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Regional Perspectives | Africa
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of Republic of Congo joined with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the United Nations system to convene the seventh session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development “Building forward better: Towards a resilient and green Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”, held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 1 to 4 March. More than 1,800 participants, including ministers and high-level representatives from 54 ECA Member States, participated in the Forum online and in person. Discussions centred on reviewing progress made, building consensus on development pathways in line with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, and enhancing the capacity of the 2021 Voluntary National Review (VNR) process. Member States also stressed that equity, inclusion and non-discrimination should underpin COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategies.
During the Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the creation of the African Artificial Intelligence Research Centre in the Republic of Congo - the first initiative of its kind in Africa. It is based on the premise that Artificial intelligence (AI) could make great strides in the continent’s development, contributing to boosting youth employment, innovation, environmental protection and food productivity, among others. The centre will have a Pan-African approach and will benefit from a close collaboration between the Republic of Congo and other countries of the continent. ECA will help establish the centre in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Ugandan and South African government ministers and film professionals came together in a peer-to-peer online exchange in late February to share experiences in establishing film regulations. The exchange provided a platform to create an enabling environment for film professionals and for forging closer bilateral ties in the cultural and creative industries. The initiative is part of the EU/UNESCO-funded project “Support for New Regulatory Frameworks to Strengthen the Cultural and Creative Industries and Promote South to South Cooperation” in Uganda, in the context of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
During the Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the creation of the African Artificial Intelligence Research Centre in the Republic of Congo - the first initiative of its kind in Africa. It is based on the premise that Artificial intelligence (AI) could make great strides in the continent’s development, contributing to boosting youth employment, innovation, environmental protection and food productivity, among others. The centre will have a Pan-African approach and will benefit from a close collaboration between the Republic of Congo and other countries of the continent. ECA will help establish the centre in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Ugandan and South African government ministers and film professionals came together in a peer-to-peer online exchange in late February to share experiences in establishing film regulations. The exchange provided a platform to create an enabling environment for film professionals and for forging closer bilateral ties in the cultural and creative industries. The initiative is part of the EU/UNESCO-funded project “Support for New Regulatory Frameworks to Strengthen the Cultural and Creative Industries and Promote South to South Cooperation” in Uganda, in the context of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
26 March 2021
Last update:20 April 2023
