World should not allow Sudan to spiral further into chaos, says senior UAE diplomat
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Zawya
7 hours ago
- Zawya
Bridging Africa's financing gaps through better planning
With just five years left to meet global and continental development targets, African governments are shifting the way they plan and finance national priorities. The focus is turning toward long-term, integrated planning that links policy ambition with realistic budgeting and resource strategies. This evolving approach was the focus of a side event at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), co-organized by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), UN DESA and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The session explored how African countries are applying future-oriented planning methods to address persistent financing challenges and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. Rather than tackling development bottlenecks in isolation, participants stressed the importance of systems thinking, looking at the broader structures that give rise to gaps in infrastructure, development financing and social spending. Linking planning with budgeting, implementation and institutional capacity was presented as essential for making better use of limited resources 'Long-term planning pushes countries to think beyond the immediate, ensuring that development strategies are more adaptive, coordinated and resilient,' said Nassim Oulmane, Chief of the Green and Blue Economy Section at ECA. Country examples reinforced this message. Ethiopia is implementing a ten-year national plan supported by new tax and revenue measures. Uganda is aligning its national planning processes with the SDGs. Sierra Leone is applying long-term approaches at the sector level, and Nigeria is coordinating development plans across both national and state institutions. All four countries are also participating in follow-up to the Seville Financing for Development (FfD4) conference, where domestic resource mobilization featured prominently. To support these efforts, ECA and APRM are promoting practical tools like the Integrated Regional Planning Toolkit (IRPT), which helps governments embed long-term planning into national strategies and financial frameworks. The session also underscored the broader economic stakes. Africa continues to lose significant capital through leakages and inefficiencies, undermining development even in countries with strong growth potential. By planning more strategically and investing in anticipatory systems, countries can position themselves to mobilize internal resources and build more resilient economies. With global financing under strain and aid flows declining, participants agreed that better planning is not just a technical fix but a strategic necessity. As Africa moves through the Decade of Acceleration, how governments plan, and how effectively those plans are linked to implementation, may well determine the pace of progress. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Sharjah 24
Hamdan bin Zayed visits 21st Liwa Date Festival
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the festival affirms the UAE leadership's commitment to preserving national heritage and supporting related sectors. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed highlighted the continued support of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, toward efforts that safeguard Emirati culture and promote agricultural sustainability. During the visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed praised the festival's role in showcasing the cultural and agricultural significance of the palm tree as a symbol of national identity and in supporting local communities in Abu Dhabi, in line with the aspirations of the UAE Year of Community. His Highness underscored the festival's importance in empowering the local community, supporting farmers, and encouraging the cultivation of palm trees as a pillar of food security, and a key component of the UAE's heritage. He also commended the active participation of government and private entities, producers, manufacturers, and traditional craftswomen, highlighting Emirati traditions and promoting palm-related products. He toured the festival pavilions, reviewed entries in various competitions, met with judging committees for both the date and fruit competitions, and visited sections featuring heritage crafts, palm saplings, agricultural tools, a fresh dates market, the traditional souq, and displays from government and private sector organisations. His Highness was accompanied during the visit by Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority; Nasser Mohammed Al Mansouri, Undersecretary of the Ruler's Representative Court in Al Dhafra Region; Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, Acting Director General of the Authority; Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Festivals and Events Sector at the authority; and a number of officials
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
UAE showcases women empowerment model at UN forum
The UAE has reaffirmed its strong commitment to women's empowerment and gender equality during the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York. Speaking at the UN gathering, the UAE delegation showcased the country's model of inclusive development—built on empowering women, supporting families and driving progress through equality in education, work, and leadership. The delegation highlighted national milestones, including equal pay legislation, constitutional protections for gender equality, and the rising number of women in leadership—now making up 50 per cent of the Federal National Council and 26 per cent of Cabinet positions. Women also account for nearly half of STEM graduates and 80 per cent of the scientific team behind the Emirates Mars Mission. The UAE also emphasised its global efforts, including programmes like Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's Women in Peace and Security Initiative, offering its experience to help accelerate gender progress worldwide. On the sidelines of the forum, the UAE Consulate and National SDG Secretariat hosted a roundtable focused on innovation in promoting gender equality beyond 2030. The event tackled the digital gender divide, care economy reforms, and boosting women in leadership—with voices from international experts, including ministers, UN leaders and private sector figures. Officials stressed that empowering communities, especially women and families, remains both the foundation and future of sustainable development.
