Kampala, Uganda, 11 April 2025 – Against the backdrop of mounting global challenges, shifts in the multilateral financial architecture and slow progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), over 1,800 political leaders, technical experts, and stakeholders convened this week in Kampala for the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11). Co-hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of Uganda, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations (UN) entities, the forum concluded today with an urgent call for bold action, strong leadership, innovative solutions and stronger partnerships to drive the sustainable development agenda in Africa.

Held under the theme "Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-based and evidence-based solutions for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063", the Forum served as a regional platform to inspire the acceleration of progress on the SDGs. It marked a critical moment in Africa’s collective journey toward inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.

Speaking during the opening of the forum, H.E. Moses Vilakati, the newly appointed African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment urged participants to see the forum as a moment where ambition meets accountability, calling for all stakeholders to take action to attain sustainable development in Africa:

“Let us be clear—plans do not deliver themselves. People do. I extend a call to action to all of you: make your commitment visible. Your role matters. Let our gathering be a turning point where ambition meets accountability. Let us collaborate intentionally and deliver.”

Also speaking at the opening, Ambassador Bob Rae, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations called for a collective reckoning with the slow pace of progress on the SDGs:

“We all need to be clear that if we don’t take additional measures, we won’t make the progress on the SDGs we need to make. The arbitrary cuts made in development assistance by a number of countries are having a disastrous effect on global growth and economic justice; we have to face these challenges together.”

Today, only 10 out of the 144 measurable SDG targets are on track in Africa, with up to 106 targets requiring accelerated action and another 28 showing signs of regression, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Meanwhile, structural vulnerabilities, including financing gaps, global economic headwinds, the impacts of climate change, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have hampered progress on nearly all fronts. With mounting challenges and a limited five-year window to achieve the SDGs, there is a need for home-grown financing, domestic policy reforms, and regional integration to fast-track structural transformation in Africa.

“The next five years must be marked by bold leadership that places Africa on a sustainable growth trajectory,” said Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. “We simply cannot afford to continue at this pace. We must move beyond diagnosing our challenges to implementing bold and actionable solutions, and this forum offers us an opportunity to turn our attention to five critical SDGs (SDG 3[1], SDG 5[2], SDG 8[3], SDG 14[4], and SDG 17[5]), he added.”

He proposed four strategic pillars to raise the financing needed to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and accelerate sustainable development across Africa:

• Domestic resource mobilization and expanding tax bases;
• Derisking African economies to attract private sector investment;
• Expanding access to affordable finance for women, youth, and informal sector entrepreneurs;
• Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade and advance Africa’s agenda.

In a standout address, H.E. Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, emphasized the importance of self-reliance, industrialization and regional economic integration:

“The solutions are with us. If we avoid mistakes and are clear about regional integration, external factors will not derail us. We must go from a pre-industrial society to an industrial one.”

Throughout the week, ARFSD-11 hosted more than 50 side events and high-level panels, including a presidential dialogue led by H.E. Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, and H.E. Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC); a discussion on the Advancing Inclusive Development Report launched earlier in February 2025 on the margins of the African Union Heads of State Summit; a private sector roundtable, pre-forum events on the spotlight initiative; youth empowerment; carbon markets; science, technology and innovation; and a Knowledge Fair which featured over 30 innovations, best practices, stories and solutions aligned with the Forum’s sub-themes. A dedicated UNDP space allowed participants to share their ideas for a sustainable future in Africa and interact with flagship knowledge products, compelling stories and examples of best practices.

Special attention was also given to scaling sustainable solutions for economic growth, job creation and the acceleration of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. A high-level panel moderated by Matthias Naab, Director of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA), featured Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, who stressed the importance of going beyond job creation to building meaningful livelihoods, especially for young Africans and women, who remain the continent’s greatest untapped strength:

“My key message today is that we shift from identifying problems to scaling solutions that work. That means trusting African data and insights, backing African innovators and institutions, and building systems that are resilient to shocks—and responsive to our citizens. This quest is being realized through innovations such as Timbuktoo, which is a concrete expression of how technology is inspiring job creation and laying the foundation for economic growth.”

Next Steps

The forum laid the foundation for Africa’s consolidated inputs to the upcoming 2025 High-Level Political Forum and the Second World Summit for Social Development and concluded with the adoption of the Kampala Declaration, a regional roadmap of bold, science-based, and inclusive policy actions which outlines Africa’s collective priorities and actionable recommendations to:

• Scale up job creation and decent work;
• Enhance health systems and access to healthcare;
• Advance gender equality and meaningful youth participation;
• Promote inclusive, green industrialization;
• Strengthen partnerships and regional cooperation.

As the Forum wraps up, the need to ensure the outcomes of the Kampala Declaration translate into tangible progress for Africa is clear and requires an all-of-society approach.

“Let us seize this forum and the Kampala Declaration,” said Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. “Let us scale what works and create an enabling environment for innovations and solutions powered by Africans. Together, we can accelerate action on the SDGs and Agenda 2063,” she added.

Africa’s journey toward a just, green, and inclusive future continues—and in Kampala, it has taken a bold and decisive step forward.

For further information, please contact:

• Rosy Ndedi-penda, Coordination Specialist, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | rosy.ndedi-penda@undp.org
• Ayda Labassi, Digital Communications Specialist, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | ayda.labassi@undp.org
• Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Head of Communications, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and UNDP Senegal | ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org

Notes for the Editors:

About the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development

The Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development aims to assess progress and exchange knowledge, best practices, and policy solutions to support the 2030 Agenda, in line with regional priorities. Now, in its 11^th edition, the forum is a timely opportunity to drive real change and rescue the SDGs and Agenda 2063. With just about five years to 2030, there is an urgent need for concerted multi-level action at scale and speed to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 goals. Therefore, the remaining five years from 2025 present an opportunity and a window of hope to dramatically boost the pace and scale of implementation to deliver on the regional and global sustainable development goals.

Learn more at https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/arfsd2025

About the 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, ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.

Made up of 54 member States and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to addressing the Continent’s development challenges.

Learn more at https://www.uneca.org

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at www.undp.org/africa/

Learn more about the Kampala Declaration and the Key Messages here.

[1] Good Health and Well-Being

[2] Gender Equality

[3] Decent Work and Economic Growth

[4] Life Below Water

[5] Partnerships for the Goals