The听Africa听Dialogue听Series听is听the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)鈥檚听signature听event.This听year鈥檚听edition听is organized in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Department of Global Communications, UN Women and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs - Department of Peace Operations听(DPPA-DPO).
OSAA听was听established听in听April听2003.听Its main mandate responsibilities are to advocate for the international community鈥檚 support for Africa鈥檚 development; to provide support to UN intergovernmental bodies in their deliberations on Africa, and to provide advice to the UN Secretary- General with regard to Africa and to support his efforts to ensure the coherence and coordination of UN action in Africa. And its focus has increasingly been on the nexus across the development-peace and security-humanitarian-and human rights priorities, in other words Africa鈥檚 sustainabledevelopment.
It is with its cross-cutting and unique place in the UN system in mind that OSAA听decided听in听2018听to launch听the听Africa听Dialogue听Series听as听its听main听annual听event. The ADS provides a unique global platform to explore and promote critical debates on broad range of critical and emerging issues of relevance to Africa鈥檚 peace, security and development. It is a forum for global advocacy and policy discussion. The Africa Dialogue Series offers an opportunity to build synergies across the UN system in support of Africa鈥檚 priorities. It also aims to create a space to amplify African voices.
And by aligning the ADS with the African Union Theme of the year, as well as convening it in May to coincide with Africa Day celebrated annually on the 25th听May, my Office aimed to ensure not only that Africa remains a top priority for the UN, but also that the African Union鈥檚 priorities are echoed at the 51吃瓜.
Last February, the 33rd听African Union Summit declared 2020 as the year听for听鈥淪ilencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development". Less听than听one听month听after听this decision was taken,听a听new听challenge听emerged听and听has threatened听our听common听goal.听The听COVID-19 pandemic has spread听across听the听world, including听in听Africa,听exacting听a听huge听human听toll听and听far reaching economic and听social impacts.
COVID-19听represents听the听greatest听challenge听to听global听health听and听development since World War II. It has harshly impacted Africa鈥檚 health systems, exacerbating inequities and increasing the fragility of Africa鈥檚听economies.
It has also brought into sharp focus the serious problem of inequality within societies across the continent as well as between countries and the often forgotten realities of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including the refugees, the听internally听displaced听and听the听millions听of people eking out听a听living听in听Africa鈥檚听large overcrowded informal settlements with hardly any basic services, water and sanitation. African countries are taking resolute measures, individually and collectively, in line with听African听realities听in听fighting听the听pandemic听and听its听immediate consequences.
Beyond its immediate human impact, the projected medium to long-term social and economic ramifications of the pandemic on Africa could be severe, possibly pushing up to 27 million more people into extreme poverty.
I will not go into detail on what this challenge represents. We have three half days of discussions for that. But I would like to underline that the COVID-19 pandemic is also a threat to peace and security.
Social and political tensions could exponentially rise if our response fails to address inequalities, to protect human rights or if it undermines democratic values.
Hence听the听importance听of听meeting听this听week听to听discuss听about听鈥淐OVID-19听and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and听Opportunities.
Now听more听than听ever,听Africa听needs听the听world听and听the听United听Nations听to听debate about what can we do to support the continent鈥檚 own efforts. To look for options in which听we听can听provide听funds and technical assistance听to听support听Africa鈥檚听response听to COVID-19 while continuing to implement key initiatives such as the Silencing the Guns and the 2030 and 2063听agendas.
During听these听three听half-days听of听the听Africa听Dialogue听Series听we听will听address听the听importance of global solidarity; the African Continental Free Trade Area as an opportunity for silencing the guns and fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics; the ways in which we can build sustainable peace and resilience; the relevance of good听governance,听leadership听and听people听centered听development听in听Africa;the听central role of women in achieving peace, security and sustainable development; and the need to foster a culture of peace, tolerance and听reconciliation.
These discussions will hopefully help us achieve the following goals:
- First, increased support for the Secretary-General鈥檚 call for a Global Ceasefire, in line with the AU theme to silence the guns in听Africa;
- Second,听better听awareness听and听understanding听about听the听Practical听Steps听that听the AU Master Roadmap offers to Silence the Guns in听Africa;
- Third, the ADS should help us identify the ways in which COVID-19 could negatively impact the Silencing the Guns agenda, so that both African countries and the international community can target their actions to prevent and mitigate those negative听effects.
- Finally, advocate for a stronger commitment of the international community in the spirit of global solidarity to supporting the African Union and African countries鈥� efforts to silence the guns and overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19听pandemic.
I truly hope that in these discussions will be able to provide concrete and actionable ideas on how Africa can turn the current challenging conditions into an opportunity and emerge from the crisis stronger, more resilient and well-positioned to accelerate its march to achieving the SDGs through the Decade of Action, and in the longer term, Agenda 2063.
* Adapted from听UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa,听Ms. Bience Gawanas鈥櫶齱elcome address at the Africa Dialogue Series 2020听
