Addis Ababa, 2 July 2026 (ECA) - Policymakers, development partners and key stakeholders from across Africa concluded a two-day Africa Regional Consultation on Operationalizing the Sevilla Commitments on Financing for Development on 2 July 2026, hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa.
The consultation brought together African governments, the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, UN entities, multilateral development banks, climate funds, the private sector, civil society and academia to move the Sevilla Commitments, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), from agreement into concrete national and regional action.
The opening session, moderated by ECA Deputy Executive Secretary Mama Keita and opened by H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, set a tone of urgency and implementation. Opening remarks were delivered by Francisca Tatchouop Belobe of the African Union Commission, Mohammed Ibrahim of Egypt's Ministry of Finance and Chair of the ECA Committee on Economic Governance Bureau, Ambassador Chola Milambo, Co-Facilitator for FfD4, and ECA Executive Secretary Mr. Claver Gatete.
Speakers described a difficult operating environment: average government debt at 71% of GDP, 14 nations facing high debt stress or default, declining ODA, and $88.6 billion lost annually to illicit financial flows. Domestic resource mobilization was framed as the anchor priority, with Egypt's experience, revenue raised from 6.2% to 8.2% of GDP through digital tax reform, cited as a model. The proposed UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation was highlighted as a vehicle for tackling illicit flows at global scale.
Speakers called on finance ministries to map and domesticate the Sevilla Commitments through national financing frameworks and for Africa to engage reform from the inside through its representatives in multilateral institutions. Ambassador Milambo was direct: "The question is no longer what we agreed, but whether these commitments will make measurable differences in people's lives."
Mr. Gatete underscored that structural reform requires solidarity. "Financing development should not become more expensive simply because it is taking place in Africa," he said. "A fragmented Africa cannot shape global outcomes, but a united Africa can."
Over the two days, thematic plenary and parallel sessions covered the full financing agenda. From expanding fiscal space and debt sustainability to private finance, trade and AfCFTA implementation, climate finance, and science, technology and innovation. The consultation's action-oriented recommendations will feed directly into ECOSOC deliberations, the Financing for Development Forum, the High-Level Political Forum and African Union policy processes. carrying Africa's collective voice into the global financing agenda. A fragmented Africa cannot shape global outcomes, but a united Africa can.
Issued by:
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Economic Commission for Africa
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