Africa Ministerial Meeting

Overview

The forthcoming World Urban Forum in Cairo, provides a strategic platform to share experiences and lessons learned to maximize opportunities associated with rapid urbanization in Africa. Being the fastest urbanizing region in the world. Also, Africa population is expected to double by 2050, reaching approximately 1.3 billion inhabitant. The speed of urbanization represents an opportunity to harness the potential of cities as engines of growth and wellbeing to be used as a powerful leverage to achieve sustainable development.

However, developing countries currently face global challenges resulting in shrinking growth prospects, weakening investment, and surging debt. Therefore, effective partnership is the hope of our home and home is here in Africa. To share experiences and opening the filed for investment, technology is the proposed efficient tool. Technology, data, and information are playing increasingly important roles in the life of citizens and shifting the power dynamics of our society, especially in Africa. Therefore, cities are at the forefront of this technological change and should be centered for people.

Objectives

• Sharing experiences, best practices and lessons learned: The Africa Ministerial roundtable will give the African Ministers an opportunity to reflect on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and Agenda 2030, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and to re-iterate the messages and recommendations of the Africa Urban Forum (AUF) which was held in September 2024 in Addis Ababa. Therefore, sharing experiences, best practices and lessons learned among African countries in areas related to housing, utilities and urban development is the key objective of the discussion.
• Strengthening urban investment planning: Africa is a continent having an immense opportunity for the future investments. It has a young and growing population and abundant natural resources. Moreover, it has a large stock of housing and real-estate projects. Many African countries have launched long-term industrialization and digitalization initiatives. Major investments in infrastructure and services are needed to realize the opportunities presented for the urbanization in Africa.
• Effective partnership for the future: This meeting shall act an excellent opportunity to discuss strategies and frameworks for implementing sustainable urban development in Africa. It will discuss and agree on the future steps in terms of collaborative approach to address urbanization challenges and leverage opportunities between the African cities including the implementation plan of the African Urban Forum outcomes. The discussion shall act as an excellent opportunity to discuss strategies and frameworks for the engagement of private sectors in urban development in Africa. Partnership among African countries and between the public and private sectors is the target for successful implementation mechanism.

Expected Outcomes

• Actionable Recommendations: Develop a set of actionable recommendations for policymakers to enhance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and Agenda 2030.
• Enhanced partnership: Improve the mechanisms for the involvement of private sectors and strategic partners in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and ensuring more comprehensive and accurate data.
• Policy Implementation: Agreement on the way forward and the drafting of an action plan that will translate the outcomes of the Africa Urban Forum into practical, implementable urban policies.

Participants

• Representative of the host country
• African Ministers
• African Union
• UN-Habitat
• Representatives from private sectors and partner

Proposed Program Overview

1.    Notes by Host Country – Egypt

• Urbanization and Infrastructure development
• Affordable Housing
• New city development
• Digital Inclusion

2.    Reporting the New Urban Agenda in Africa

• Status update on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda across African countries.
• Sharing best practices and lessons learned in reporting and monitoring progress.
• Identifying areas requiring additional support and partnership.