The 2025 Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) adopted a declaration on sustainable, inclusive, science-based, and evidence-based solutions for driving job creation and economic growth and for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063. The declaration reflects Africa’s priorities for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the Second World Summit on Social Development, and the 2025 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

Along with key messages, the ‘Kampala Declaration’ will be presented at HLPF 2025 in July. It also articulates Africa’s shared position ahead of the Second World Summit for Social Development in November.

The 11th Session of the Africa RFSD convened from 9-11 April 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, in hybrid format. Participants focused on five SDGs under HLPF review this year – SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) – and the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063. Delegates shared experiences, good practices, and lessons learned from implementing the two agendas.

In his opening remarks, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary Claver Gatete pointed to “sobering” regional data, with just five years to go until 2030. He said out of 144 measurable SDG targets, only ten are on track, progress on 106 is too slow, and 28 are regressing. To reverse this trend, he called on delegates to “move beyond diagnosing our challenges to implementing bold and actionable solutions.”

To mobilize the resources to achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063, Gatete proposed four strategic pillars of action: scale up domestic resource mobilization; de-risk African economies and elevate capital market development; expand access to affordable finance, especially for women and youth; and leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to advance Africa’s agenda.

Uganda’s President Kaguta Yoweri Museveni stressed the need for Africa to stop exporting raw materials. “If we can’t process the minerals,” he urged, “they must stay in the ground.” “Our grandchildren will process them.”

Governments attending the Forum adopted the Kampala Declaration, which outlines regional priorities with respect to: poverty eradication; inclusivity, social integration, and leaving no one behind; good health and well-being; gender equality and the empowerment of women; decent work for all and inclusive economic growth; transitions to inclusive and just blue and green economies; and sustainable funding and partnerships for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. Among other measures, the Declaration calls for innovative financing mechanisms, such as carbon finance, green and blue bonds, debt swaps for sustainable development, risk insurance, and climate-resilient debt clauses.

The Forum is an annual multi-stakeholder platform organized by UNECA and the host government – this year, Uganda – in collaboration with the African Union (AU) Commission, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other UN entities. The Forum was preceded by a workshop of Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS), the seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, a workshop on voluntary national reviews (VNRs) and voluntary local reviews (VLRs), and the sixth Africa Climate Talks and SDG Forum.

The Africa RFSD is one of five regional gatherings for each group of UN Member States, convened in preparation for the HLPF’s July session. [11th Session of Africa RFSD] [Africa RFSD Curtain Raiser]