1. This report reviews the main findings and recommendations from major United Nations conferences and regional consultations held in 2019. 2. Member countries of the sub-region began the process of appropriating and implementing Agendas 2030 (United Nations) and 2063 (African Union) since these were adopted as road maps for sustainable development and structural transformation. 3. 2019 saw the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the 12th African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in July in Niamey, Niger. Comprising 1.2 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in excess of US$ 2,500 billion, this market will in time become the world’s largest common market. 4. The fifth session of the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, held in Marrakech, Morocco, in April, provided an opportunity for member countries to share experiences on the coherent and harmonized implementation of Agendas 2030 and 2063. 5. The continent also hosted the Global Conference for the Adoption of the Global Compact for Migration, whereby Member States pledged international cooperation to facilitate safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration and mobility. 6. On the international level, 2019 also saw the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the 108th session of which brought together member State tripartite delegations June in Geneva (Switzerland). The session reaffirmed the ILO's position as the definitive global organization in matters of work, and adopted landmark instruments on violence and harassment at work, as well as a Declaration on the future of work. 7. Fundamental climate change issues were discussed this year during the World Climate Summit held in New York at United Nations Headquarters on 23 September 2019, giving member countries the opportunity to review progress and renew commitments in support of the Paris Agreement.
