Addis Ababa University to Host SDSN's Africa Center
This press release was originally posted here.
Addis Ababa University (AAU) celebrated a major institutional milestone when it became the official host of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network's Africa Center, which will harness local knowledge to advance viable solutions to sustainable development challenges in Africa.
Speaking at the inaugural event, the Interim President of AAU, Dr. Samuel Kifle said, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Africa Centre will serve as an important continental hub for knowledge exchange, policy innovation and strategic partnership, adding that the inauguration of the Africa Center represents not only a significant achievement but also a rallying point for the continent to harness African expertise, utilize international support, and implement sustainable development solutions.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the SDSN, said AAU was selected to host the (SDSN) on account of its strong reputation and leadership role in African higher education as well as Ethiopia’s desirable characteristics as a Pan-Africa home hosting the Africa Union and its commitment to sustainable development.
As the new SDSN Africa host institution, Addis Ababa University will have the opportunity to foster debate on sustainable development within African academia and beyond, create and meet demand for SDG-related education, bring together key actors including academia, government and civil society to identify and help solve Africa’s biggest sustainability challenges and demonstrate university impact.
The SDSN Africa Center will coordinate the present 11 national and regional networks based in Africa, encompassing more than 25 countries and territories working on localizing and mobilizing support for the SDGs.
The regional network center is affiliated to the world's largest knowledge network for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) mobilizing the world's universities, think tanks, research centers, and other knowledge institutions to identify and develop global and local solutions for action on the world's most critical sustainable development challenges.
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, Foreign Minister Gideon Timotiwos, Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa, and other dignitaries attended the landmark AAU event.
