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Background and Context 

This second webinar builds on Module 1’s focus on sustainable development as a foundation for durable peace by examining how sustainable financing is essential to achieving these goals. In the African context, this financing must not only be substantial but also enduring and resilient. Sustainable development requires investments that are nationally owned, align with local priorities, and drive long-term growth. 

Module 2 unpacks this challenge by drawing on OSAA’s 2023 report "Solving Paradoxes of Africa's Development: Financing, Energy and Food Systems". The report highlights the three paradoxes that hamper the continent’s sustainable development efforts: 

1. Financing Paradox: Despite Africa’s vast financial resources and potential for revenue generation, the continent faces a growing financing gap. The report estimates that vast resources in the area of USD $500 to $600 billion are lost due to uncontrolled outflows, including through Illicit Financial Flows, trade mispricing, inefficient tax systems, and inefficient public spending. 
2. Energy Paradox: Africa possesses significant energy resources, including vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and renewable potential. Yet, access to modern and reliable energy services remains limited, hindering industrial growth and human development. 
3. Food Systems Paradox: Although Africa is rich in agricultural resources, it struggles with widespread food insecurity. The continent’s agricultural systems are not fully optimized for food security and economic resilience. 

This webinar will address these paradoxes by exploring the inter-dependencies between them and will explore strategies for robust, nationally aligned financing systems. Participants will examine how strengthened institutions, enhanced domestic resource mobilization, and targeted reforms in critical sectors like energy and agriculture can address these paradoxes to support sustainable development and peace. 

Objectives 

1. Discuss sustainable financing strategies that can help control financial outflows and overcome Africa’s financing gap. 
2. Explore how trust-building in institutions can support governance and sustainable financing. 
3. Analyze sector-specific reforms (e.g., energy, food systems) as essential components of resilient and sustainable long-term financing frameworks. 

Guiding Questions 

1. How can African countries strengthen domestic financing systems to reduce reliance on external debt and address the "Financing Paradox"? 
   Sub-question: What practical steps can African governments take to close the financing gap and enhance national ownership over financial resources? 
   Sub-question: In what ways can debt management frameworks, such as IMF’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), contribute to sustainable financing strategies? 
2. What role do institutions play in establishing sustainable financing systems that promote trust, transparency, and resilience? 
   Sub-question: How can African governments leverage flagship interventions to build public trust and demonstrate effective use of state resources? 
   Sub-question: What are the roles of multilateral institutions (e.g., World Bank’s CPIAs) in helping countries strengthen governance and institutional capacities for sustainable financing? 
3. How can sectoral reforms in energy address Africa’s “Energy Paradox” and support the financing needs for sustainable development? 
   Sub-question: What are the challenges and opportunities in planning for medium- to long-term energy transitions that align with financing goals and reduce dependency on external energy sources? 
   Sub-question: How can energy sector reforms improve resilience by ensuring consistent and reliable access to energy services? 
4. What strategies can enhance food systems to address Africa’s “Food Systems Paradox” and contribute to financial resilience? 
   Sub-question: How can agricultural financing be optimized to improve food security and economic resilience across the continent? 
   Sub-question: What roles do institutions and policy reforms play in building agricultural systems that are both financially sustainable and capable of supporting food security? 

Panel Composition and Structure 

• Jean-Paul Adam, Director for Policy, Monitoring and Advocacy, Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (Moderator).
• Dr. Hameed Nuru is the Director of the African Union Global Office of the World Food Programme and Representative to both the African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa. He previously held leadership roles as WFP Country Director in Sudan and India, and before joining WFP, was the Senior Director of Policy and External Affairs at the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicine (GALVmed). Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Policy Officer for Livestock and Fisheries at the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR), contributing to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). A trained veterinarian, he also worked in Botswana’s Department of Veterinary Services. 
• Sara Mbago-Bhunu is the Director of the East and Southern Africa Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). With over 20 years of experience in agriculture across Central, East, and Southern Africa, she has expertise in policy development, agricultural finance, and value chain management. Her career includes roles at the World Bank as a Senior Agricultural Economist for the Central African region and as Country Director for SNV-Netherlands in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She holds an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Reading. 
• Carlos Furtado is an economist and is currently based at the International Monetary Fund country office in Cape Verde. He has held several key public finance roles in Cape Verde, including General Director of the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, National Director of Planning, Director of the Resource Mobilization Service, and most recently, Head of Statistics at the Cape Verde Central Bank. Carlos has significant experience in economic policy, financial oversight, and international financing, serving on boards and coordinating with global financial institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank. 
• Yohannes Hailu is an Economic Affairs Officer at the Energy Infrastructure & Services Section, in the Private Sector Development & Finance Division. His areas of expertise include economics, natural resource economics, and particularly energy/environmental economics and policy. Prior to joining ECA, he worked as Visiting Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Policy Research at Michigan State University, United States. He also served as regional energy policy expert at UNECA Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa. Mr. Hailu holds a Ph.D. and Master's in natural resources economics from West Virginia University, United States and B.A. in Economics and Finance from Asmara University, Eritrea. 

Panel Structure

• 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.: Introduction to Module 2 by Jean-Paul Adam, including a summary of the activity submission for Module 2. 
• 8:15 a.m. - 9 a.m.: Panel discussion guided by the key questions. 
• 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.: Q&A session with participants. 
• 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Technical issues and UNSSC support 

Expected Outcomes 

• Enhanced understanding of sustainable financing as a tool to overcome Africa’s "Triple Paradox." 
• Identification of strategies to strengthen domestic financial systems. 
• Insights into sectoral reforms that can address energy and food security needs for resilient development.