The rapidly evolving situation comes at a time when Africa is still grappling with the health and socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, with women and youth being hit the hardest. Concurrently, protracted conflicts and violence continue to destabilize parts of the continent. These challenges have been compounded by the rising threat posed by climate change.
This cascade of multi-faceted risks is putting African national capacities to the test in an unprecedented manner, as well as sub-regional and continental frameworks. Nonetheless, Africa’s pro-active stance is reflected in several recent developments and initiatives which seek to address some of these challenges.
This cascade of multi-faceted risks is putting African national capacities to the test in an unprecedented manner, as well as sub-regional and continental frameworks. Nonetheless, Africa’s pro-active stance is reflected in several recent developments and initiatives which seek to address some of these challenges.
The Report of the Third Edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development is set to be published soon.
Extracts of the programme
Climate Risks and Opportunities — The Water-Food-Energy Ecosystem Nexus in Africa: Strengthening Cooperation for Sustaining Peace
The current volatile international situation, with the disruptions in energy and commodity markets, is triggering a food crisis with far-reaching implications on the development and stability of Africa. Many African countries reliant on food and fuel imports are particularly adversely impacted as they still grapple with the socio-economic ramifications of the COVID19- pandemic. Concurrently, climate change manifestations, including frequent and intense droughts, floods, rainfall variability and unpredictability, as well as unsustainable management of natural resources, are jeopardizing water and food security, exacerbating tensions and inducing forced displacement across the continent. Furthermore, the 6th IPCC assessment report highlighted that “climate change has already had adverse impacts on human systems, including on water security, food production and health”.
These effects of climate change are cross-border in nature, and thus calls for effective cross-border adaptive and cooperative approaches, including through water-food-energy ecosystems. This is critical to address these cascading risks, with their serious implications for stability and security in Africa.
Against this background, this session discussed effective cooperation and adaptation measures, including through water-food-energy ecosystems nexus, in the context of cascading risks and rising climate impacts across the African continent. It considered relevant approaches on the regional and continental levels that advance sustainable development and promote peace through strengthened cooperation while highlighting the role that partners and financial institutions can play to promote inclusive regional integration.
- H.E. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
- Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, African Union
- Kelly Ann Naylor, Vice-Chair, UN-Water Eduardo Mansur, Director, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), FAO
- Tarek Kotb, Lead Global Technical Specialist, Water and Rural Infrastructure, IFAD
- Chioma Ome, Manager Impact and Innovation, Solar Sister Nigeria
Financing Sustainable Peace and Development in the Face of Cascading Risks
In the context of a volatile international situation, the signs of a global economic downturn are becoming more salient. Disruptions to
trade and supply chains, inflationary pressures, and reduced investment flows are having a ripple effect across the global economy at a
time when the socio-economic impacts of the COVID19- pandemic are still palpable. African countries reliant on food and fuel imports
are particularly impacted, with many already faced with spiraling debts and increased budgetary pressures.
Progress made in the
recovery from the pandemic is hindered, as well as the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
From combatting terrorism, to tackling climate change, and strengthening food security, African countries face a range of cascading
risks which bring competing demands and priorities within shrinking available financing. At the same time, there is a real risk that the
current geopolitical tensions can lead to a diversion of resources away from support to peace and development efforts in Africa.
In this regard, the session will examine how domestic and external financing and innovative financing vehicles should be reoriented to
advance holistic and inclusive responses to these challenges and cascading risks, including across the
humanitarian-development-peace Nexus, while continuing to prioritize advancing sustainable peace and development in Africa.
- Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum Jenny Ohlsson, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation
- Matilda Ernkrans, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Sweden
- Mahmoud Mohieldin, Egypt's Climate Champion, UNFCCC, COP27; UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund
- Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, United Nations
- Kevin Urama, Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, African Development Bank
- Franck Bousquet, Deputy Director, International Monetary Fund Stephen Hammer, Advisor, Global Climate Policy and Strategy, World Bank, Climate Change Group
- Nena Stoiljkovic, Under Secretary General for Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Hanaa Helmy, Head of CSR & CEO, EFG Hermes Foundation
- Vipul Bhagat, Global Innovative Financing Advisor, UN Women
Climate and Security in Africa: Focus on the Sahel
The African continent is disproportionately affected by the implications of climate change, which in turn fuels tensions between
communities and aggravates the risks of population displacement, as well as adversely impacts health, food and economic risks. The
Sahel has been historically one of the most vulnerable regions to climate implications across the continent. In the period between
80-1970, major droughts resulted in extreme famine and increased displacement of the Sahelian populations. Today, cities of the Sahel
are becoming more saturated and poorly equipped to host new populations driven out this time by extremism.
The session shared ideas, experiences and practices to understand the risks posed by climate change in the Sahel region and
advance consolidated efforts for peace, stability and sustainable development, while ensuring the engagement of young people,
women and civil society organizations in local, national and international efforts. Additionally, it put forward recommendations and
possible responses to the humanitarian, security, political and socio-economic emergencies that climate change is accelerating in the
Sahel region.
- Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Director General, Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding)
- Francis Behanzin, General, Commissioner Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Economic Community of West African States Commission
- Nathalie Pauwels, Head of Unit for Stability and Peace, Global and Transregional Threats, European Commission Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
- Safietou SANFO, Expert, Public Policies, Agriculture and Combating Poverty in Burkina Faso, Thinking Africa
- Ladji OUATTARA, Head of the Observatory of Geopolitics, and Security in the Sahel, Thinking Africa
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