JENA and AU CIEFFA to Host Key Summit Event on Intergenerational Leadership for SDGs 3, 4, 5
By Shadrack Nyakoe
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, on September 20, 2024, at the Permanent Mission of the African Union in New York.
Titled “Intergenerational Leadership for the Acceleration of SDGs 3, 4, and 5,” the 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 which 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 lend support to it such as the Bakhita Partnership for Education (BPE), and the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI).
JENA/AU CIEFFA side event comes at a time when Africa is at a critical juncture.
With over 420 million people aged 15 to 35, the continent is home to the world’s largest youth population whilst many of these young people face systemic barriers to quality education, adequate healthcare, and equal opportunities—challenges that disproportionately impact women and girls.
According to UNESCO, Africa remains home to over 97 million children, youth, and adolescents who are out of school resulting to education crisis. 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.”
In addition, the continent’s health and wellness when COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of Africa’s health systems, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. With over 25 per cent of the world’s disease burden but only 3 per cent of the world’s healthcare 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).
On gender equality and SDG 5 it is clear that despite African women and girls continued pivotal role in driving community progress, the gender gap remains stark. Women perform over 60 per cent of the labor in agriculture but own just 15 per cent of the land.
The side event will showcase the pivotal role that Catholic Sisters and religious leaders play in uplifting these underserved groups, particularly in education and health sectors.
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 transformative change must come from within communities, led by those who understand their unique challenges and strengths. 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,” said Fr. Charles Chilufya, Director of JENA.
With regards to partnerships for sustainable growth, the 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.
