Introduction
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the main global platform for reviewing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sharing best practices. It serves as an intergovernmental forum where countries voluntarily report on their SDG implementation, share lessons learned, and identify areas for improvement. The HLPF also facilitates dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders to advance the sustainable global development agenda. Importantly, the Forum is an annual culmination of regional consultations and discussions on sustainable development challenges and opportunities, convened by the five Regional Economic Commissions of the United Nations. This includes the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, which held its eleventh meeting in April 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.
The 2025 Forum will be held under the auspices of ECOSOC at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with a technical/expert segment from 14-18 July, and a Ministerial Segment from 21-23 July and an ECOSOC High-Level Segment on 24 July. The theme of this year’s Forum is ‘Advancing sustainable inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind’.
This year, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is the coordinator of the participation of the five UN Regional Economic Commissions. ECA looks forward to championing the stories, lessons and best practices that have emerged from Africa and indeed all regions on how to revamp and redouble efforts towards the SDGs, and in the case of Africa, Agenda 2063 of the African Union as well. ECA will therefore be hosting and convening several sessions, side-events and VNR labs during HLPF. Through these events, concrete examples from countries and localities, and useful tools developed by ECA and the wider UN system, will be shared in order to help ensure meaningful action and progress towards sustainable development.
Links, Documents and Useful Information: