António Guterres (Secretary-General) at Africa Dialogue Series 2018

Statement by H.E Antonio Guterres, Untied Nations Secretary- General, at Africa Dialogue Series 2018.
Theme: OSAA at 15: A Stronger UN-AU Partnership for Peace, Security and Development in Africa.
The United Nations chief António Guterres reiterated today that the UN “believes in African leadership to solve African problems, and we are fully committed to working closely with the African Union in solidarity and respect to seize the vast potential of today’s opportunities.”
Speaking during the Africa dialogue series called “A Stronger AU-UN Partnership For Peace, Security And Development In Africa”, Guterres today (17 Oct) noted that the policies and approaches of the African Union and the United Nations are more closely aligned than ever before.
He stated that African economies are showing resilience and gaining momentum. Many are growing faster than in other regions, reflecting greater stability and efforts to improve governance.
Highlighting that the the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 have many synergies, the UN chief said “financing will be critical. All countries must meet the commitments they made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. And together with public and private actors, we must accelerate and scale up the mobilization of resources.”
Guterres also noted that the international community needs a huge leap in investment to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change in Africa. Developed countries must deliver on their commitments, on finance and technology alike.
On reforms, Guterres said “as the United Nations and the African Union engage in reforms, it is more important than ever to ensure that we align our priorities, agree on our respective areas of responsibility, and deepen our partnership.”
He added “let us work together – traditional and emerging partners, the private sector, civil society, academia, foundations and philanthropic organizations – to seize opportunities and build bridges, working together with States and international organizations like ours.”
The President of the General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés also highlighted the important role of women and youth for the development of the African continent.
She said “investing and promoting access to education and to decent jobs is essential. Reducing inequalities and building peaceful and resilient societies is critical. We must invest in youth.”