World Development Information Day

   Africa's Development Pathways in a Fragmenting World: Youth, Regional Integration and Sustainable Growth - A Global Policy Dialogue with the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs. Discussion 1: Global Fragmentation and Africa's Development Pathways Discussion 2: Africa's Youth Dividend: Pathways to Employment, Skills and Sustainable Growth for All Discussion 3: Regional Integration, Climate Action and Africa's Role in a Changing Global Economy Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development trajectory. With the world's youngest and fastest-growing population, abundant natural resources and growing regional cooperation through the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area, the continent holds significant potential to drive inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. At the same time, persistent inequalities, employment challenges—particularly for young people—and the growing impacts of climate change underscore the...

   The roundtable, at the margins of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FFD Forum) and SDG Investment Fair, aims to provide a high-level platform for dialogue on Africa's debt challenges and the reforms needed to strengthen both global debt governance and domestic debt management systems within the broader Financing for Development agenda. Specifically, the roundtable organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU) will seek to: Present the key findings of the 2026 Economic Governance Report by ECA on debt governance and its implications for debt management systems in African countries. Examine the policy priorities articulated in the Common African Position on Debt and their implications for reforming the global financial architecture. Identify institutional and policy reforms needed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and coordination in public debt management. Discuss how the Financing for Development pr...

Theme: Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for the economic transformation of Africa. National anthem Master of Ceremonies: [to be determined] Remarks by the Chair of the outgoing Bureau, Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco, Nadia Fettah Remarks by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Remarks by the Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Remarks by the Executive Secretary of ECA, Claver Gatete Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock Official address by the Head of Government of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch The fifty-eighth session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), including the annual meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, will be held from 28 March to 3 April 2026 in Tangier, in the Kingdom of Morocco, on the theme "Growth through innovation: harnessing data and f...