UNGC at ARFSD-12
Moving Forward Faster with the Private Sector on the SDGs
UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum at the 12th Edition of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12)
Date: 27 April 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The UN Global Compact will convene a Private Sector Forum to move Forward Faster with the Private Sector on the SDGs on the sidelines of the 12th edition of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12) taking place from 28 to 30 April, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The ARFSD serves as an annual intergovernmental platform for African countries to assess progress, share best practices, and develop policy solutions for the 2030 Agenda, supporting countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at the global High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and other major national, regional, and global meetings.
The focus SDGs for ARFSD-12 are Clean water & sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable & clean energy (SDG 7), Industry, innovation & infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable cities & communities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). The forum is organized by UNECA in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB), and UN entities, including the UN Global Compact, under the theme “Turning the tide: Transformative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”
Ahead of the ARFSD-12, the Private Sector Forum will convene committed business leaders from across Africa on 27 April 2026, to raise awareness and ambitions on the business case for the SDGs, share experiences and impact stories from businesses that are taking action, and highlight practical tools that businesses can leverage to move Forward Faster on the Agenda 2030 in Africa.
Objectives
- Raise the ambitions of the private sector to drive action: Inspire actionable commitment towards corporate sustainability, including the Global Compact’s Forward Faster targets in women empowerment, living wage and sustainable finance.
- Facilitate peer-learning among the private sector in the region: Provide a platform for sharing best practices, impact stories, and innovative approaches, leveraging science and technology in corporate sustainability across industries and countries in Africa.
- Catalyze partnerships for the SDGs: Facilitate networking opportunities for businesses, government officials, United Nations representatives, and other stakeholders to explore collaboration on sustainable development initiatives to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and goals of Agenda 2063 at the national, regional and global levels.
What to Expect—Why Attend:
- Fireside Chat: Hear from leading African business executives on how they are taking transformative action aligned with the SDGs and the opportunities with the Forward Faster initiative.
- Panels: Gain insights and best practices from pioneering African companies on tangible initiatives and impacts in the areas of gender equality , and sustainable finance.
- Speaker or Participant in the ARFSD-12 from 28 to 30 April: Represent the business perspectives in the discussions at the main ARFSD, showcase your business experience and share your thoughts in the main forum.
Networking:
Forge meaningful connections and partnerships with peers, policymakers, and sustainability experts.
