New York, 19 July 2024 – The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) actively participated in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the UN's primary global platform for reporting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) annually. The APRM involvement aimed to support African countries' Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) focusing on SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 2 (hunger), SDG 16 (strong institutions and peaceful societies), and SDG 17 (partnerships for all goals), aligning with aspirations 1, 3, 4, and 7 of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Discussions highlighted the slow global progress towards the SDGs, with only 17% of the SDG targets are on track till date.
At the high-level segment of the HLPF, the APRM Continental Secretariat engaged African countries in technical and peer-learning sessions to enhance progress on SDGs and strengthen commitments to Agenda 2063. These efforts emphasized building national capacities for monitoring and evaluating both agendas concurrently.
Key engagements included a joint APRM-FAO-UNECA VNR peer-learning Lab on governance policies aimed at poverty eradication and partnership enhancement. Representatives from Chad, Namibia, and Zimbabwe showcased efforts such as establishing institutional mechanisms for multidimensional poverty assessment, digitalizing public financial systems, and expanding social protection programs.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Republic of Sierra Leone and the AU Permanent Mission to the UN, the APRM co-hosted a high-level peer learning session on “Africa’s Pathway to the Summit of the Future”, focusing on food security and governance. Notable speakers included government officials and representatives from across Africa, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts towards sustainable development.
Speaking on behalf of APRM CEO Ambassador Marie-Antoniette Rose Quatre, Mr. Jean-Yves Adou, Ag. Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, highlighted APRM’s role in monitoring and evaluating implementation of Agenda 2063, particularly aspirations 3 and 4, which align with SDG 16 (effective institutions and peaceful societies). He emphasized the upcoming Summit of the Future as a crucial opportunity for global communities to strengthen collective security systems and align international and regional actions for sustainable peacebuilding.
Speakers at the event outlined key priorities for African nations, including advocating for inclusive global financial architectures, promoting climate action agreements, enhancing national governance legitimacy, boosting export-oriented agricultural policies, and strengthening public institutions. They also stressed the need for multi-stakeholder approaches and increased financial support for women and youth programs in peacebuilding and conflict prevention, alongside a call for equitable global digital policies.
Furthermore, the APRM co-hosted with UNDESA a VNR Lab on Strengthening digital government and data governance for a more agile and effective public sector in Africa, with a focus on the transformative impact of digitalization on public service delivery. Lastly, a special event with OECD explored policy coherence in SDG and Agenda 2063 implementation across the continent.
The 2024 HLPF concluded with the adoption of a Political Declaration highlighting global ecosystem challenges, environmental changes, and escalating conflicts. It underscored action and investment pathways to support resilient, innovative solutions aligned with the 2030 Agenda, accelerating poverty eradication, and achieving all SDGs. Commitments included integrated policy planning, inclusive social protection, support for least developed countries, gender equality, and leveraging technology and digital transformation for inclusive growth and financial inclusion.
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