The Mayors agreed to explore the establishment of a formalised forum for Africa’s Capital Cities, evolving from the current ACCSF platform, which has met annually over the least three years in the City of Tshwane. This Forum will now be properly constitutionalised and governed by these leading cities, and supported by a dedicated, permanent Secretariat. They have committed to endeavour to continue to meet annually and assess and share their individual and collective progress on a regular, ongoing basis on an ambitious path towards urban sustainability.
African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum 2017 has been the best yet with 32 African Capital Cities in attendance. The group has worked tirelessly over the past three days to reach consensus on a clear direction for the leadership network and its goal of advancing sustainability in African cities, culminating in the formulation and signing the ACCSF 2017 Tshwane Declaration. The real work starts now as the City of Tshwane, mandated by the network, sets about formalizing a secretariat that will provide an ongoing platform for the network to continue sharing ideas, experiences and solutions as we work together towards African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum 2018.
– Solly Msimanga, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane
The City of Tshwane, with support from ICLEI and others, will host the first term of the ACCSF Secretariat.
ICLEI wishes to congratulate these capital cities for across Africa and welcomes this great stride towards local action for sustainability that these actions represent.
“The formalization of this Forum of Capital Cities, collectively committed to place sustainability at the very heart of their development trajectories, is an important milestone on our Continent which has the potential to significantly change Africa’s urban future, laying the foundation for more livable, safe, resilient and ultimately thriving cities for all,” said Ms. Kobie Brand, Regional Director of ICLEI Africa.
The ACCSF 2017 was hosted by the City of Tshwane, the capital city of South Africa, from 13 to 15 June 2017.
The following capital cities in Africa committed to this newly formalized initiative:
Botswana, Gaborone
Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
Burundi, Bujumbura
Central African Republic, Bangui
Chad, N’Djamena
Comoros, Moroni
Gabon, Akanda
Gabon, Libreville
Gambia, Banjul
Ghana, Accra
Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
Kenya, Nairobi
Liberia, Monrovia
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Malawi, Lilongwe
Mauritania, Nouakchott
Morocco, Rabat
Namibia, Windhoek
Niger, Niamey
Nigeria, Abuja
Sahwari, Bir Lahlou
São Tomé & Principé, São Tomé
Senegal, Dakar
Seychelles, Victoria
South Africa, Tshwane
South Sudan, Juba
Swaziland, Mbabane
Togo, Lomé
Uganda, Kampala
Download the English Declaration here and the French Declaration here.
