Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)
1. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, has the governing body of your organization taken (or will it take) any decisions or new strategies to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If any, please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your organization.
This alignment is in line with the 2030 Agenda that underscored the specific challenges facing African countries and reaffirmed the commitment to support Agenda 2063 - the continent's overarching strategy for its socio-economic transformation. Furthermore, General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 72/310 urged the international community to continue to give due attention to Africa's priorities. The General Assembly also recognized in its resolution 72/311 the importance of aligning international support with Africa's own priorities, including industrialization, youth employment, eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities.
OSAA has revisited its strategic objectives to be further aligned with the needs of implementing the 2030 Agenda. OSAA's strategic objectives have become more focused on: i) providing coherent and integrated analysis on Africa's development priorities; ii) facilitating coherence and promoting accountability of the UN's engagement and partnership with Africa; iii) advocating for and supporting African Union priorities and perspectives; and iv) extending substantive support to UN intergovernmental processes related to Africa.
OSAA's strategic framework for the biennium 2018-2019 demonstrates its commitment to promoting that alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063 to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in Africa.
To support the alignment between UN support and Africa's needs and priorities as well as promote a mutually reinforcing implementation between regional and global development agendas, OSAA played a key role in the formulation of the "AU-UN Framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" which was signed in January 2018. The framework aims at enhancing the cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and African Union in key thematic areas of significant importance to advancing progress towards the SDGs and the aspirations of Agenda 2063 by African countries, including supporting the coherent integration of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 in national development framework; enhancing the capacity for analytical work for evidence-based policy making; data ecosystem; integrated monitoring evaluation and reporting; trade and regional integration; and the peace-development-human rights nexus.
2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes
OSAA aligns its workplan and analytical and advocacy activities, including the thematic focus areas of its reports and expert group meetings with Africa's development needs and priorities as encapsulated in the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. For example, the thematic focus areas of the UN Monitoring Mechanism (UNMM) reports are strongly aligned with the SDGs under review in the High-Level Political Forum.
2.4 Action to enhance support to the principle of "leaving no one behind" and to integrated policy approaches:
OSAA's advocacy and analytical work focuses mainly on the peace-development nexus which is crucial for promoting a deep understanding among policy makers and other stakeholders of the strong interlinkages among the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development. In this context, due attention is accorded by OSAA to tackling economic, social and political exclusion which is inextricably linked to violence and extremism.
In particular, women and youth empowerment and expanding opportunities for their economic and political participation are among OSAA's key priorities in light of their importance to realizing the shared promise of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 of leaving no one behind.
As an example of the activities carried out by OSAA to support the principle of leaving no one behind and guide integrated approaches and policymaking, OSAA organized - during the 2018 ECOSOC Youth Forum - a Regional Breakout Session on Africa on the theme "Role of African Youth in Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Resilient Urban and Rural Communities". The regional breakout session on Africa provided a platform for young people, especially young Africans to engage with policy makers on African youth contribution to fight corruption in Africa. The theme of the meeting was in line with the AU Theme for the year 2018 "Winning the Fight Against Corruption" and the theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2018- "The Role of Youth in Building Sustainable and Resilient Urban and Rural Communities".
Similarly, to raise awareness, at the global level, of the African Women's Decade, OSAA organized a high-level side event on the theme "African Women's Decade: Stepping Up Action for and with Rural Women", which took place in March 2018 during the 62nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 62). The meeting contributed to mobilizing strong political leadership for accelerated implementation of the Decade's thematic priorities for rural women in Africa in the remaining two years to the target date of 2020.
3.1 Mainstreaming the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies:
OSAA participated in the formulation and the monitoring of the implementation of the "AU-UN Framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". One of the Framework's key thematic areas of cooperation between the two organizations is focusing on supporting the efforts by African governments towards the coherent integration of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 into national development frameworks to ensure alignment between national development strategies and the goals and targets of both agendas.
3.3 Data and statistical capacity building:
The United Nations Monitoring Mechanism (UNMM), which was called for by the General Assembly resolution 63/1 on the 2008 political declaration on Africa's development needs and subsequently established by General Assembly Resolution 66/293, represents a unique mechanism to review the implementation of commitments made towards Africa's development by African countries and their development partners. The UNMM biennial reports provide important data on the state of socio-economic progress in Africa that are useful for well-informed policy making by African governments and development partners. They also provide useful input to the discussions in the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) and the High Level Political Forum (HLPF).
The UNMM reports provide important insights on the effectiveness of the global partnership for development in meeting development needs and addressing gaps in key development areas and accordingly help shedding light on areas of progress, existing gaps and challenges and the needed policy responses to tackle them.
The thematic areas and set of commitments that are analyzed in each of the UNMM reports are selected through a consultative process that involves the UN system, including through the Inter-Departmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFAA). The themes of the UNMM reports are aligned with the thematic focus of the HLPF review cycles as well as with the priorities and aspirations of the African Union, including the overarching themes of the AU summits.
3.4 Science, technology and innovation for the SDGs:
OSAA co-organized a session dedicated to Africa on the theme "leveraging technology and innovation to support resilience and inclusiveness in Africa in the context of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063" during the ECOSOC integration segment in May 2018. The session provided a platform for African governments, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders to discuss the efforts aimed at bridging the digital divide and empowering African people through fully harnessing technology and innovation as enablers for sustainable development and socio-economic progress. The meeting looked at best practices in promoting innovative solutions to address the challenges facing African communities in critical areas such as access to quality health services and strengthening African health systems, and climate change and environmental monitoring.
3.5 Multi-stakeholder partnerships:
OSAA continues to advocate for and facilitate Africa's strategic partnerships with development partners such as governments, the private sector, foundations, civil society, academia, and other relevant stakeholders. The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in which the Office is a long-standing co-organizer is a case in point of OSAA's engagement in partnerships that seek to align international support and development cooperation with Africa's development priorities.
3.6 Sub-national plans/strategies and implementation for the SDGs:
OSAA engages Africa's Regional Economic Communities (RECs), providing them with a platform to enhance their interaction and cooperation with the UN system, given the pivotal role of RECs in promoting regional integration. RECs are indeed the building blocks of the African Continental Free Trade Area and key implementers of Agenda 2063, including through their role in tackling existing and emerging threats to peace and security through relevant mechanisms and capacities at the sub-regional level. OSAA holds regular dialogues with the AU and RECs, including in the margins of the AU summits on ways and means of addressing common challenges and promoting the cooperation and coordination between the AU and the RECs. Also, OSAA organizes an annual briefing for heads of RECs to UN member states at the margins of the General Assembly debate on Africa.
OSAA organized an expert group meeting on "Strengthening Regional and Sub-regional Conflict Prevention Capabilities in Africa" in Libreville, Gabon, from 7 to 9 November 2018 with the participation of representatives of the RECs. The meeting contributed to the ongoing mapping and needs assessment study on the conflict prevention capabilities of the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and provided a platform for the RECs and other relevant stakeholders to validate the findings of the study and identify key areas for joint action and support.
3.7 Leveraging interlinkages across SDG goals and targets:
The Office's focus on the peace-development nexus helps reinforcing the integrated and interlinked nature of the SDGs and promotes a balanced approach to the implementation of the various SDGs according to the needs and priorities of every country. In this regard, OSAA places special emphasis on issues of women and youth empowerment as well as migration as cross cuttings issues of profound impact on Africa's socio-economic progress.
4.1 Supporting the intergovernmental body of your organization in contributing to the thematic review of the HLPF:
OSAA actively participates in the technical and principal-level meetings of the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA Plus) mechanism which plays a central role in coordinating the UN-system wide substantive preparation for the HLPF.
4.3 Helping organize SDG-specific events in the preparatory process:
In January 2018, the Office co-organized a workshop on the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD). The workshop provided a platform to African Permanent Missions in New York to engage in the preparation for the 4th ARFSD and strengthen coordination and coherence at the national, regional and global levels in the implementation of both Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In May 2018, the Office was also among the co-organizers of the 4th ARFSD in Dakar, Senegal, which formulated Africa's key messages that were disseminated at the HLPF in July 2018. OSAA also co-organized with ECA and UNDP a workshop to provide analytical and substantive support to African countries in the preparation for presenting their voluntary national reviews to the HLPF
5. How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations to achieve coherence and synergies in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? In this regard, has your organization launched or intend to launch any joint programmes or projects in collaboration with other UN entities? Are there any results or lessons you would like to highlight that might help improve the design and impact of such efforts? Has your organization participated in any of the following coordination systemwide mechanisms or any other relevant platform - CEB, UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, RCMs, UN-Energy, UN-Water, UN-Ocean, IAEG, IATT? Please specify which and indicate any suggestions you may have about improving collaborations within and across these mechanisms/platforms:
As the convener of the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFAA), OSAA coordinates UN system wide support to Africa to further promote more coherent and coordinated UN system activities in support for Africa's development priorities. During the Inaugural Africa Dialogue Series, held in October 2018, OSAA convened a meeting of the IDTFAA at the principal level to look into the revitalization of the Task Force with a view to strengthen its impact on promoting coordination and coherence in the delivery of UN system support to Africa at the global, regional and national levels as well as on advancing the implementation of the two joint UN-AU Frameworks on Peace and Security, and Development. The IDTFAA is expected also to play a central role in the monitoring, follow up and review of the implementation of the AU-UN Framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in line with paragraph 34 (b) of the Framework.
Through its participation in important mechanisms such as the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA Plus) and the Regional Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) OSAA continue to do its part to promote coherent and coordinated interventions by the UN system in support for Africa's development.
6. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups, both in supporting implementation at the country, regional and global levels, and within your own organization? If yes, please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned:
OSAA is enhancing its outreach and engagement with stakeholders, including governments, regional and sub-regional organization, multilateral and regional development banks, civil society, the private sector, academia and African diaspora. The Africa Dialogue Series 2018 which involved various stakeholders has shown the strong engagement of OSAA with abroad spectrum of stakeholders. In addition, Africa-dedicated sessions in various ECOSOC segments and forums offer important opportunities to strengthen collaboration and engagement with other stakeholders.
For example, In February 2018, OSAA organized the 2018 ECOSOC Youth Forum Regional Breakout Session on Africa on the theme "Role of African Youth in Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Resilient Urban and Rural Communities". The regional breakout session on Africa provided a platform for young people, especially young Africans to engage with policy makers on African youth contribution to fight corruption in Africa. The theme of the meeting was in line with the AU Theme for the year 2018- Winning the Fight Against Corruption and the Theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2018- The Role of Youth in Building Sustainable and Resilient Urban and Rural Communities.
7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning? If yes, please provide a brief summary below and include lessons learned and gaps identified based on the outcomes of these events. Please also include any events you plan to organize in the coming years.
In July 2018, as a follow-up to the January and May meetings in preparation for the VNRs by African countries during the 2018 HLPF, OSAA co-organized a side event in the margins of the 2018 HLPF on the theme, "Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063: A Sharing of Experiences and the Way Forward Post-Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development and Voluntary National Reviews". The event aimed at providing a platform to advocate for African priorities and disseminate key messages of African VNRs. It also provided an opportunity for peer learning and sharing practices among African countries in the integration of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 in national development plans and advancing the integrated implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda.
8. Is there any other information you would like to share, including annual reports of your organization and any impact assessment or evaluation reports? If yes, please use the space below and attach the document(s). Please also use this space to provide any other information, comments or remarks you deem necessary:
The Secretary-General's biennial report on the review of the implementation of the commitments made towards Africa's development was submitted to the UN General Assembly 73rd session in September 2018 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/73/270. The report provides data and analysis on implementation gaps and challenges and includes concrete recommendations on ways and means of bridging the implementation gaps and accordingly it informed the positions of member states during the General Assembly debate on the agenda items related to Africa's development which was held on 19 October 2018.
The report reviews the implementation of commitments made by African countries and Africa's traditional, new and emerging development partners in four key development areas, namely (a) industrialization and regional integration; (b) health, water and sanitation; (c) climate change; and (d) financing of sustainable development.
The Office also produces the Secretary-General's annual report on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa. In an effort to discuss the nexus between peace, security and development, this annual report focuses on the vision of the Secretary-General to prevent conflict in Africa by addressing the root causes of conflict, as a critical starting point to sustaining peace on the continent.
The Office produces the annual report of the Secretary-General on international support to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), now referred to as the African Union Development Agency (AUDA). This annual report has become more and more critical in light of the integration of the NEPAD Agency into the African Union Commission (AUC). The annual report will continue to focus on important international support from development partners to support implementation of African Union priorities, and address areas of dwindling support and efforts to advocate and mobilize such support.
9. In your view, what should a strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs look like? What key elements should it include and major challenges address in such a road map?
The strategic plan should accord significant attention to the financing of the SDGs and the mobilization of adequate resources from all sources of finance to meet the huge investment needs of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Mobilizing sufficient means of implementation remains among the key challenges that continue to constrain progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Africa, particularly among the LDCs, and countries either in conflict or post-conflict.
More importantly, the strategic plan should continue to strengthen the reinvigorated RC System through greater accountability and transparency of UN Country Teams on the ground. The plan should ensure that all UN country offices integrate relevant Goals of the 2030 Agenda into their respective National Development Plans, with a dedicated UN integrated action through the UNDAF, targeting the national needs and priorities of the respective countries.
10. Please indicate one or two endeavor or initiatives you suggest that the UN system organizations could undertake together to support the implementation of the SDGs between now and 2030:
In the African context, support in the financing of the SDGs is of significant importance to making progress towards sustainable development goals and targets. that would entail maximizing international support to Africa in mobilizing sufficient means of implementation. This can include scaling up UN system support to African countries in the areas of domestic resource mobilization; value addition and industrialization, regional integration as well as curbing illicit financial flows, and facilitating job creation for the most vulnerable groups. So, an Africa-focused initiative to build the capacity of national tax systems in African countries and enhance the capacity of relevant national institutions could be very helpful in strengthening domestic resource mobilization.
Another initiative could be the convening of a High-Level UN-AU Summit/Conference every 5 years, together with the AU, NEPAD/ AUDA, APRM, ECA, UNOAU, UNDP, African countries and Africa's development partners, with the participation of leading African institutions in the areas of finance and capacity building support such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The conference will provide a platform to take stock of progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 in Africa. The AU's Agenda 2063 and the global Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development were both adopted in 2015. As we are already four years into the implementation, the UN-AU High-Level Conference could be a timely mechanism to take stock of progress made, identify challenges being faced and areas where improvements are required. The UN-AU High-Level Conference could be held in 2020, 2025 and 2030.