What:       The 1^st Africa Urban Forum

Theme: “Sustainable Urbanization for Africa’s Transformation – Agenda 2063”

When:       4- 6 September 2024

Where:       Adwa Victory Memorial Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Time:         09:00. am. – 5: 00.pm. EAT  

Who:        The Forum will be organized by the African Union Commission Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) in cooperation with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Why:       

 The Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union held in Malabo in 2014 established the Specialized Technical Committee on Public Service/ Administration, Local Governments, Urban Development and Decentralization (AU-STC.No.8). The AU-STC.No.8 Sub-Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development (HUD) serves as the primary consultative body responsible for promoting sustainable development in African human settlements. It also acts as the continental platform through which governments collaborate to enhance African cities, enabling them to fulfil their potential as centers of hope, growth, and prosperity.

The African Union Commission and its member-states established the Africa Urban Forum during the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization (AU-STC.No.8) held in Cairo, Egypt in August 2022. The AUF was captured in the AU-STC.No.8 declaration and has been conceptualized upon the rising consciousness of the rapid urbanization in Africa, its opportunities, & challenges, and the need to create a continental scale forum to support an inclusive and holistic approach to unlocking the potential of urbanization in the continent.

The Harmonized Regional Framework for Implementing the New Urban Agenda in Africa, which was developed by the African Union Commission, jointly with UN-Habitat and UNECA will serve as the main guiding framework for the deliberations of the Africa Urban Forum. The framework aligns with the transformative vision of Africa 2063 and serves as a pivot for addressing urban related issues in Africa.

Objectives of the Africa Urban Forum:

Provide a diverse multi-stakeholder platform to:

• Raise the profile of urbanization as an imperative for sustainable and resilient development in Africa.
• Support inclusive and participatory human settlement development in Africa’s structural transformation and attainment of Agenda 2063.
• Facilitate dialogues and buy in for sustainable urbanization among Africa’s heads of state and Governments.
• Identify, discuss, and prioritize emerging and critical issues in inclusive and sustainable urban development from the perspective of different stakeholders.
• Exchange ideas, best practices and innovative approaches related to sustainable urbanization.
• Foster collaboration of different stakeholders at various levels to develop strategies, improve programme & project implementation outcomes, share resources, and build capacities.

Expected outputs of the Africa Urban Forum:

• The Forum will serve as Africa’s position on sustainable urban development to be communicated to the global community including the World Urban Forum.
• More awareness on the urban agenda in Africa at the highest level of Head of States.
• A roadmap on the implementation of the African Union declaration on sustainable, equal, and inclusive urbanization.
• Commitments for support to implement African Union urban development flagship projects.
• Investment commitment/ Partnerships on urban development financing, capacity building, programme, and project implementation.

Participants:
Participation at the Africa Urban Forum will include; political leaders ( local authorities/ mayors, parliamentarians, ministers, heads of government/ states), policy and decision makers, business leaders, media representatives, representatives of urbanization and human settlements sectors and other related sectors, think tanks private sector, financial institutions, engineers, architects, NGO’s, civil society representatives ( urban residents, unions, professional associations, indigenous people, women , youth, religious organizations) etc. and citizens of the host country. Particularly the forum will mobilize new stakeholders in the discussion to foster cross-sectorial approach, such as Ministers of Finances and Ministers of Environment.

For media inquiries and interviews please contact:  

Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar I Senior Communication Officer I African Union Commission I Email: gamalk@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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