampala, it presents Africa with a unique opportunity to align its development efforts with both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. With a renewed focus on science and evidence-based solutions, the forum will champion strategies that not only drive economic growth but also ensure that growth is inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all Africans. it further says by fostering cooperation, sharing best practices, and committing to actionable solutions, the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is poised to be a major step forward in Africa’s journey toward sustainable development, job creation, and long-term prosperity.
