Africa must move from diagnosis to delivery to accelerate sustainable development, says ECA’s Claver Gatete

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 April 2026 - Africa must take decisive, coordinated and transformative action to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Claver Gatete, said at the opening of the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development today.

Addressing leaders, ministers, diplomats, development partners, civil society, youth, academia, the private sector and media gathered in Addis Ababa, Mr. Gatete said the Forum's theme, "Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063," reflects the urgency of the moment.

"We meet at a moment of heightened global uncertainty and challenges," he said, pointing to slowing global growth, widening inequalities, rising fiscal pressures, intensifying climate shocks and conflicts that continue to undermine stability and resilience.

He stressed, however, that these challenges should not constrain Africa's ambition, but should instead compel the continent to innovate, deepen partnerships and redouble efforts to address long-standing development constraints.

Mr. Gatete commended the Government and people of Ethiopia for hosting the Forum and praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's leadership and commitment to Africa's development agenda. He also welcomed Ethiopia's decision to host COP32 in 2027, calling it a major opportunity for Africa to bridge climate ambition and sustainable development delivery.

He noted Ethiopia's record in sustainable development and climate action, including the Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted more than 40 billion tree seedlings; the country's renewable electricity generation, which accounts for more than 95 percent of electricity production; and the expansion of climate-smart agriculture across nearly 18 million hectares of rain-fed cropland.

"For Ethiopia, and for many countries represented here today, climate action and sustainable development are not competing priorities. They are mutually reinforcing," Mr. Gatete said.

He emphasized that the Forum takes place at a critical time, as the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches and Africa advances the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063. He urged participants to harness Ethiopia's COP32 convening role to forge meaningful partnerships that can accelerate ambitious sustainable development and climate action.

Mr. Gatete also paid tribute to Uganda, outgoing Chair of the Forum's Bureau, for its leadership in carrying forward the outcomes of the previous Forum and strengthening accountability for the implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063. He highlighted Uganda's national performance review conference, where ministries publicly reported on progress, as an example of accountability and follow-through.

Focusing on the goals under review this year, Mr. Gatete said water and sanitation, sustainable cities, energy, resilient infrastructure and partnerships form the productive foundation of Africa's transformation.

"Where these systems are weak, growth is undermined, inequality intensifies and progress slows. But where they function well, they drive productivity, competitiveness and inclusion across the economy," he said.

He warned that Africa must move beyond ad hoc interventions and embrace systems thinking, implementation at scale and stronger coordination across sectors.

Mr. Gatete outlined five priorities for consideration: repositioning water, energy and infrastructure as core economic assets; closing Africa's infrastructure financing gap through scale, innovation and partnerships; harnessing urbanization as a driver of jobs and productivity; advancing digital and green transitions together; and anchoring delivery in data, strong institutions, regional cooperation and partnerships.

He said cooperation will be essential in areas such as transboundary water basins, cross-border power pools and value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

"Africa's challenge today is not a lack of frameworks," Mr. Gatete said. "The Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 and national development plans are well aligned. The challenge is implementation at scale."

He reaffirmed ECA's commitment, together with the United Nations system, to support member States through evidence-based policy advice, capacity building and partnerships that deliver measurable impact.

"This Forum is not merely a moment for reflection. It is a moment for decision, to move decisively from diagnosis to delivery," he said.

The 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development brings together African governments, regional institutions, the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, youth and other stakeholders to review progress, share experiences and strengthen collective action on the SDGs and Agenda 2063.

Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: [email protected]