Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 30 April 2026 — With the 2030 deadline just four years away and the continent still far off track on its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), more than 1,500 political leaders, technical experts and stakeholders gathered this week in Addis Ababa for the 12^th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12). Co-convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations (UN) entities, the Forum concluded today with one message: Africa is done diagnosing its problems. It is time to deliver.

Held from 28 to 30 April 2026 under the theme ‘Turning the tide: transformative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’, the Forum brought together ministers and senior officials from 48 Member States alongside intergovernmental bodies, civil society organisations, youth representatives, private sector leaders and development partners, more than 1,200 of them joining online. UNSecretary-General António Guterres, AUC Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi and UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Lok Bahadur Thapa all addressed the Forum.

The urgency of the moment was impossible to ignore. Speaking at the opening, UN Secretary-General António Guterres was blunt on what is at stake across the continent:

“Across Africa, countries are facing numerous obstacles to development. Hundreds of millions still lack access to water and electricity. Infrastructure gaps, rapid urbanisation and rising trade barriers are constraining productivity. Conflicts and climate chaos are blocking progress across all sectors.”

The numbers back up his assessment. Progress on the SDGs in Africa is slow on 12 Goals and regressing on five. Of the 28 countries globally where more than a quarter of the population lacked access to basic drinking water between 2015 and 2024, 24 are in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 600 million people on the continent, approximately 43 percent of the population, still lack access to electricity, accounting for more than 80 percent of the global total. Africa’s annual SDG financing gap is estimated at between US$670 billion and US$848 billion, driven by rising debt vulnerabilities, declining official development assistance and weak domestic resource mobilization.

Against that backdrop, ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa framed the Forum as a watershed moment rather than another gathering:

“The theme of this year's Forum, Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, could not be more timely and more relevant. It reflects a defining moment in our collective journey to achieve the SDGs and Africa's Agenda 2063.”

That sense of urgency ran through every panel and plenary. A recurring theme was the need to stop treating development gaps as isolated issues and start treating them as the interconnected foundations of Africa’s economic future. ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete made the point plainly:

“Water, energy, infrastructure and cities are not peripheral development goals. They are the productive foundations of Africa's transformation. To turn the tide, Africa must treat foundational services as economic assets that drive jobs, competitiveness, digitalization and inclusion.”

Progress on Agenda 2063 provided some grounds for measured optimism. Several Member States have moved to align national development plans and budgets with continental priorities, a sign that the architecture for delivery is taking shape, even as the pace remains insufficient. AUC Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi acknowledged progress but made clear the pace must accelerate sharply:

“The AU has made significant progress in domesticating the second 10-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063 across Member States. Countries are aligning national development plans and budgets with regional priorities, strengthening ownership, coherence and accountability. This forum represents not only a platform for reflection but a decisive moment for collective action.”

Outgoing Bureau Chair and Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja drew a direct line between what has been achieved and what the next four years demand. Her message was that progress on data systems and coordination, while real, is not enough on its own:

“We have registered notable progress in strengthening the alignment of national development goals with the SDGs, expanding data systems for evidence-based planning, enhancing coordination mechanisms and shifting focus towards accelerated implementation. But with only four years and eight months remaining to 2030, we must move with urgency on the SDGs, providing concrete and measurable results.”

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at ARFSD-12

UNDP’s engagement at ARFSD-12 spanned four full days, from pre-events on 26 and 27 April through to the closing plenary. Side events covered social inclusion, urban resilience and digital safety; the clean cooking economy in Africa; and the SDG 7 financing gap. UNDP also co-hosted Impact Labs on SDGs and Agenda 2063 implementation, contributed to the Regional Collaborative Platform for Africa coalition sessions, participated in the 8^th African Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum and joined several high-level panels on coordinated action, climate finance, employment and social protection.

UNDP also contributed to the Knowledge Fair, which featured several innovations, success stories and solutions aligned with clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). Adedicated UNDP standalone booth gave participants direct access to flagship knowledge products, data, success stories and practical solutions from across the continent.

Rounding out UNDP’s engagements was the official launch of the ECA, AUC, UNDP and AfDB-produced “2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report,” the only publication that systematically tracks Africa’s progress on both the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. Published annually since 2017, this year’s edition assessed performance on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, providing the evidence base for the Forum’s thematic discussions and the case for cross-sectoral investment.

The Addis Ababa Declaration

The Forum concluded with the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Turning the Tide, a unified statement of African priorities and commitments that will serve as the continent’s collective input to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the 2026 UN Water Conference, the 32^nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP32) and the SDG Summit in 2027. Mauritius was designated to present the Declaration on behalf of Africa at these global platforms.

The Declaration focuses on five SDGs this year: SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, alongside commitments on climate finance and social protection. Key action areas include:

• Mobilizing sustainable and innovative finance for water and energy, including through the Africa Water Vision 2063 and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework;
• Expanding decentralised renewable energy and elevating clean cooking as a core public health and development priority;
• Adopting forward-looking industrial strategies that address the green transition, artificial intelligence, digital connectivity and demographic change;
• Scaling up inclusive housing and integrated land-use planning to upgrade informal settlements and strengthen climate resilience in cities;
• Reforming the international financial architecture to reduce borrowing costs, operationalize an Africa credit rating agency and expand concessional finance;
• Institutionalizing gender-responsive budgeting and ensuring the meaningful participation of women and young people across all development processes.

At its core, the Declaration is a call to shift from fragmented sectoral approaches to whole-of-government delivery systems, moving from a model of coordination to one of joint implementation with clear outcomes and shared accountability.

UNDP will carry the outcomes of ARFSD-12 into its work across 46 country offices on the continent, supporting national implementation and Africa’s engagement at the HLPF, the UN Water Conference and COP32.

For further information, please contact:

• Rosy Ndedi-penda, Coordination Specialist, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | rosy.ndedi-penda@undp.org
• Ayda Labassi, Digital Communications Specialist, Regional Programme for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | ayda.labassi@undp.org  
• Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Regional Communications and External Engagement Specialist, Regional Programme for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org

Notes for the Editors:

About ARFSD-12

The Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development is held annually to assess progress and share knowledge, best practices and policy solutions in support of the 2030 Agenda and regional priorities.

Now, in its 12th edition, it is Africa’s primary platform for reviewing progress on the SDGs and Agenda 2063, agreeing on collective priorities, and preparing regional inputs for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.With fewer than five years to 2030, the urgency for action has never been greater.

Learn more at https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/arfsd2026

About ECA

Established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1958, ECA is one of the UN's five regional commissions. Its mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its Member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.

Made up of 54 Member States and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to addressing the continent’s development challenges.

Learn more at https://www.uneca.org

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at www.undp.org/africa/

Further Resources

Learn more about the Addis Ababa Declaration, the ARFSD-12 Summary and Key Messages, the 2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report and the official lineup of UNDP’s engagements at ARFSD-12.