- When: 14 – 16 March 2023
- Where: United Nations House – Beirut, Lebanon
Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2023 (AFSD-2023) will be held in-person at the United Nations House in Beirut from 14 to 16 March 2023. AFSD-2023 will be chaired by Bahrain.
In line with the global theme and focus of the 2023 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), AFSD-2023 will discuss solutions and inspire action for accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Arab region. It will focus on the five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review in 2023 at HLPF, namely SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals. It will also focus on other regional goals and priorities, particularly poverty, inequality and gender equality.
About the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development
The Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD) is the primary regional mechanism for the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Arab region. Organized annually by ESCWA, in collaboration with the League of Arab States and United Nations agencies working in the region, AFSD brings together Arab Governments and a wide range of stakeholders to discuss progress, review national and regional experiences, and consider the latest developments and implementation mechanisms of the 2030 Agenda at the national and regional levels. The AFSD report formally delivers the voice of the region to the global High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held annually in New York. It sets out key messages on the opportunities and challenges of implementing the 2030 Agenda in Arab countries. Eight Arab forums have been held since 2014. For more information, please click here.