Background
The Secretariat of the twelfth session of the Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (ARFSD) is pleased to announce the call for proposals for side events to be held in the margins of the upcoming Forum, scheduled for 28–30 April 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the United Nations Conference Centre.
The Forum will convene under the theme “Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.” This theme aligns closely with that of the 2026 high-level political forum: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.” Both themes underscore the urgent need for a step change in implementing the two agendas by scaling up transformative and coordinated actions to accelerate progress and place Africa firmly on track to achieve their goals.
The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is an annual intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder event that provides a unique platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership building among governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, young people, entities of the United Nations system, development partners and stakeholders all working towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across Africa.
The overall objective of the twelfth session of the Forum is to conduct a regional follow-up and review of progress made, facilitate peer-to-peer learning and advance transformative and coordinated actions to speed up progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and Goals of Agenda 2063 with a focus on strategic objectives of its second Ten-year Implementation Plan.
The Forum will conduct an in-depth review of the attainment in Africa of Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063, focusing on the Strategic objectives of its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, 2024–2033.
The twelfth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will be held in a hybrid format that will provide for both in-person and online participation, facilitating broad engagement and enabling contributions from diverse stakeholders at all levels. The Forum will encompass the pre-session meetings and events, and the main segments.
Further information on the Forum, including technical reports and electronic resources, will be posted on the main website of the Forum (http://www.uneca.org/eca-events/arfsd2026)
Objectives of side events
As an open space for the exchange of cutting-edge ideas, experiences and lessons learned in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is a unique opportunity for various stakeholders to organize side-events that have a clear focus on the themes and subthemes of the Forum and that will feed into its deliberations.
Side events at the Forum aim to complement the main agenda by providing opportunities for in-depth discussion on emerging issues, innovative solutions, best practices, and lessons learned related to sustainable development in the African context. These events foster collaboration and engagement among key stakeholders and contribute to the advancement of the SDGs in the region. Given the slow pace of implementation, one of the set key objectives of the side events is to launch and advocate concrete and transformative initiatives and actions to drive progress and generate actionable insights to feed into the declaration and key messages of the ARFSD-12.
Submission guidelines
- Eligibility: Members of ECA, United Nations organizations, major groups and stakeholders involved in sustainable development are invited to submit proposals for side events using the online request form, available at https://www.uneca.org/content/side-events
- Events focus: Proposed side events should align with the thematic priorities of the twelfth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development and address critical sustainable development challenges, opportunities, and innovations relevant to Africa.
- The events should be organized with the objective of sharing experiences, best practices and innovative perspectives on the theme and subthemes of the Forum and should strengthen partnerships and the means of goal implementation.
- Dates and format: In accordance with the structure planned for the twelfth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, side events will be held from 25 to 30 April 2026. They will be organized in virtual format with limited in-person participation.
- Duration: Side events will be allocated a 60–90-minute time slot and should not overlap with the main sessions of the Forum.
- Language: sessions will be conducted in English or French.
Application process and selection criteria
- Complete the Side Event Proposal Form, providing details on the session title, objectives, relevance to the Forum, proposed speakers, expected outcomes, follow-up actions, organisers and preferred format.
- Use the online form to submit a proposal, attaching a two-page concept note of the side event. Form is available at https://www.uneca.org/content/side-events
- All proposals must be submitted by 6 March 2026 (23:59 EAT).
- Please send completed forms and any enquiries to the Forum secretariat at eca-arfsd-sideevents@un.org
The basic criteria for selection include the following:
- Relevance and alignment with the Forum themes and priorities. In this regard, special consideration will be given to those events that aim at launching and advocating concrete, transformative and coordinated initiatives and actions to accelerate progress on the selected goals or other related SDGs and goals of Agenda 2063.
- Potential for impact and innovation, including demonstrating how the outcome of the event will be followed up, including actions at various levels and feeding into ARFSD-12, 2026 HLPF and other relevant forums or meetings;
- Inclusiveness and diversity of perspectives including gender and geographical balance;
- Clarity of objectives, expected outcomes and follow-up actions;
- Feasibility and logistical considerations. Each organizer/entity cannot be involved in more than one side event;
- Broad stakeholder participation, including that of governments, the private sector and major groups;
- Priority will be given to joint submissions involving multiple institutions or organizations, particularly where such collaboration demonstrates strong complementarities, regional representation, and shared ownership.
Notification of acceptance
Successful applicants will be notified by 31 March 2026. Organisers of selected side events will receive further guidance regarding scheduling, venue allocation, and technical support.
Responsibilities of the organizers
The logistics of the side events, such as room and virtual platform allocation and the setting up of audiovisual equipment, need to be arranged in collaboration with the side events coordinator. The organizers of the side events will be responsible for the following:
- Invitations for speakers and participants and handling their visa and travel arrangements (if applicable);
- Preparation of a summary report on the event and sharing it with the secretariat of the Forum;
- Publicity, reproduction of materials and media coverage;
- Any costs related to the venue, equipment, meals and services;
- Ensuring that the side event is conducted in English or French and arrangements for simultaneous interpretation.
Communication
For further information or clarification: Please contact the Forum Secretariat at eca-arfsd-sideevents@un.org and copy
Mamusa Siyunyi: siyunyi@un.org and
Mesfin Ketena Belew: mesfin.belew@un.org
We encourage all interested stakeholders to seize this opportunity to showcase their work, share valuable insights, and contribute to the sustainable development agenda for Africa.
Please ensure that the completed application form, including the detailed proposal, is received no later than 06 March 2026 and using the online platform at: https://www.uneca.org/content/pre-events