African Union

Highlights for Thursday, 9 May 2019 Boris Greguška, Slovakia, UNFF14 Chair, with delegates from Slovakia On Thursday morning, delegates participated for the first time in UNFF in discussions on “enhancing global forest policy coherence and a common international understanding of sustainable forest management (SFM).” Many appreciated that a common understanding of SFM can contribute to coherence in forest-related policies. However, some urged for sensitivity to diverse national definitions and forest management approaches.Throughout the day, governments also engaged in interactive debates spurred by three panel discussions on: Actions by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). This panel focused on interlinkages and ways of strengthening cohesion between the Global Forest Goals (GFGs), with other global goals including the Paris Agreement and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; Actions by Regional and Subregional Partners in Support of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 (UNSPF), which provided opportunity for these groups to share their activities to advance the GFGs in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review by the 2019 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF); and Actions by Major Groups in Support of the UNSPF 2030, which focused on the Major Group Work Plan 2018-2020 and other activities carried out to advance the implementation of the GFGs. Tensions regarding UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) reforms appeared to subside on Thursday, as delegates focused attention on progress made in collaborations to achieve a wide range of global environmental goals. Many acknowledged the continued difficulty in reporting on the forest-related goals and targets in the Paris Agreement, Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the UNSPF separately. One delegate observed, “the GFGs are an opportunity to kill several birds with one stone.” The hope that synergies, cohesion and cooperation can be achieved through UNFF provided many a sense of pride of the Forum’s capacity. Some however acknowledged that cohesion is an ambitious expectation, and that the different roads taken by the different agencies may still lead us to the desired destination: the achievement of SDGs. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from UNFF14, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Afsa Kemitale-Rothschild, UNFF Secretariat Hossein Moeini Meybodi, UNFF Secretariat Jennifer Conje, US Argyro Zerva, EU L-R: Hossein Moeini Meybodi, UNFF Secretariat; Rob Busink, the Netherlands, UNFF14 Vice-Chair; and Jori Jorgensen, UNFF Secretariat Panel on Enhancing Cooperation, Coordination, and Cross-sectoral Engagement on Forest-related Issues Dais during the panel session Rob Busink, the Netherlands, UNFF14 Vice-Chair Hiroto Mitsugi, CPF Chair and Assistant Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Alexander Shestakov, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat (CBD) Hosny El-Lakany, University of British Columbia L-R: Peter Iversen, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC); Alexander Shestakov, CBD Secretariat; and Hiroto Mitsugi, CPF Chair and Assistant Director General, FAO L-R: Sasha Alexander, UN Convention to Combat Desertification Secretariat; Hosny El-Lakany, University of British Columbia; and Ulrich Apel, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Jessica Coronel, Ecuador Kyungmi Oh, Republic of Korea Zahrul Muttaqin, Indonesia Ridza Awang, Malaysia Actions by Regional and Subregional Partners in Support of the UNSPF Khalid Cherki, Morocco, Rapporteur and Vice-Chair UNFF14 Paola Deda, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) L-R: Paola Deda, UNECE and Moderator; Thang Long Trinh, International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR); and David Gritten, The Centre for People and Forests Thang Long Trinh, INBAR David Gritten, The Centre for People and Forests Almani Dampha, African Union Commission Godwin Kowero, African Forest Forum L-R: Peter Csoka, FAO; Almani Dampha, African Union Commission; and Godwin Kowero, African Forest Forum Actions by Major Groups in Support of the UNSPF 2030 Cécile Ndjebet, African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests Joe Cobbinah, University of Ghana, Moderator L-R: Fernanda Rodrigues, Forest Women Networkl; Martha Nuñez, Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de organizaciones para la Defensa de la Naturaleza y el Medio Ambiente; Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network; and Steffen Dehn, International Forestry Students’ Association Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network Martha Nuñez, Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de organizaciones para la Defensa de la Naturaleza y el Medio Ambiente Cécile Ndjebet, African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests and Sim Hoek-Cho, Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions Dais during the panel discussions

Highlights for Wednesday, 17 April 2019 Delegates posing for a family photo On Wednesday, 17 April 2019, the Head of the Government of Morocco, Saad Dine El Otmani officially opened ARFSD 5, in Marrakech, Morocco, and in a keynote address, he described ARFSD 5 as a watershed moment for Africa to unite in stepping up efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Giovanie Biha, Deputy Executive Secretary, ECA, lauded Africa for successfully increasing the number of Voluntary National Review (VNR) submissions to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Mesfin Tessema, African Union Commission (AUC), highlighted synergies between ARFSD 5 and the 2019 Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced People.A high-level panel session then took place, under the theme ‘Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality: Stepping up Action to Deliver the Commitments Contained in Agenda 2030.’ Delegates adopted the meeting agenda and approved the new Bureau, with delegates electing Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State in Charge of Sustainable Development, Morocco, as ARFSD 5 Chair.In the afternoon, a panel session on VNRs and peer learning on implementation, follow-up and review of Agendas 2030 and 2063 took place. Delegates also participated in parallel panel meetings on the sub-themes of the Forum: SDG 4 (quality education); SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); SDG 10 (reduced inequalities); SDG 13 (climate action); SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions); and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).The key messages from these sessions on progress of implementation, emerging issues, challenges and opportunities, and means of implementation will be presented to plenary Thursday, 18 April 2019, and will contribute to Africa’s position at the High-level Political Forum. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from ARFSD 5. In addition IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report from ARFSD 5, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Opening Session Saad Dine El Otmani, Head of the Government of Morocco Oliver Chinganya, ECA Giovanie Biha, Deputy Director, ECA Young volunteers presenting gift bags to VIP guests Applause from the floor during the opening session Mesfin Tessema, AUC Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State in Charge of Sustainable Development, Morocco The dais during the opening session High-level Panel on Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality Delegates chatting during a break Jenerali Ulimwengu, Tanzania Oliver Chinganya, ECA Batio Bassiere, Minister of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change, Burkina Faso Moumina Houmed Hassan, Minister for Women and Family, Djibouti Panelists discuss stepping up action to deliver the SDGs. Sheila Gweneth Carey, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the UN Afework Kassu Gizaw, State Minister of Science and Higher Education, Ethiopia Lively participation during the Q&A session Jacqueline Amongin, Uganda Abou Mouhamed Moubarack Lô, Senegal H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma, Special Envoy to the President of Burkina Faso for SDGs and Climate Change Election of the Bureau ARFSD 4 Chair Saliou Niang Dieng, Senegal ARFSD 5 Chair Nezha El Ouafi, Morocco, and ARFSD 4 Chair Saliou Niang Dieng, Senegal Parallel Panel Meetings Around the venue