AfDB Leads Push for Africa's Sustainable Future at UN General Assembly 79

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, accompanied by senior Bank executives, will lead efforts to strengthen partnerships and mobilize support for Africa’s development priorities.

As world leaders gather in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), Africa’s 1.2 billion people look to their leaders and pan-African institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB) to champion sustainable development across the continent. Critical issues such as climate change, food and health security, access to clean energy, and the reform of the global financial architecture are at the forefront of the agenda.

The African Development Bank’s "High 5s" priorities—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and are central to the Bank's newly launched Ten-Year Strategy. These goals are seen as essential to achieving 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the continent by 2030. The High-Level Segment of UNGA 79, running from September 22-30, 2024, will focus on the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations.” These discussions come at a crucial time, as concerns rise about the global community's ability to meet the critical 2030 targets outlined in the SDGs.

 

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, accompanied by senior Bank executives, will lead efforts to strengthen partnerships and mobilize support for Africa’s development priorities. Adesina’s busy itinerary will begin with the UN’s “Summit of the Future,” where he will join other world leaders to adopt a "Pact for the Future." This document is expected to lay out action-oriented commitments to address global challenges.

 

During the summit, Adesina is scheduled to meet privately with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the mobilization of private sector investment in Africa and the reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs). The reform of MDBs is seen as critical to addressing the financial needs of developing economies, particularly in Africa, which is heavily impacted by global financial disparities.

The African Development Bank is also pushing for additional funds for the African Development Fund (ADF), its concessional lending arm, which has been instrumental in addressing fragility and resilience in Africa. The Bank is seeking a $25 billion replenishment to accelerate its programs on the continent, with a focus on infrastructure, energy, and poverty reduction. In a fireside chat hosted by CNN, Adesina will spotlight the Bank’s ambitious "Desert to Power" program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to create the largest solar energy zone in the world across the Sahel region and connect 250 million people to electricity by 2030. Access to clean energy remains a critical priority for Africa, with energy deficits severely hampering economic growth.

 

Adesina will also address a steering committee meeting of the Access to the Digital Economy (MADE Alliance-Africa), an initiative aiming to provide digital access to 100 million people across the continent. The Bank is also keen on leveraging digital innovations to help reach 100 million African farmers within the next decade, boosting food security and agricultural productivity. With a high-level delegation that includes vice presidents overseeing Regional Development, Finance, Agriculture, Energy, and Climate, the AfDB is set to make significant strides in securing both political and financial commitments during UNGA 79. The Bank's efforts are essential in ensuring Africa’s future is sustainable, equitable, and prosperous.