14 October 2016: The UN celebrated Africa Week 2016 under the theme ‘Strengthening Partnership for Inclusive Sustainable Development, Good Governance, Peace and Stability in Africa.’ UN leaders and others recognized socio-economic progress in the region alongside continued and emerging challenges, including on infrastructure and gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Africa Week took place from 10-14 October 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on the margins of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) consideration of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). UNGA President Peter Thomson described Africa Week as an important opportunity for the international community to recognize progress in Africa, “particularly in the political, social, economic and peace and security fields,” raise awareness of ongoing challenges, and mobilize international support to address them.

A High-level Inaugural Event addressed alignment between the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, the Paris Agreement on climate change and progress towards good governance. Thomson stressed the importance of building on “current high-levels of energy and momentum” around the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), to translate these agreements into action.

On the 2030 Agenda, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reflected that “the road to 2030 is long and arduous,” calling for working “together in unison and with vigor” to deliver a life of dignity for all and leave no one behind. Thomson elaborated that UNGA 71’s focus on “a universal push for meaningful progress in implementing all 17 SDGs” aims to contribute to this momentum. He further informed that his Office will release an SDG Implementation Strategy to drive implementation by: providing sustained engagement to support outcomes from mandated SDG events and processes, including the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), the Marrakech Climate Conference and the UN Oceans Conference; supporting existing efforts within and outside the UN system to drive strategic partnerships and implement each of the SDGs; and backing signature events to lay the foundation for sustained action in key areas through 2030. Thomson underscored that the Strategy’s priority areas are aligned with Agenda 2063.

On climate change, speakers recognized that Africa has done little to contribute to climate change but will be among those most affected. Ban said the Paris Agreement will help provide a framework, including for financing and technology transfer, for Africa to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Participants also highlighted the role of diverse partnerships, including among the UN, regional and sub-regional organizations, civil society and the private sector, in implementing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. Speakers supported South-South and triangular cooperation, and identified the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as an opportunity to improve good governance.

At other events during the week, participants recognized Africa’s progress in advancing human and socio-economic development and in promoting good governance, while noting that challenges remain on infrastructure, dependence on commodity process and good governance at all levels. Participants also addressed the role of accountable institutions and strengthened partnerships in sustaining peace.

The UNGA held a debate on the ‘Development of Africa,’ based on three reports by the UN Secretary-General: Progress in the Implementation of NEPAD (A/71/189); Causes of Conflict and Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa (A/71/211-S/2016/655); and Review of the Implementation of Commitments made towards Africa’s Development (A/71/203). The latter report focuses on progress and challenges related to: infrastructure development, including the need to meet an estimated US$100 billion annually for large infrastructure financing; trade, with a focus on regional integration efforts and continuing challenges on developing productive capacities and achieving structural transformation through industrialization; a conflict-free Africa, including efforts to monitor, detect and curtail illicit financial flows; and gender equality and women’s empowerment, which highlights progress in education, health and political participation alongside persistent gender disparities, violence against women and inadequate participation by women in peace processes.

The UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) provided a briefing to the UN Inter-Departmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFA) by the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD and APRM on ways to further strengthen the institutional partnerships between the UN system and African regional and sub-regional organizations and to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The briefing also discussed strengthening the APRM’s role in implementing Agenda 2063 and disarmament.

Other high-level events convened on good governance and the rule of law and partnerships for implementation and monitoring of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 in Africa, among other topics. [UN Press Release] [Summary of Debate] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNGA President Statement] [OSAA Briefing] [Africa Week Website] [A/71/203] [A/71/189] [A/71/211]