New York (TDI): At today’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) partnership forum, the African Group delivered a strong statement reaffirming the importance of enhanced global partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.
The annual ECOSOC partnership forum, taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, is a significant opportunity to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including member states, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and civil society. The aim is to advance the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year’s forum’s prime focus is to review the progress made in SDGs goals at the 2025 high-level political forum.
One of the major goals discussed was Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. It continues to be a priority for the African Group. The statement underscored the urgency of providing sustainable solutions to strengthen healthcare systems across the continent.
African Group stresses the positive impact of this measure on improving the health care system through collaborations with the government especially in the more rural and deprived areas. It urged ECOSOC for an increased investment in medical research, technology transfer, and fair distribution of essential medicines and vaccines to eliminate health gaps.
« Achieving the #SDGs requires a global #partnership that is forged on the basis of #cooperation and #solidarity.” #Agenda2063 #AfCFTA
H.E Osama Abdel Khalek, PR of #Egypt to @UN on behalf of #AfricanGroupUN , @ the #ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2025
Read: https://t.co/MXUfQm6PzR pic.twitter.com/yasMIuuFiS
— African Union Mission to the UN (@AfricanUnionUN) February 6, 2025
The statement underlined the importance of Goal 5: Gender Equality. Emphasizing gender equality, it stated that with negligible participation and support, women’s empowerment remains a distant dream. The group upheld unwavering support for policies aimed at eliminating gender-based discrimination, thereby promoting women’s economic inclusion and equal access to education and leadership opportunities.
The Group also called for more robust legal frameworks under ECOSOC to safeguard women’s rights and initiatives that promote female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses, which are vital for economic growth and social progress.
Another important goal under discussion was Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which resonates closely with Africa’s continuous ambitions to generate inclusive and sustainable jobs. The African Group emphasized the necessity for creating youth employment programs, facilitating small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), and enhancing digital literacy to prepare the workforce for an evolving job market.
They urged vigorous collaboration with global partners to promote investments in infrastructure, skills development, and technological innovation, thereby creating an environment for business and economic growth.
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Discussing Goal 14: Life Below Water, the African Group noted the threats posed to the marine ecosystems of Africa by climate change, pollution, and overfishing. The Group highlighted the need for tapping sustainable ocean utilization practices, stringent enforcement of relevant regulations, and investments in marine conversation projects. They called for increased global cooperation to help combat marine plastic pollution and bolster the livelihoods of coastal communities that rely on the ocean for their survival.
Lastly, discussing Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, the statement stressed the pertinence of strengthened international cooperation, scaled-up financing, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The Group urged the creation of innovative financing mechanisms, the strengthening of public-private partnerships, and the increasing role of regional organizations in decision-making.
The ECOSOC partnership forum remains one of the key platforms for dialogue and collaboration among the different stakeholders who are committed to accelerating action for the implementation of the SDGs, leaving no one behind.
