Intergenerational Leadership Side Event Hosted by JENA and AU CIEFFA at UN Headquarters to Accelerate Sustainable Development Goals
NEW YORK CITY, USA—The Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) in collaboration with the African Union Centre for Girls and Women’s Education (AU CIEFFA) is set to host a crucial side event during the United Nations General Assembly’s Summit of the Future/
The forum will be held on September 20, 2024, from 2:00PM to 4:30PM, at the Permanent Mission of the African Union (AU) in New York,USA.
Titled” Inter generational Leadership for the Acceleration of SDGs 3, 4, and 5,”this event will bring together leaders from different sectors and generations to spotlight the urgency of advancing health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5) across Africa.
The event is supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, has been created to foster multi-stakeholder dialogue aimed at actionable solutions to critical challenges facing Africa in health, education, and gender equality. In this regard, various other actors have lent support to it such as the Bakhita Partnership for Education (BPE), and the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI).
Why this JENA/AU CIEFFA Side Event? Africa is at a critical juncture. With over 420 million people aged 15 to35, the continent is home to the world’s largest youth population. Yet, many of these young people face systemic barriers to quality education, adequate healthcare, and equal opportunities—challenges that disproportionately impact women and girls.
1. Education Crisis: Africa remains home to over 97 million children, youth, and adolescents who are out of school, according to UNESCO. Gender disparities are significant, with girls in rural and conflict-prone areas most affected. JENA’s side event will address how faith-based organizations, religious leaders, and grassroots initiatives can fill the gaps left by inadequate governmental support to achieve the AU’s 2024 Year of Education theme: “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century.”
2. Health and Wellness: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of Africa’s health systems, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. With over 25%of the world’s disease burden but only 3%of the world’s health care workforce, it is clear that Africa’s health system requires immediate attention. The event will discuss how integrated approaches to health and education can accelerate progress toward SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
3. Gender Equality and SDG 5: While African women and girls continue to be pivotal in driving community progress, the gender gap remains stark. Women perform over 60%of the labor in agriculture but own just 15%of the land. The side event will showcase the pivotal role that Catholic Sisters and religious leaders play in uplifting these undeserved groups, particularly in education and health sectors.
A Platform for Hidden Champions and Religious Leadership One of the key highlights of this event will be the recognition of hidden champions—community organizations, religious sisters, and local initiatives that are making significant, yet often overlooked, contributions to SDGs 3, 4, and 5.
These champions are vital in closing gaps where state and international support may fall short.
“At JENA, we believe that trans-formative change must come from within communities, led by those who understand their unique challenges and strengths,” said Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J Director of JENA. “Our side event at the Summit of the Future will amplify these voices, showcasing successful models that integrate health, education, and gender equality in the African context.”
Partnerships for Sustainable Growth This side event will align with the recommendations of the Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education (PANCOGED) and the Africa Event on Transforming Education, held on the sidelines of the UN Transforming Education Summit in 2023. By building on these frameworks, JENA and its partners aim to stimulate real-world, scalable solutions that can accelerate progress toward the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
