Highlights and images for 3 May 2018

4th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

Summary

On Thursday, 3 May 2018, Senegalese Prime Minister Mahammed Dionne officially opened the fourth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), Dakar, Senegal. In his keynote address, he acknowledged that the choice of Senegal as host of the Forum is “a source of pride” and stressed that his country is committed to step up its implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

During the opening session, Priya Gajraj, UN Resident Coordinator, Senegal, underscored the importance of regional collaboration in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa, emphasized that voluntary national reports (VNRs) are crucial “to increase the momentum at the pace and scale commensurate for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.”

Delegates heard from a high-level panel on transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies. They then approved the nominees to the 2018-2019 Bureau, electing Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, as ARFSD Chair. They attended a session on progress made at regional and sub-regional levels in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, led by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The ARFSD then broke into parallel sessions to discuss the following SDGs:

Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6);
Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7);
Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11);
Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12);
Life on Land (SDG 15); and
Strengthening Means of Implementation and the Partnership for Sustainable Development (SDG 17)

Key messages from the parallel sessions on progress made, challenges faced, and recommendations for implementing these SDGs are expected to inform Africa’s position at the High-level Political Forum and will be presented to plenary on Friday, 4 May 2018.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily digital web coverage and a summary report from the 4th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon
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Opening session

Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne, Prime Minister of Senegal

Moderator Fatima Denton, Director, Special Initiatives Division, UNECA

Gervais Meatchi Tchaou, Chair of the third ARFSD, Togo

Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS

Priya Gajraj, UN Resident Coordinator in Senegal

L-R: Moderator Adam Abdelmoula, Director, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Baryomunsi Chris, Minister of State for Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda; Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal; Habofanoe Lehana, Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs, Lesotho; and Said Kambi, Africa Corporate Governance Network

Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, and ARFSD Chair

Baryomunsi Chris, Minister of State for Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda

Habofanoe Lehana, Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs, Lesotho

Said Kambi, Africa Corporate Governance Network

Participants during the plenary session

Randall Massaquoi Dobayou, Liberia

Fatou Kiné Diaw, Clarteen Group, Senegal

L-R: Thokozile Ruzvidzo, UNECA; Nassim Oulmane, UNECA; Cheikh Dieng, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal; and Bartholomew Armah, UNECA