Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues,
This is a year of reflection, and review. It offers opportunities for overcoming challenges, if we seek common solutions and recommit to multilateralism.
In this spirit, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the African Peer Review Mechanism are partnering again, through this workshop, to support national capacities of African Union Member States.
We have built a productive relationship under the umbrella of the AU-UN Cooperation Framework since 2018.
We support national capacity building for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Both Agendas provide detailed roadmaps for African countries to achieve inclusive, equitable and transformative development.
This workshop offers a platform for peer learning on best practices for integration and implementation of these Agendas, guided by the principles for effective governance for sustainable development, also known as the CEPA Principles.
The CEPA principles were developed by the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in 2018.
They are forward-looking, ambitious principles that support effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.
I encourage the seven African countries presenting Voluntary National Reviews at the high-level political forum on sustainable development this July to use these principles to inform your review processes.
I hope that you will benefit from today’s meeting to exchange knowledge and experiences with representatives from the 21 African countries that presented their VNRs last year.
As you know, the VNRs are the primary means of measuring national progress towards the SDGs.
The VNRs report on coordination efforts among ministries, strengthen institutions for good governance, and domesticate the SDGs.
The VNRs also engage local authorities and stakeholders in data collection, to assess community needs and challenges more effectively.
I encourage countries to incorporate local reviews of progress into their VNRs.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
Your actions can help pull people out of poverty, and pave a path to prosperity for all Africans.
UN DESA stands ready to support you, and we hope this workshop will inspire you and facilitate further progress.
Finally, I urge all countries to engage in the SDG Summit this September.
It will launch new momentum to reverse negative trends of SDGs and provide high-level political guidance on accelerated actions to achieve the SDGs.
Thank you for joining us in this important work.