Victoria Falls — It's all systems go in Victoria Falls as the sixth session of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) kicks off Monday to review progress, share experiences and build consensus on how Africa can accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

The Forum, which has attracted over 3,000 delegates, among them over 30 ministers from across the continent, will focus on all the 17 SDGs which recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur inclusive economic growth while tackling climate change at the same time.

Speaking on the eve of the Forum, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, said the forum was one of the ECA's biggest and most important events expected to help the continent come up with solutions to some of Africa's challenges.

"We would like to ensure that no African is left behind and develop to ensure that there is prosperity for all, that we create jobs for both the youth and the women," she said.

Ms. Songwe said the Forum will see the UN and African Member States launching the Decade of Action which calls for accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world's biggest challenges ranging from poverty and gender to climate change, inequality and closing the finance gap.

Zimbabwe's Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Larry Mavhima, speaking after meeting UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mahommed, said the country will work with the UN system to ensure successful implementation of the SDGs.

"We have to push the industrialisation and decent work agendas. We have to make sure that we are ready for the ravages of climate change. In all these areas we need international and bilateral partners to help us meet the SDGs

Mr. Mavhima, who also met with Ms. Songwe and spoke about preparations for the 2020 ARFSD, said he was happy that the UN was committed to supporting the country in meeting SDG targets.

This year's ARFSD is intended to be an action-oriented Forum for stakeholders to explore, gain insight into, share and agree on sets of concrete and workable actions that will enable the African countries to achieve set targets within the set time.

The Forum will run from 24-27 February under the theme; "2020-2030: A Decade to Deliver a Transformed and Prosperous Africa through the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063."

The regional Forum is an intergovernmental platform convened by the ECA in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the United Nations system.