Statement by Deputy Chairperson at 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum

Theme: Transformative, Equitable, Innovative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a Sustainable Future for All

• Your Excellency Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council,

• Your Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

• Honarable Ministers,

• Ladies and Gentlemen

This year's theme speaks directly to the defining development challenges of our time. Addressing them requires more than incremental progress; it requires transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated action.

The Secretary-General's report reinforces this imperative, calling on us to move towards systems that are coherent, integrated and capable of delivering sustainable development at scale. Africa welcomes this vision because it reflects the philosophy that has guided the AU Agenda 2063.

For AUC, Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda are mutually reinforcing frameworks. Agenda 2063 provides a coherent pathway through which Africa advances both its own aspirations and our shared global commitments.

The African Union Commission's First Biennial Continental Progress Report demonstrates that African countries have made significant progress in aligning Agenda 2063 with national development planning. Our challenge today is therefore one of implementation at scale-strengthening institutions, mobilizing financing, accelerating innovation and deepening partnerships that deliver measurable results for our people.

Excellencies,

Africa's experience confirms the central message of this Forum: sustainable development cannot be achieved in silos.

Water security underpins food security; energy powers industrialization.Industrialization creates productive employment; sustainable cities drive resilience, inclusion and economic opportunity, and strong partnerships make transformation possible.

Progress in one area reinforces progress in another. This coordinated approach must guide our collective efforts as we accelerate implementation towards 2030.

Yet implementation continues to be constrained by persistent financing gaps, unsustainable debt burdens, climate shocks and an international financial architecture that has not evolved at the pace of today's development realities.

As we look towards 2030, the international community must move from commitment to delivery. This requires reformed international financial architecture, greater access to affordable and long-term development finance, accelerated climate finance, strengthened technology transfer, and investment in productive capacity that enables countries to create value, generate jobs, and build resilient economies.

Excellencies,

Africa is home to the world's youngest population, vast renewable energy potential, abundant critical minerals essential to the global energy transition, and the world's largest emerging free trade area through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

These are not simply Africa's assets; they are global assets.

Africa's transformation is therefore fundamental to achieving the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and securing a more sustainable, prosperous and resilient future for all.

As we move to integrated action, Africa stands ready to work with all partners to advance Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030 as mutually reinforcing frameworks for sustainable development.

Our shared responsibility now is to implement those commitments we have already made-with greater coherence, greater urgency and greater impact.

I thank you.