Addis Ababa - African governments participating in the 12th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) have adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration, setting out the continent’s collective priorities on sustainable development financing, climate action, and implementation of global development goals.
The Declaration emphasizes Africa’s commitment to strengthening follow-up actions related to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the Second World Summit for Social Development, and the upcoming UN climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
A key focus of the Declaration is UNFCCC COP 32, scheduled for 2027, which African countries view as a critical opportunity to shift global climate efforts “from commitments to implementation.” The Declaration stresses the importance of advancing African-led solutions on climate adaptation, resilience, and climate finance while ensuring that international climate outcomes reflect the realities and long-term development priorities of African nations.
Leaders at the Forum also called for stronger and more integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The Declaration urges African countries to actively contribute to shaping the post-2030 global development framework so that African priorities, experiences, and lessons are adequately reflected in future international policies.
In addition, the Declaration advocates for development measurement systems that go beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP), highlighting the need for broader indicators that better capture social progress, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. It also emphasizes the importance of enhanced finance, fair trade, technology transfer, and capacity-building support for developing nations.
The Africa RFSD serves as an annual multi-stakeholder platform jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the host government, which this year was Ethiopia, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and various UN agencies and partners.
Ahead of the Forum, several preparatory events were conducted, including workshops involving Major Groups and other Stakeholders, the African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, sessions on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), the seventh Africa Climate Talks, and discussions on Africa’s future priorities concerning water and sanitation beyond 2026.
The Africa RFSD is one of five regional forums organized globally in preparation for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, scheduled to convene in July under the auspices of the United Nations.
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