Considering the recent escalation of armed conflict in the region, AFSD 2026 as an in-person event has been postponed; new dates and venue will be announced. Nevertheless, to ensure the Arab region’s voice is represented at the global High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from July 6–15, 2026, a series of online preparatory sessions will be held in May 2026.
These online sessions address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review in 2026, namely SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), with a focus on the impact of conflict on achieving these Goals and on mechanisms for building regional resilience. Special sessions are also organized to further reinforce SDG integration on selected regional priorities, echoing the overall theme of the 2026 HLPF: "Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all".
The online AFSD preparatory sessions bring together high-level government representatives and a variety of stakeholders from civil society organizations, parliaments, international organizations, the private sector, audit institutions, academic and research centers, the media, and major groups. Each session is expected to produce a set of key messages that will be submitted to the HLPF and the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
For more details, please visit the event microsite.
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
