African ministers and development experts are set to gather in Addis Ababa tomorrow for a high-stakes forum to accelerate progress on global development goals as the 2030 deadline looms just five years away. The Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, organized by the UN Economic Commission for Africa, arrives at a pivotal moment as implementation across the continent falls sharply behind schedule. 

Running under the theme of turning the tide through transformative and coordinated actions, the forum will bring together thousands of participants from the private sector, civil society, and government. ECA Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete described the upcoming session as a call to transform commitments into concrete results, warning that Africa cannot afford another year of indecision. The hybrid event will feature pre-sessions from April 25 to 29, followed by the main forum through April 30, aiming to consolidate a unified African strategy for the continent's future.

The discussions will center on five critical areas: clean water, affordable energy, industrial innovation, sustainable cities, and global partnerships. Beyond a simple review, the forum is expected to generate the continent’s formal inputs for upcoming high-level international summits, including the 2026 UN Water Conference and COP30. A record nineteen African nations are also prepared to present their progress reviews, ensuring that regional priorities are reflected on th,e global stage as the world begins to look toward a post-2030 framework.