A delegation of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Secretariat took part in a capacity-building workshop on the sidelines of the 8th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Kigali, Rwanda. The workshop was organised by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). The engagements revolved around reinforcing the nexus between SDGs and Climate Justice ahead COP27.
The recently concluded training was in line with the theme of this year’s ARFSD: “Building forward better: a green, inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063” and focused on the advocacy for the implementation of the SDGs alongside the Paris agreement. The platform also served as a preparation for the upcoming “African COP”, which will be held in Egypt later this year.
The participation of the PAP secretariat in the workshop forms part of the process of gathering technical data to be utilised to advise members of Parliament ahead of upcoming engagements in climate change and related issues. The workshop further aligns with PAP’s strategic plan which focuses, among others, on strengthening partnership, coordination, outreach and institutional capacity of the institution. Mr Gali Massa Harou, Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Business and Conferences, led the PAP secretariat delegation to the workshop.
It is important to note that the ongoing collaboration between the PAP and PACJA has already resulted in the establishment of the African Climate Legislative Initiative (ACLI). The platform provides a structured framework for coordination between PACJA and PAP in joint planning for activities related to legislative work, which has enhanced interactions between PAP members and other regional legislative assemblies participating in climate change processes.
Taking place from 1 to 5 March 2022, the ARFSD is an annual multi-stakeholder platform organized jointly by the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) and the Host Government in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and other entities of the United Nations System.
It brings together Ministers, senior officials, experts and practitioners from UN member States, the private sector, civil society, academia, and UN organisations. Accordingly, the 2022 Forum is organized jointly by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda in collaboration with partners outlined above.
This year’s session is intended to be an action-oriented Forum for member States and other stakeholders to explore and propose a set of concrete and workable solutions that will enable countries to rebuild from COVID-19.
