In preparation for the 2026 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) published a summary of the report on African progress towards achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and a report exploring Africa’s economic transformation. The UN Secretary General issued a report updating on the UN system’s support for Agenda 2063.

Dated 18 February 2026, the ‘Summary of the Report on African Progress Towards Achieving the Goals of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063’ (ECA/RFSD/2026/10) focuses on the five Goals undergoing in-depth reviews at HLPF 2026 –SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). It updates on the status of the SDG targets and indicators with available data and outlines key messages and recommendations for each of the in-focus SDGs. The report feeds into discussions during the 2026 Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the HLPF in July.

Enjoying this article? Make sure you always catch our coverage by subscribing to our SDG Update newsletter.

The 2026 edition of UNECA’s flagship Economic Report on Africa focuses on the theme, ‘Growth Through Innovation: Harnessing Data and Frontier Technologies for Africa’s Economic Transformation.’ The report analyzes the role of data and frontier technologies in accelerating Africa’s economic transformation by improving productivity, enhancing industrial capabilities, and driving diversification. It explores the potential of digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, and energy technologies to foster inclusive and sustainable development. The report was launched at the UNECA Conference of Ministers in March 2026 in Tangier, Morocco.

The UN Secretary-General’s report titled, ‘United Nations System Support for Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want,’ (E/AC.51/2026/6) provides an update on the UN’s efforts to enhance the coherence of development cooperation in Africa, with a particular focus on climate action. Dated 17 March 2026, the report emphasizes climate change adaptation as a driver of climate resilience and argues that addressing it is foundational to the implementation of Agenda 2063 and to delivering the necessary structural economic transformation. The report will inform deliberations during the 66th session of the Standing Committee for Programme and Coordination of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in May – June 2026. [HLPF 2026] [Publication: Summary of the Report on African Progress Towards Achieving the Goals of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063] [Publication: 2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report] [Publication: Growth Through Innovation: Harnessing Data and Frontier Technologies for Africa’s Economic Transformation] [Publication: United Nations System Support for Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want]