African Union

07/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/07/2026 00:57

African Union to Participate at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum

MEDIA ADVISORY

African Union to Participate at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York

WHAT: African Union (AU) will participate at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF2026) on Sustainable Development, featuring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reviews, thematic discussions among others. H.E Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), is expected to lead the African Union delegation to the Forum.

WHEN: The 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will run from 7-15 July and a ministerial segment from 13-15 July, concluding with the High-level Segment of ECOSOC on 16 July.

WHERE: United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, USA

THEME: The theme of the HLPF 2026 is "Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all ".

WHO: Held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and jointly organized by the African Union (AU), through its Permanent Observer Mission to the UN, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) and partners of choice.

HOW: SDGs Under Review:

The first week will focus on in-depth reviews of the following SDGs:

  • SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
  • SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
  • SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
  • SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • SDG 17: Strengthening means of implementation and global partnerships

Thematic Discussions:

The programme includes thematic sessions addressing:

  • Accelerating SDG achievement in African countries, least developed countries (LDCs), and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs)
  • Strategies for SDG success in small island developing States (SIDS)
  • Strengthening alliances for SDG implementation through multi-stakeholder engagement
  • Innovative public-private partnerships and financing models for SDG initiatives
  • Lessons from middle-income countries (MICs) and SIDS on sustainable development progress

Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs):

36 countries will present their VNRs during the HLPF, starting Friday, 10 July, and continuing through Wednesday, 15 July 2026, including the following African countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Estonia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Togo, Tunisia, and the United Republic of Tanzania,

Ministerial Segment:

The ministerial segment (13-15 July) will feature:

  • General debate sessions;
  • Informal consultations on the ministerial declaration;
  • Discussions on accelerating SDGs implementation, leveraging regional frameworks, and promoting inclusive, equitable progress

Key Outcomes:

The HLPF 2026 aims to:

  • Produce a negotiated ministerial declaration
  • Reinforce the 2030 Agenda and SDGs implementation in alignment with the Africa Agenda 2063.
  • Promote innovative, resilient, and inclusive solutions for sustainable development in the context of global challenges.


N.B: The official HLPF 2026 programme is available online at the UN HLPF website: High-Level Political Forum 2026

Media Contact:

Ms Esther Azaa Tankou, Head, Media and Information Division, Information and Communication Directorate, AUC and Communication Advisor to the African Union (AU) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations (UN). Tel: +1 347 812 71 95, Email: [email protected]

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: [email protected]
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African Union published this content on July 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 07, 2026 at 06:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]