The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), in collaboration with Faith Communities and Institutions of African Interfaith Initiatives on Sustainable Development Goals, Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations Organization, African Development Bank, and the Government of Uganda will convene for a one-day Regional Faith Communities and Institutions forum as a pre-event of the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (ARFSD11). The forum is slated for the 8th April 2025, at the Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, in Kampala Uganda and will attract over 150 regional Participants.

The ARFSD11 is an annual Inter-Governmental Regional Forum, jointly convened by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and host governments, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (ADB) and United Nations organizations (UNO). It undertakes integrated follow-ups and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, because the two agendas provide a synergistic framework for achieving inclusive and people-centred sustainable development in the region.

Objectives of the event

1. To review and consolidate the consensus and commitments that faith communities and actors made in 2014 regarding their role in implementing the SDGs in line with this year’s strategic SDG priorities.
2. Discuss and facilitate faith communities and leaders across the region to build consensus on strategies, mechanisms, activities, priorities and key policy options and recommendations that can inform actions of faith organisations in contributing to specifically identified SGDs at subnational, national, regional and continental levels.
3. Discuss the challenges, experiences and opportunities of religious leaders and faith communities since 2014, and facilitate them to recommit and/or define new commitments towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
4. To identify, interrogate and programme sustainable, inclusive, scientific and evidence-based solutions that will enable faith communities to effectively complement government efforts in promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Goals of Agenda 2063 at national, regional and continental levels.

FOCUS SDGs

Discussions will focus on Sustainable Development Goals

1. Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being)
2. Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
3. Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth),
4. Sustainable Development Goal 16 (on peace, Justice and Strong Institutions),
5. Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).