The meeting was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in collaboration with the Arab League and other international entities in support of progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Under the title ‘”olutions and actions”, the forum will focus on the issues of drinking water and sanitation, clean and affordable energy, as well as industry, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable cities and communities.

Other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and regional priorities will also be discussed in the sessions, in particular poverty, inequality and gender equality.

The AFSD is chaired by the UN Assistant Secretary General, Amina Mohammed; the leader of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit; the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Yemen, Waed Abdullah Badhib; and the director of ESCWA, Rola Dashti.

The UN official said during her speech at the opening ceremony that the meeting is the first step to overcome inequality, fight climate crisis, invest in development and create hope for the future.

Mohammed specified that the recent crises have worsened problems in the region, such as food insecurity, and called for greater collaboration and new approaches to address these complex realities, stressing that the consequences in the Arab world include food insecurity and increased poverty, which is close to 50 percent in the poorest countries.

In line with the global theme and focus of the 2023 High Level Political Forum on the SDGs, the meeting in Lebanon will discuss solutions and inspire action to speed up the recovery from Covid-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The AFSD constitutes a space for dialogue and exchange of knowledge and experiences, aiming to unify messages and hopes of the region to the world.

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