UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Effective and well-coordinated institutions and strategies are essential in achieving a balanced integration of economic, social and environmental interests, central to accelerating progress towards sustainable development. As such, it is pertinent that Africa is adequately prepared to articulate its vision for a reformed global institutional framework that could ensure effective linkages and synergies, while at the same time supporting institutions at the regional, sub-regional, national and local levels to effectively implement sustainable development commitments. This side event will provide Africa and its partners a platform to deliberate on institutional frameworks at the regional, sub-regional, national and local levels that are responsive to the requirements of sustainable development, as well as on the model of global level institutional architecture that could support such institutions and their strategies. It will also serve as a launching platform for further consultations on the functioning and implementation of institutions and strategies in Africa after Rio+20.

As part of the regional preparations for Rio+20, ECA commissioned the Africa Report on Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for Sustainable Development (ISFSD) to facilitate the region?s deliberations on the same in the lead up to and during Rio+20. The preparation of this report was deemed crucial given that Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development is one of the substantive themes of the Conference. The report provides an assessment of the progress made and lessons learned in the development and operationalization of institutions and strategies for sustainable development. It inter alia highlights that a common persistent challenge is balancing the integration of the three pillars in planning, budgeting and implementation of plans and programmes.

This report, together with other background reports on the objective and themes of Rio+20, was deliberated on at the Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for Rio+20, in October 2011. The Africa Consensus Statement to Rio+20 adopted at the Regional Conference, and subsequently endorsed by the 18th African Union Summit held in January 2012, articulates Africa?s key priorities and expectations on ISFSD from Rio+20.

The emphasis on ISFSD is justified by the fact effective and well-coordinated institutions and strategies are essential in achieving a balanced integration of economic, social and environmental interests, which is central to accelerating progress towards sustainable development. In this regard, it is pertinent that Africa is adequately prepared to articulate its vision for a reformed global institutional framework that could support institutions at the regional, sub-regional, national and local levels to effectively implement sustainable development agreements and strategies. Such institutional framework should ensure effective linkages and enhance implementation synergies at all levels. The side event on ISFSD will provide Africa and its partners a platform to deliberate on institutional frameworks at the regional, sub-regional, national and local levels that are responsive to the requirements of sustainable development, and the model of global-level institutional architecture that could support the development and implementation of such institutions and associated strategies. It will also serve as a launching platform for further consultations on the functioning and implementation of institutions and strategies in Africa after Rio+20.

Thematic Focus: The thematic focus is Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for Sustainable Development in Africa with a focus on integrating the three Pillars of Sustainable Development. The objectives of the event are to:

(i) Provide a multi-stakeholder platform to deliberate on institutions and strategies for sustainable development at all levels in Africa, and how these could be strengthened to achieve a balanced integration of the three pillars with a view to accelerating progress towards sustainable development in the region;
(ii) Deliberate on the global institutional framework for sustainable development that could best support Africa?s institutions at all levels towards ensuring effective implementation;
(iii) Foster understanding on Africa?s priorities and concerns on ISFSD with a view to facilitating negotiations on the same; and
(iv) Generate recommendations for further consultations on enhancing the functioning and implementation of institutions and strategies in Africa after Rio+20.

Speakers: The event will be moderated by an African Minister in charge of Planning. ECA will make a brief presentation highlighting the key findings and policy recommendations of the Africa Report on ISFSD, linking them to the main messages of the Africa Consensus Statement to Rio+20. The presentation will raise leading questions which the following panellists will address from various perspectives:

(i) Regional level - an official of the African Union Commission (AUC);
(ii) Subregional ? an official from a selected Regional Economic Community (REC);
(iii) National level- an official from a selected member State; and
(iv) Local level- a representative of local authorities.

Following the interventions from the panellists, the moderator will invite questions and inputs from the floor.

The target audience and participants include Heads of delegations and experts, representatives of UN Agencies, bilateral and multilateral development partners and major Groups.

Potential contribution to the outcome of Rio+20: The event is expected to result into the following outcomes that will contribute to shaping the Rio+20 outcome:

(i) Enhanced understanding and appreciation of institutional and strategies for sustainable development that would promote a balanced integration of the three pillars of sustainable development and enhance implementation progress;
(ii) Concrete suggestions on the global institutional architecture for sustainable development that could enhance linkages and synergies and support Africa?s aspirations on integrating the three pillars, and accelerating implementation;
(iii) Enhanced understanding and appreciation of Africa?s concerns and priorities, with a view to facilitating negotiations on the same; and
(iv) Clear recommendations on further consultations for the functioning and implementation of institutions and strategies for sustainable development in Africa.

Simultaneous interpretation in English and French will be required. The event room should therefore be equipped with interpretation booth and the relevant equipment.