Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)

Illicit Financial Flows fuelling conflicts and embezzling Africa’s future?

Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) are plaguing the whole world, but in Africa the poorest populations are paying the highest price. “Illicit financial flows represent an example of systemic inequalities as they significantly impact the poorest and most vulnerable groups,” underscores Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan and President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Read more »

High-level Meeting: “AU Silencing the Guns initiative - the role of illicit financial flows in fuelling instability in Africa”

The United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of South Africa and Nigeria to the United Nations, are co-organizing a high-level virtual meeting on Thursday, 10 December 2020, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am New York time, titled, “AU Silencing the Guns initiative - the role of illicit financial flows in fuelling instability in Africa”. Read more »

Joint Statement on the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325

The African Peer Review Mechanism and the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa call for greater inclusion of women in peace and security processes

(New York/Pretoria): 26 October 2020 – The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) have called for greater inclusion of women in peace and security processes if Africa is to meet its development aspirations and enjoy meaningful stability. Read more »

Paradigm shift needed in the approach to Financing for Development in Africa’s context

As the world confronts its largest economic contraction since the Second World War and the current crisis erodes already scarce resources, Africa and its advocates are calling for a paradigm shift in the approach to development financing, to help the continent address  current challenges and build back better for the future. Read more »

Youth and creativity: the African Response to COVID-19

When the first cases of the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) landed on the shores of the African continent in the spring of 2020, experts predicted a major catastrophe.

That doom’s day never occurred. On the contrary, Africa has continued to report low cases and deaths of COVID-19 compared to the rest of the world. By 30 September 2020, WHO reported a cumulative 33.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases including over a million deaths globally. Africa accounted for 1.4 million confirmed cases and 35,000 deaths cumulatively. It is also worth noting that over the same period, Africa had recorded 1.2 million cumulative recoveries. Read more »

A louder voice for Africa

On 6 August, after three days in office, Ms. Cristina Duarte, United Nations Under- Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa had her first official meeting with the African Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York (Africa Group), a primary constituency of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa that she heads. Read more »