African experts and ministers in charge of health, demographic censuses and the fight against the trafficking of prohibited substances, among others, will participate in the meeting, which is held every two years and this time through videoconference.

Representatives of the AU Development Agency and the regional economic communities, as well as several international organizations working to improve health security and the socio-economic welfare in African countries, will also participate.

Until Friday, November 5, they will discuss and consider key documents, review progress over the past two years on projected continental policies, strategies and programs, and identify areas for regional, continental and global cooperation with those issues.

Under the theme “Leveraging African culture and heritage to improve health security and socio-economic well-being of Africa’s populations,” participants in the event will also define the agenda until 2023 and the common positions to promote social development.

For the AU, the session will help unite efforts to tackle Covid-19, armed conflicts, climate change and other problems that exacerbate food insecurity, weaken public health services and even strengthen drug trafficking networks in some areas of the continent.

ef/iff/acl/raj