18/04/2025
From April 9th to 11th, 2025, Uganda proudly hosted the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) held at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala. The Forum was jointly convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Uganda, with support from the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank Group, and United Nations system organizations under the theme “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” -11 served as a platform for key stakeholders to align national, regional, and global development agendas.
On April 8th, 2025, Sensitise Uganda , together with youths from its partner organisations; Host Hub Innovation Center and West Nile Youth Empowerment Centre had the honour of participating in a high-impact pre-side event: "Youth Parliamentarian Roundtable". This engagement, focused on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was organized by 2030beyond & Coterie Development Initiative with support from Embassy of Denmark in Uganda and Embassies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda , Ireland, and Sweden.
The Roundtable brought together African youth leaders, parliamentarians, and civil society actors to co-create targeted recommendations for SDG implementation, aligned with -11 objectives and broader goals under the Pact for the Future and Agenda 2063. Attendees included youth from Sensitise Uganda, members of the Royal Danish Embassy and EU Youth Sounding Board, MPs from Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Uganda, and representatives from organizations such as Faraja Africa Foundation Restless Development and H.E Signe Winding Albjerg among others.
Participants worked in thematic groups examining SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Discussions emphasized youth-centered perspectives and culminated in actionable proposals, many of which were incorporated into the Kampala Declaration.
The Youth Parliamentarian Roundtable significantly contributed to the Forum's focus on accelerating SDG implementation and promoting regional ownership by:
- Advancing localized, inclusive solutions driven by youth and legislative representatives.
- Fostering intergenerational collaboration to shape forward-looking policy and funding priorities.
- Offering concrete inputs for inclusion in the Kampala Declaration, including:
Gender-responsive budgeting, Youth-centered SME development support, Marine ecosystem protection, Community-led partnerships, Promotion of decent work through a livable minimum wage and safe, inclusive working environments for all.
Chrispin Mutehimbwa West Nile Youth Empowerment Centre Kibuuka Iddi Emmanuel Wabwire
