ADS 2026 High-level Policy Dialogue

The 2026 Africa Dialogue Series will culminate with the High-level Policy Dialogue on 29 May from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. New York local time. It will take place in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations Headquarters. Discussions can be followed online.

The HLPD is an interactive, forward-looking platform for policymakers, UN experts and practitioners to exchange on the elaboration of actionable strategies for accelerating Africa's development. This segment of the ADS will feature the participation of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed, the President of the UN General Assembly, Permanent Representatives, heads of UN entities, delegates, other senior officials and members of civil society organizations and youth representatives.

Register to follow the discussions and participate by clicking this link!

Programme

Session One

10:00 to 11:00 am

Introductory remarks and master of ceremonies (MC)

• H.E. Mr. Mohammed Edrees, Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations

Welcome remarks

• H. E. Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80^th session of the UN General Assembly

Opening messages

• Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General (video-message)
• H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (video-message)

Keynote speech

• Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy-Secretary-General, United Nations

Setting the stage

• H.E. Mr. Coly Seck, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations (tbc)
• H.E. Mr. Ihab Moustafa Awad Moustafa, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Nations (tbc)
• H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations(tbc)

Youth Voices

• Ms Fatou M'bou, African Focal Point for the World Youth Parliament for Water and Co-Founder of the African Youth Parliament for Water
• Mr Arif Abdeljalil,African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace, Northern Region

Session Two

11:00 to 12:45 pm

Interactive Roundtable on the theme

Subtheme 1: A Strategic Asset Management Approach to Africa’s Water Resources

• Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa
• Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank

Subtheme 2: Water and Sanitation as Drivers for Economic Transformation and Sustainable Urbanisation

• Ms Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General 
  Executive Director, UN-Habitat
• H.E. Mrs Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD

Subtheme 3: Water and Sanitation for Peace, Energy, and Food Security

• Ms Reno Marsudi, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water
• Ms Catherine Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• Dr. Fonteh Akum, Executive Director. Institute for Security Studies-Africa

Interactive Dialogue with Member States and other participants

Session Three

12:45 to 1:00 pm

Closing Segment

• Ms Cristina Duarte, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)
• H.E. Mr Milan Jaya Nyamrajsingh Meetarbhan, Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations, New York, and Chair of the African Group for the month of May (tbc)