WEBINAR: Pathways to realize the 2030 Agenda and respond to COVID-19: African countries,

9 July 2020.  Mobilizing international solidarity, accelerating action and embarking on new  Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries

• How can the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects be used as an opportunity for enhancing resilience and structural transformation in LDCs, LLDCs and African countries?
• What structural and other changes are needed to address the impacts of COVID-19 such as rising external debt, drop in remittances and tourism or impact on food security? How can they be accelerated for realizing the decade of action for the SDGs?
• What specific policy measures and international support are needed to protect medium and small-scale enterprises and their role in the economies of some of these vulnerable countries?
• What strategies can we use to build back better, smarter and resilient in LDCs, LLDCs and African countries?
• What recommendations would you make for the next decade in the context of the future programme of action for LDCs?
• How can we resume and accelerate progress in achieving the SDGs and delivering on the programmes of action for LDCs and LLDCs and NEPAD?

• Chair: H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council
• Keynote speaker: Ms. Agnes Kalibata, former Minister of Agriculture of Rwanda, President of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Special Envoy for the 2021 Food System Summit - Statement Agnes Kalibata - AGRA 
   Many LDCs, LLCs and African states risk becoming food insecure as a consequence of both the climate and now the covid19 crisis. It is important to prioritize agriculture by declaring it a critical sector that should not be interrupted by COVID19 related measures or by reductions in funding. Food corridors need to be secured, and producers supported, to ensure uninterrupted supplies and food security. Similarly, focus should be on regions and communities where risks are most acute, strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding access to food and nutrition for the most vulnerable groups, especially young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older people and other at-risk groups. LDCS, LLDS and Africa must be supported to avoid hunger and major reversal of SDG2 as a result of these crises. 
• Moderator: Ms. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh
• H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, former Prime Minister of Niger and CEO of AUDA-NEPAD - Statement H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki - AUDA-NEPAD
• H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General, Qatar Fund for Development - Statement H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari - QFFD
• Mr. Ahmed Ouma, Deputy Director of Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• discussant Ms. Vanessa Chivizhe, Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe 
• discussant Mr. Trymore Karikoga, Acting Executive Chairperson and VIONet Zim National Coordinator, VIONet Zimbabwe (Volunteers Stakeholder Group) - Statement Trymore Karikoga - Volunteers Stakeholder Group
• Respondent H.E. Ms. Matsepo Molise-Ramakoae, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho - Statement H.E. Ms. Matsepo Molise-Ramakoae - Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho
• Respondent Ms. Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Statement Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu - OHRLLS
• Respondent Mr. Thomas Munthali, Director General for the National Planning Commission, Malawi - Statement Thomas Munthali - National Planning Commission, Malawi