LocationsAfro-Arab Senators for Sustainable Development
May 11, 2023
ASSECAA members pose with the Prime Minister, HE Cleopas Dlamini
Senators from Africa and the Arab World are gathered to find solutions to the successive economic crises resulting from COVID-19, the Russia/Ukraine conflict and climate change impacts. The global challenges have resulted in escalating food prices which have been the highest since 2008, and increased energy prices, the highest since the 1973 oil crisis. In addition, climate change continues to threaten the global economy and the lives of many people, especially the poor.
The House of Senate in the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini is hosting the 10th Retreat of the Association of Senates Shoora and equivalent Council of Africa and Arab World (ASSECAA) at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre, Ezulwini, from11 to 13 May. During this retreat, about 150 delegates from 17 countries discussed ideas on influencing policies in stimulating a green economy for sustainable development in the two regions. Eight Arab and 14 African countries, including Eswatini, are ASSECAA member states.
Senate President to the Parliament of Eswatini, Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, welcomed her counterparts from the two regions and said ASSECCA has become a crucial platform for dialogue and socio-economic and political cooperation between Africa and the Arab World.
“Indeed, it has evolved into a formidable crucible for ideas and thinking that inspire Africa and the Arab World to harness their potential for the benefit of our people in spite of challenges emanating from the prevailing world economic order,” said Dlamini.
The Prime Minister, HE Cleopas Dlamini, delivering his speech.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported this conference by providing technical expertise that assessed the impact of the global crises on the two regions and helped explore the commission develop strategies of moving forward to sustainable economic growth and possibilities of transitioning to green economies. This is aligned with the UNDP offer to Eswatini under Sustainable Economic Inclusive Growth and Efficient and Participatory Governance, underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
Addressing the senators at the official opening of the three-day retreat, Prime Minister H.E Cleopas Dlamini said Eswatini had to divert national budgets to fight the pandemic. He added that many people lost their livelihoods resulting in reduced tax revenue, making it difficult to recover from the resultant economic plunge.
Dlamini also said the Russia-Ukraine war threatens global peace and urged all countries to encourage the two states to resolve their differences peacefully. He also acknowledged that the impact of climate change had wreaked further havoc in Southern Africa.
He remained hopeful that the Russia/Ukraine war would end and noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was ending. However, he observed that climate change was a long-term challenge, as pointed out in the latest Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
UN Resident Coordinator Mr George Wachira delivers his speech
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported this conference by providing technical expertise that assessed the impact of the global crises on the two regions and helped explore the commission develop strategies of moving forward to sustainable economic growth and possibilities of transitioning to green economies. This is aligned with the UNDP offer to Eswatini under Sustainable Economic Inclusive Growth and Efficient and Participatory Governance, underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
Addressing the senators at the official opening of the three-day retreat, Prime Minister H.E Cleopas Dlamini said Eswatini had to divert national budgets to fight the pandemic. He added that many people lost their livelihoods resulting in reduced tax revenue, making it difficult to recover from the resultant economic plunge.
Dlamini also said the Russia-Ukraine war threatens global peace and urged all countries to encourage the two states to resolve their differences peacefully. He also acknowledged that the impact of climate change had wreaked further havoc in Southern Africa.
He remained hopeful that the Russia/Ukraine war would end and noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was ending. However, he observed that climate change was a long-term challenge, as pointed out in the latest Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Rose Ssebantindira, flanked by UNDP Governance Specialist, Ms. Linda Nxumalo (left) and another delegate (right).
Speaking at the same event, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr. George Wachira, said the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, summarised the global crises in seven topics:
COVID-19 pandemic
Climate change
Economic inequality
Political instability
Human rights abuses
Technological and cyber threats
Global Migration
“As the UN, we can attest that the impacts of these crises are very real; an estimated 88 to 155 million people worldwide have been pushed into poverty,” he said. “In 2022, the average public debt on the African continent increased to over 60% of GDP and will likely remain at this level in 2023.”
Wachira said the responses to the crises need to be multifaced, strong, cooperative and coordinated. On that note, he congratulated His Majesty, King Mswati III, for two achievements that address the global challenges:
The launch of the USD 1.3 Billion Nationally-determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation plan to address climate change. UNDP supported Eswatini with developing its NDCs, the national climate action plan, and its implementation.
The launch of the National Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.
“As you know, the future of development has shifted from donor aid to trade and investment, led by a strong private sector and facilitative policy environment,” he said.
Wachira urged the legislators and policymakers to amplify the Secretary-General’s calls for reforms to the international financial architecture. He also urged them to help implement national policies to better align all financing flows with the SDGs and the focus on People and Planet, using instruments such as the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).
“As leaders, legislators and policy makers, we have the responsibility to help our people to negotiate the complexity that we face, to be the interpreters, so to speak, between the global and local realities and ensure that we are doing the best we can so that, together, we can arrive to the simplicity this side of complexity – which is better lives for our people,” said Wachira.
