UNESCO held its first Partners' Forum on "Structured Financing Dialogue" at its Headquarters in Paris on 11 and 12 September 2018. Eleven thematic sessions were organized in the framework of the Forum, including one on "Fostering Sustainable Development, Peace and Security in Africa", coordinated by the Africa Department.

<a name="tw-target-text"></a>The Panel for this session included H.E. Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Permanent Delegate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to UNESCO; Mr Ousmane Doré, Director-General of the African Development Bank (Central Africa Region); Mrs Mbaranga Gasarabwe, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); and, Mr Souleyman Konate, Representative of the Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Mali to UNESCO.

<a name="tw-target-text1"></a>The Sahel is a priority region for UNESCO and for the international community at large. It was, therefore, at the center of the debate during the session. The Panelists highlighted the major economic, security, environmental and migration challenges facing this region of Africa, and agreed that only a cooperation<a name="tw-target-text2"></a> at the international level, which integrates the contributions of the local populations of the affected areas, can ensure the success of any actions taken. Projects being implemented currently by UNESCO and its partners in this context were presented. They included the "Empowerment of Girls and Young Women through Education in Mali"; "Youth: Actors for Peace and National Reconciliation in Mali"; and, the "Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad (BIOPALT). Each project is designed to change the course of the Sahel in a manner that will help the countries of the region achieve the goals set by the international community in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.