Latest news with #ARFSD-11
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Advancing Gender Equality in Africa: Key Outcomes from the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) Gender Forum
During the 11th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), UN Women hosted the Gender Forum bringing together key stakeholders to spotlight Africa's progress on gender equality, identify enduring gaps, and foster collaboration for accelerated action. Grounded in the aspirations of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and the African Union's Agenda 2063, the forum served as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and shared commitment to an inclusive and sustainable future. The forum reaffirmed gender equality as a critical enabler of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. Stakeholders emphasized that gender-responsive policies and targeted investments are essential to ensuring women and girls benefit equitably from Africa's development agenda. Endless possibilities to advance gender equality It is critical to consider strategic investments in education—especially for adolescent girls- as this sets a foundation for diverse opportunities in future. This is also a step into the right direction as women are prepared for emerging opportunities in green and digital economies. Women's leadership was recognized as central to driving transformative change. Participants stressed the importance of representation in decision-making across all sectors. Discussions highlighted the need to embed gender-responsive budgeting in critical sectors like energy, transport, agriculture, and technology. Emphasis was placed on ensuring equitable access and inclusive development in traditionally male-dominated industries. It was clear that persistent challenges such as lack of access to land, financial exclusion, and gender pay gaps hinder progress as women are excluded in land ownership are greatly set back by gender pay gap and, in some instances, hindered from progressing because of unpaid care work. It was unanimously indicated that advocacy efforts focusing on recognizing, redistributing, and rewarding unpaid care work must be strengthened across the continent. There is value in recognizing the importance of engaging male allies and addressing societal stereotypes. One of the ways this could be achieved includes changing workplace cultures and perceptions which is a collective responsibility from leadership through to individual contributors from different sectors. How can the gender digital divide be closed? By considering digital inclusion as a driver for economic empowerment and calling for urgent action to enhance women's access to digital tools and technologies. Another critical aspect discussed by the speakers was the importance of gender-disaggregated data and tools like the Africa Gender Index for tracking progress and shaping effective policies. Coordinated efforts among governments, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector were deemed essential to scaling impact which includes strategic partnerships and shared accountability. The forum advocated for innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships and non-traditional funding streams to sustain progress. Ensuring the meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in development efforts was highlighted as a key priority. Empowerment and protection go hand-in-hand: participants linked gender equality with efforts to end violence against women and girls, stressing its role in driving broader transformation. A major outcome of the forum was a call to mainstream gender considerations in all sectors, including infrastructure, urban planning, and transport. Participants emphasized that gender-responsive design and policy are essential to creating inclusive, safe, and accessible spaces for all—especially women and marginalized groups. With the current global context posing threats to previous gains, the forum urged decision-makers to keep gender equality at the center of heavily funded programs, ensuring no reversal in progress. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
United Nations (UN) Women and Stakeholders Lead Parallel Session on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) at Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) to Advance Gender Equality through Systemic Transformation
In a powerful parallel session during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), UN Women, alongside key stakeholders from governments, civil society, the private sector, and youth organizations, convened to reaffirm and reimagine commitments to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Achieve gender equality and empower all women and parallel session called for integrated, inclusive, and gender-responsive approaches to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 and Agenda 2063. The session provided a critical space to take stock of progress, examine persistent barriers, and collaboratively chart a path toward transformative, gender-responsive development rooted in the aspirations of Agenda 2063. Panelists, as well as participants, emphasized the urgent need to integrate gender perspectives into all areas of planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. They highlighted that embedding gender considerations into public systems and policies was essential to dismantling structural barriers and ensuring that women and girls are equitably included in Africa's development journey. During the discussions, it was clear that expanding women's access to financial resources, including credit, entrepreneurship opportunities, and financial literacy programs was important and must be prioritized if the continent was to accelerate efforts towards achieving gender equality. Innovative financial mechanisms developed in partnership with public and private stakeholders were highlighted as key tools to promote inclusion and economic independence. There was a unanimous call for a systemic redistribution of unpaid care and domestic work, recognizing its impact on women's economic participation. Investment in care infrastructure, adoption of work-life balance policies, and the formal recognition of care workers are foundational to enabling women's full engagement in the workforce. Digital inclusion emerged as a priority, with calls to expand affordable access to digital tools and scale digital literacy programs for women and girls. Stakeholders highlighted that digital empowerment not only bridges the gender divide but also unlocks new economic and leadership opportunities for women in the digital economy. The session shed light on the importance of youth engagement, with participants advocating for the active involvement of young women in policymaking and leadership. This intergenerational lens was seen as vital for building resilient, equitable, and sustainable development outcomes. The reaffirmation of stakeholders' commitment to tackling gender-based violence through comprehensive prevention, protection, and response mechanisms. The session called for integrated, cross-sectoral strategies to address violence as a major barrier to gender equality and sustainable development. As the climate crisis continues to deepen existing inequalities, the vulnerability of women to climate-related risks continues to rise. Gender-sensitive climate action—including equitable access to land, technology, and green jobs—was positioned as critical to achieving resilient, inclusive economies. Collaboration was a strong theme throughout the session. There is need to strengthen multisectoral partnerships involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. Such alliances are key to mobilizing resources and accelerating gender-responsive solutions across the continent. The session identified persistent and emerging challenges undermining progress on gender equality, including: Economic inequality Underrepresentation of women in leadership roles Disproportionate unpaid care burdens Gender-based violence Digital exclusion Climate vulnerability Stakeholders must consider coordinated action to dismantle these systemic hurdles by embeding gender considerations in traditionally neglected sectors, such as transportation, infrastructure, and urban planning. Gender-responsive approaches in these areas were seen as essential to creating safer, more accessible, and equitable environments for women and marginalized communities. Stakeholders across the board should consider advocacy for decolonizing research practices and promoting community-driven, participatory knowledge production. Inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems and the empowerment of women and girls as both researchers and knowledge holders should be championed across the board. Additionally, a feminist research agenda was proposed—one that centers the lived experiences of women, focuses on transformative policy outcomes, and amplifies the voices of the most vulnerable. Africa must speaking with one voice in global forums to ensure the continent's gender equality priorities are clearly articulated and represented on the world stage. Part of this unanimous call involves strategic investments in public infrastructure, care systems, green economy pathways, and robust social protection. These interventions are critical to fostering inclusive development and ensuring gender equality is both a principle and a practice embedded in Africa's development blueprint. The parallel session served as a reaffirmation of Africa's resolve to leave no woman or girl behind, offering a vision of inclusive transformation driven by collective will, shared accountability, and bold, gender-responsive leadership. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Women Leaders Unite to Drive Inclusive Growth and Gender Equality at Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11)
As part of the 11th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), UN Women, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda, hosted a High-Level Women Leaders' Strategic Forum. The gathering brought together influential women leaders from across East and Southern Africa to explore opportunities that can accelerate gender equality and women's empowerment in the region. The session created a powerful platform to spotlight the pivotal role of women's leadership in advancing Africa's development agenda. What came out strongly throughout the discussions, was that women's leadership is essential for driving gender-responsive and inclusive implementation of development priorities at local, national, regional, and continental levels. Aligning with both SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and Agenda 2063, the forum projected the need for more women in decision-making roles to transform governance and development outcomes across the continent. The forum facilitated dynamic networking and peer-learning opportunities. Women leaders exchanged experiences, shared lessons, and built strategic alliances to advance gender equality agendas in their respective countries and sectors. UN Women showcased several impactful programs that demonstrate the power of innovation in empowering women economically. One outstanding conversation was on Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives that build resilience while increasing women's participation in agribusiness. The Market Garden App, a tech-based tool that connects women farmers to market opportunities and resources. These solutions exemplify how innovation and investment can unlock women's potential as key contributors to economic growth and climate resilience. Dr. Julian Adyeri Omalla spoke on the impact of working with grassroot women and their contributions to economic growth and full life transformation as they support their families and their communities. One of the successful programmes is the Adyeri Model, which has empowered over 50,000 women by promoting inclusive value chains and gender-smart investments. These initiatives demonstrate the tangible benefits of investing in women and show what is possible when gender is placed at the center of development efforts. There was a call for bold action in five key areas: Advancing economic justice for women and closing gender gaps in income and opportunity. Transforming the care economy by recognizing, redistributing, and investing in unpaid care work. Expanding decent work opportunities and improving labor protections for women. Bridging the gender digital divide to ensure equitable access to technology and digital skills. Strengthening women's leadership and governance across all levels of society. A major highlight of the forum was the introduction of the Kampala Compact, a bold and transformative framework designed to guide concrete commitments and actions for: Women's economic empowerment Inclusive governance Sustainable, gender-responsive development The Compact is expected to serve as a key reference point for leaders and policymakers to track progress and reinforce accountability on gender equality commitments. Rising to the occasion by taking charge: Financing, Policy Reform, and Strategic Partnerships The forum concluded with strong calls to: Mainstream gender into national and regional policies and budgets Tackle barriers such as limited access to finance and resources for women entrepreneurs Foster inclusive and innovative partnerships across sectors The Ambassador of the Netherlands addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of allies in achieving gender equality and citing the upcoming Beijing+30 milestone as a critical moment for reflection, recommitment, and renewed action. Looking ahead, there are strong outcomes from the numerous collaborations that brought together the key stakeholders to the forum. The session served as a powerful reminder that Africa's sustainable future depends on the full participation and leadership of women. By investing in women, reforming systems, and working in solidarity, the region can move closer to a just, inclusive, and gender-equal society. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Uganda's innovations and value chains take centre stage at The Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD11) knowledge fair
The Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) was marked by a vibrant Knowledge Fair and Exhibition jointly organized by the United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes and coordinated by the Knowledge Management team of ECA and the Government of Uganda. The Knowledge Fair was officially opened by the new chair of the ARFD Bureau, Justine Lumumba Kasule, Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda and Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the ECA. The Fair brought together a wide array of exhibitors showcasing tangible success stories aligned with the five focus Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ARFSD-11: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Exhibitors included United Nations entities, the Science and Technology Department of Uganda, and a range of innovators from the informal and private sectors. A highlight of the exhibition was the " Making Uganda the Best" theme, which spotlighted locally driven innovations such as value-added agricultural products, advancements in Uganda's motor industry, and digital technologies developed to support livelihoods and environmental sustainability. During the exhibition tour, Minister Lumumba and Mr. Gatete engaged directly with innovators and stakeholders, praising their contributions toward achieving the SDGs. The Executive Secretary commended the creativity and commitment demonstrated, emphasizing the importance of scaling up these inventions and marketing best practices across the African continent to foster inclusive, homegrown development. 'This Knowledge Fair is a testament to Africa's ability to innovate and deliver solutions tailored to our development context,' said Mr. Gatete. 'We must do more to amplify these efforts, share knowledge across borders, and foster regional value chains that empower our people.' The Knowledge Fair, which is central to ECA's knowledge delivery serves as a dynamic platform for exchange, networking, and the promotion of sustainable innovation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
08-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
11th Regional Forum on Sustainable Development to focus on driving jobs and economic growth
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -/ African Media Agency(AMA)/- The Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) is set to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from April 9 to April 11, 2025, preceded by pre-events, such as the Africa Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum. This multi-stakeholder forum will be jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of Uganda, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and various United Nations agencies. Under the theme 'Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,' ARFSD-11 aims to address the pressing need for concerted action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063. With only five years left to meet these ambitious targets, the Forum represents a crucial opportunity to catalyze real change on the Continent. While some progress has been registered on the SDGs as reported in voluntary reviews, the organizing experts worry that Africa, like many parts of the world, is currently off track with most SDG targets and has even seen regression in certain areas. The Forum is being held at a critical time when commitments to enhance the pace of implementation across the continent need to be revitalised. African States need to take bold, ambitious and accelerated transformative measures to improve development outcomes. As part of the ARFSD, countries will participate in a Regional preparatory workshop for African voluntary national reviews and voluntary local reviews, with the aim of strengthening peer-to-peer learning and sharing best practices and success stories in addressing common challenges that are specific to Africa. Furthermore, there is the urgency to implement the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063, as it directly aligns with the overarching goals of the 2030 Agenda, with ambitions known as 'moonshots' which include the attainment of at least middle-income status and the amicable resolution of conflicts in Africa by 2044. Amplifying Africa's collective voice on the SDGs and Agenda 2063 The annual Forum is coming in the wake of resolutions reached at the 2024 Summit of the Future and the need to push concrete actions for the implementation of the Summit's outcomes. Additionally, the Forum will serve as a preparatory meeting for the Second World Summit for Social Development, set to be held in Qatar in November 2025. This alignment emphasizes the importance of Africa's collective voice on global platforms. The objectives of ARFSD-11 include a comprehensive review of progress, challenges, and opportunities in implementing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 with specific focus on five key SDGs: SDG 3 (good health and well-being) SDG 5 (gender equality) SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) and the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063 with a special focus on its second ten-year implementation plan (STYIP) Furthermore, the Forum aims to strengthen learning and advocate for effective policy measures that promote sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions at national, regional, and global levels. It will also facilitate consensus-building and the adoption of key outcome documents, including the Kampala Declaration on sustainable development. As a multi-stakeholder forum, ARFSD-11 will adopt a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and virtual participation from ministers, high-level policymakers, experts, and practitioners across various sectors. Participants will represent ministries responsible for planning, economic development, gender and social affairs, health, environmental management, and more. Additionally, stakeholders from civil society, the private sector, media, academia, and regional organizations will contribute to the discussions, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue. According to the organizing team, Africa is at a pivotal moment, with the potential to significantly advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 from the ground up. The Forum is being organized as one that needs to shape the future of sustainable development across the region. For registration and more: About the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA's) mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its Member States, foster intraregional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. ECA is made up of 54 Member States and plays a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape. For more information, visit: Media Enquiries: and Issued by: Communications Section Economic Commission for Africa PO Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia E-mail: eca-info@
