UCLG Africa at the 16th Pan-African Ministerial Forum on the Modernisation of Public Administration and State Institutions, at CAFRAD Headquarters
At the invitation of Dr. Coffi Dieudonné Assouvi, Director General of the African Centre for Training and Research in Administration for Development (CAFRAD), UCLG Africa took part on 16 July 2025, in the 16th Pan-African Ministerial Forum on the Modernisation of Public Administration and State Institutions, organised in partnership and with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco at CAFRAD headquarters.
The theme of the meeting was: ‘The role of leadership in implementing responsible public governance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the emergence of African countries.’ The Forum was chaired by: Her Excellency Prof. Amal El Fellah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Chair of the CAFRAD Board of Directors.
UCLG Africa was represented by Dr. Najat Zarrouk at the event, which brought together ministers, ambassadors, senior officials, international experts, academics and technical partners.
Key messages from the Minister’s speech
The Minister emphasised the importance of the emergence of a strong Africa, with exceptional human potential, undergoing several transformations, primarily digital transformation. Several challenges are hindering this progress: currently, only 7% of the SDG targets have been achieved in Africa, according to the Report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. There is a glaring lack of data, or the availability of data over which we have no control, let alone sovereignty. She also emphasised that today, when it comes to the digital transition in Africa, we have only two choices:
– Try to catch up with determination;
– Or let the train pass!
Ms. Seghrouchni highlighted the key role that digital governance will play in aligning national public policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The African continent also places people and sustainability at the heart of its development priorities, calling for greater cooperation and the pooling of African talent and experience around a new vision of African public service that is more agile, more people-focused and more accountable.
According to His Excellency: ‘This forum aims to be a catalyst for change by shaping a new generation of African leaders who are rooted in the realities of their peoples while looking to the future.’
For his part, CAFRAD Director General Dr. Coffi Dieudonné Assouvi noted that this event provides an opportunity to highlight the role of agile, sustainable and environmentally conscious leadership as an essential lever for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and promoting the emergence of the African continent. Indeed, agile, transformational and ethical public leadership is capable of transcending the challenges of governance, financing, digital transformation and inclusion.
For her part, the UNDP Resident Representative in Morocco, Ms. Ilaria Carnevali, emphasised that the Forum coincided with the publication of the latest report on the SDGs 2025, noting that the report highlights a number of advances around the world despite a geopolitical climate marked by tensions. With regard to the African continent, it has made undeniable progress in many areas, but still faces significant challenges that can be overcome through enhanced cooperation and bold leadership. For her, the SDGs represent powerful mechanisms for modernising public administration and shaping the future of governance across the African continent.
The Forum then featured a series of presentations on:
– Digital transformation and artificial intelligence in support of SDG implementation: Digital governance for sustainable development, by Her Excellency Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni.
– Sharing innovative best practices on the implementation of the SDGs and the African Agenda 2063 in Burundi, Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Read the full report here in French.