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The United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) are launching a new course, "The Peace and Development Nexus in Africa: Governance, Financing, and Country Systems." This course aims to provide policymakers with the tools to implement solutions made for Africa in Africa, boosting the continent’s development.
Created with financial support from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, this path-breaking self-paced program targets African government personnel and their partners on the ground who are engaged in policy development and implementation across the continent, including in the ministries of finance, agriculture, education, energy, and interior. The course is centered on action-oriented policymaking tailored to Africa’s realities to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Ahead of its launch, Cristina Duarte, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the United Nations Secretary-General, emphasized the critical importance of the course, stating:
"Answering Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to ‘deliver action for Africa,’ this course is a strategic component of OSAA’s work to support African countries as they seek to reclaim their rightful place on the global leadership table. It highlights the critical role of domestic resource mobilization as a game changer in tackling the triple paradox of energy, financing, and food systems hampering Africa’s development. The course also provides insights into unpacking Africa’s debt challenge, leveraging control of the continent’s economic and financial flows through effective institutions."
In 2020, Africa financed over three-fourths of its development through domestic revenue and savings, surpassing the sum received through external assistance. However, the continent faces a significant development financing gap, losing between $500 and $600 billion annually, which is generated but not mobilized. This is compounded by multiple global crises hampering Africa’s development. To tackle these challenges and fully unlock its potential, including a fast-growing youth population set to outpace the rest of the world by 2050, Africa must harness domestic resource mobilization as a game-changer by developing robust governance and cohesive policies across different levels to drive economic growth and promote durable peace.
The course emphasizes the critical interconnectedness between governance, sustainable development, financing, and peace, presenting an integrated framework that can be utilized during policymaking processes to enhance Africa’s progress.
The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the transformation of multilateralism to harness opportunities and respond to 21st-century challenges. This course aims to help policymakers:
- Gain strategic insights into how sustainable development and peace are interconnected.
- Learn how to secure sustainable, nationally-owned financing for long-term growth.
- Discover the pivotal role of robust institutions in managing economic flows and advancing national priorities.
- Shape policy frameworks that drive change from the ground up.
"Indeed, accelerated efforts in Africa are needed, particularly in climate action, poverty alleviation, and good governance, to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” said Jafar Javan, Director of UNSSC. “The Staff College will continue to contribute to the development of outstanding leaders and effective problem solvers in the region through innovative, relevant, and pioneering learning solutions."
Let us #ActNow to build the Africa we want. It is the Africa the world needs.
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