The 8th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) will kick off from 3rd to 5th March 2022. As part of our efforts to influence the discussions and recommendations that will be made at the event, Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) hosted two side-events. The first event centered on economic justice and climate action. Under this theme, together with stakeholders, we critically addressed common strategies for mobilizing finance for locally-led climate solutions. During the event, Faith Lumonya, the Economic Justice and Climate Action Officer at Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) stressed the importance of engaging climate inclusive approaches and acknowledging existing gender gaps within the key governance spaces. Essia Guezzi, the Country Engagement Coordinator at Hivos MENA, also pointed out the need for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to push for more inclusion in the planning sessions of climate action efforts. She stressed the availability of funds and how CSOs need to be strengthened in their capacity to acquire these funds. 

The second side event deepened the conversation by exploring gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17 in Africa and how the progress and gaps reinforce each other. Aemiro Mussle, Deputy Director, Education Champions Network — Ethiopia, emphasized that climate justice is not just an environmental issue, it is a humanitarian issue, an economic issue and a gender justice issue. 

According to the recent Malala Report, 3.5 million girls globally are not completing their education annually due to climate change. Akina Mama wa Afrika’s aim at the two events was to highlight the interlinkages and interconnectedness of education, health, gender justice, climate justice and disability justice and how to build a better forward by connecting the dots. As the ARFSD commences today, we urge African women, girls and gender expansive persons to engage meaningfully at the forum, contribute to the conversation and add your voice to the commitments that will be made.