African Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) met in Cairo on 17th May 2016 for a preparatory meeting to identify priority issues and lay the groundwork for inputs 2nd Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) themed “inclusive and integrated implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063,” which kicked off on 18 May.

In a statement to the 2nd ARFSD attended by African member States, United Nations agencies and other institutions on regional priorities for the implementation of the two agendas, Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063, the Major Groups and other stakeholders said African Governments must facilitate inclusion of all actors especially the marginalized and vulnerable groups to ensure that sustainable development implementation is strongly linked to realities and aspirations of citizens.          

They urged African governments to create an enabling environment including; policy coherence for sustainable development, resource allocation, and institutional frameworks for major groups and other stakeholders to play a meaningful role.

“Giving meaning to the “leave no one behind” by reaching out to and creating platforms for marginalized and vulnerable groups (including indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, women, youths, children, among others) to actively participate and lend their voices to the processes,” the statement said.   

The MGoS emphasized the catalytic role they can play in supporting implementation but called on member states to facilitate their integration into national multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms, committees and commissions for Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 implementation, follow-up and monitoring and to strengthen already existing national development coordination platforms.

The MGoS called on the United Nations, in particular the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to facilitate access to technical support, capacity building and financing opportunities to enhance their work on the ground. 

The ARFSD is hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt are organizing from 18-19 May, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Economic and Social Affairs Department and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 

The conclusions and recommendations of the Forum will strengthen national governments implementation efforts and, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 67/290, will also inform the global debate at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which will be convened in New York during July 2016.

The full text of the statement by the Major Groups and Stakeholders can be accessed below.