Leveraging partnerships for a prosperous and sustainable Africa: Deputy SG calls for renewed commitment and urgent action at scale
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Amina J. Mohammed was in Tunisia from 26 to 28 August to attend the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), a forum co-organized by the Government of Tunisia, the Government of Japan, the United Nations and other partners, which hosted some 30 African heads of state and government as well as regional and international organizations, civil society representatives, and the private sector.
An inclusive forum to redefine human security and reimagine the future 'Africa wants'
Speaking at TICAD 8, the DSG urged stakeholders to collectively take more ambitious action to tackle the cascading effects of the multiple crises affecting Africa including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the climate emergency and the financial crisis, which all combined will otherwise knock progress towards achieving universal access to energy, ensuring food and nutrition security, transitioning to renewable energy production, and mobilizing much needed investments to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
“The TICAD partnership must show concrete commitments to helping African countries achieve the 2030 Agenda and the 2063 Agenda”, she said. “This conference comes at a time when we must urgently consolidate our partnership together to build a prosperous and sustainable Africa in which no one is left behind,” she added.
For his part, President Kais Saied of Tunisia, the host country, stressed the need to create the conditions that will enable African countries to attract investors and stimulate job and wealth creation, thus addressing their high levels of poverty and social inequality.
“We acknowledge the past, but we approach the future with new dreams, new ideas and new tools. We have entered a new era and we need to approach this era with a new way of thinking. We need to redefine our concepts and put aside those that prevailed for decades, and even centuries,” he said.
Addressing the forum participants remotely, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, reiterated the commitment of his country to promoting Africa’s human capital by realizing quality investments in a green economy.
“Japan places importance on boosting the vitality of the people who support Africa's future, creating a quality living environment where people can fully unleash their vitality, and maintaining peace and stability so that their livelihoods are not threatened”, he said.
On the margins of the forum, Ms. Mohammed, alongside UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and UN Resident Coordinator in Tunisia Arnaud Péral, met with President Saied, who further recognized the important role played by the UN as “nations working together” to face challenges.
The DSG also met with the head of Government and Prime Minister of Tunisia, Ms. Najla Bouden, the first female prime minister both in Tunisia and the Arab world, emphasizing the need to leverage partnerships to invest in human capital, re-skill people and avoid the migration of youths to build the future of Africa.
Putting the core 'leaving no one behind' principle into action
Ms. Mohammed noted Tunisia’s efforts to end gender-based violence (GBV), seizing the opportunity of her being on the ground to visit a UNFPA-supported shelter for women survivors of GBV and their children - “The 13 August Center” - the first facility of its kind in the country which name refers to the date of the creation of the "Code of Personal Status", a set of laws enacted on 13 August 1956 that gives Tunisian women rights that have ever since been unique in the Arab-Muslim world.
She spoke with women survivors of GBV, who shared their stories and expressed gratitude for the psychological, social and legal support the staff provided them with to help them overcome their trauma and become more empowered.
She also congratulated the president of the National Union of Tunisian Women, Ms. Radhia Jerbi, for setting up the center and for the quality of its services and infrastructure, including a training service and an artistic and cultural space that both support women through their journey towards recovery and independence.
The way forward for a resilient and sustainable post-COVID Africa
Ms. Mohammed met with other high-level officials, including the African Union Chairperson, the Foreign Minister of Japan, the President of Senegal, the Prime Minister of Somalia, the Foreign Minister of Mauritius, among others.
She recognized persistent gaps in delivering basic public services to all, but assured that the UN would continue to accompany Africa in its journey towards achieving a better future where no one is left behind.
Ms. Mohammed welcomed the adoption of "TICAD 8 Tunis Declaration", a document that will serve as a blueprint for promoting a prosperous, resilient and sustainable future for post-COVID Africa.
“We need a shift in the perception of Africa”, she said, stressing that the continent is entitled to have the same rights and standing as any other region and to become a key economic and political actor on the global stage, also quoting Nelson Mandela, who said: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
This piece was written by the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO).
For more information on the UN's work in Tunisia, visit: Tunisia.un.org. To learn more about our work in this area and beyond, please read the 2022 UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.
For more information on TICAD 8, please click here.
