OPENING REMARKS BY DR. JIHANE EL GAOUZI, HEAD OF THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, BLUE ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

OPENING REMARKS BY DR. JIHANE EL GAOUZI,

HEAD OF THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND BLUE ECONOMY DIVISION

At the

2nd Meetings of the Technical Working Group and the Steering Committee of the Africa Urban Resilience Programme

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

22 SEPTEMBER 2026

Lomé, Togo

Professor Komla Dodzi Kokoroko, Minister of Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection and Climate Change

Representative of the Mayor of the City of Lomé

Representative of the ECOWAS Commission

Representative of the Embassy of Sweden in Ethiopia

Ms Ria Hidajat, Project Manager, GIZ - Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA)

Representatives of our Development Partners

Ladies and Gentlemen ,

1. It is a distinct honour and a genuine pleasure for me to take the floor on behalf of the African Union Commission (AUC) to express my deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to our host, the people and Government of Togo, for agreeing to host these 2nd annual rotating meetings of the Technical Working Group and the Steering Committee of the Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) on behalf of the countries of West Africa.

2. The choice of Togo is certainly no coincidence. Togo has built up numerous achievements in the field of urban resilience: the production in 2023 of the Targeted Assessment Report on "Urban Resilience: Risks, Disasters and Adaptation Measures" , complemented by substantial efforts in urban planning and the approval of the National Pollutant Reduction Plan.

3. Allow me to thank the Ministry of Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection and Climate Change, as well as the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection and the National Civil Protection Agency (ANPC), for all their support in organising this event.

4. Our thanks also go to the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and to our partners, in particular German Development Cooperation through GIZ, via the "Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA)" project, as well as to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for their financial support.

5. African cities are being put to the test by risks. These economic, social and environmental risks, which are frequent, growing in scale and very often interconnected, call for new management approaches. Our urban centres are growing at an unprecedented pace. While this dynamic represents an opportunity for economic development, it also exposes us to major vulnerabilities. Climate change, recurrent flooding, erosion and pressure on basic infrastructure are no longer distant threats. The challenges of energy, transport, access to drinking water, sanitation and housing, land-use planning and the land crisis, ageing urban infrastructure, and food and nutrition insecurity are daily realities that directly affect the lives, safety and dignity of our fellow citizens.

6. In this context, the concept of "resilient cities" has emerged as a central issue in urban policy for responding to the risks and pressures that cities face. T he Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) is not merely a technical project. Far more than that, it is a strategic shield and a lever for the sustainable transformation of our cities.

Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,

1. Following the official launch of the Programme at the first Africa Urban Forum held under the auspices of the African Union in 2024 in Addis Ababa, the AUC began its implementation. The inaugural meetings of the Steering Committee and the Technical Working Group, as the governance bodies of the Programme, were held from 14 to 16 August 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. During these meetings, the terms of reference of these two mechanisms were adopted, marking a major milestone in the operationalisation of the AURP.

2. The purpose of today's meeting is twofold. First, it is to take stock of the actions carried out since the inaugural meetings. In my capacity as Head of the Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Division, I can assure you that the harvest has been plentiful. The Programme's achievements include, among others,a series of knowledge products, including the development and launch of the flagship report on urban resilience entitled "Urban Resilience in Africa: A Continental Review", the development of urban resilience guidelines on water and housing , highly notable participation in global and continental advocacy campaigns on urban resilience, and the co-organisation of global and continental forums on the urban resilience agenda.

3. To this end, given the rotating nature of the Programme's meetings, a summary of the terms of reference (ToR) of the Steering Committee and the Technical Working Group, the draft revision of the said ToR and the 2025-2026 Activity Report will be presented to you. Second, the Steering Committee will be invited to review and validate the Programme's priority orientations for 2027, which will focus primarily on the 2027 Work Plan and the Implementation Plan.

Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,

1. While the implementation of the Programme has led to some progress in urban resilience, it has become imperative to take stock of the major challenges ahead, which clearly cannot be overcome alone. The AU Commission believes in collaboration as a key avenue for capacity building to bring about resilient cities and urban centres. The notion of partnership is therefore of paramount importance in our discussions.

2. Furthermore, Session 6 features a round table dedicated to discussions with current and potential partners on the status of urban resilience implementation at national level, as well as on the specific urban challenges requiring support from the AURP and partners.

3. Over the past year, we have observed with great satisfaction the driving and complementary role of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the design, coordination and operationalisation of resilience in Africa. This role, which we wish to see further strengthened, will necessarily require building the capacities of these Communities.

4. In conclusion, allow me to warmly thank the Government of Togo and each and every one of you for the richness of your contributions, your expertise and your passionate commitment, which will enable us to make our cities resilient.

I thank you for your kind attention.