Perhaps, another statement or other words will be used to transition the trail - MDGS, SDGs, perhaps, ZDGs. Fundamentally, evaluating these goals with a keen eye on impact, strategy, governance, and change etc. Looking at the Journey so far, and reaching the last mile especially for people being served.

This is a very thoughtful post that highlights the often-misunderstood realities of migration. To promote a more balanced and fact-based conversation, I believe we need to amplify narratives that humanize migration; sharing real stories of migrants as contributors to economies, cultures, and innovation, rather than framing them solely as victims or threats. Media and policymakers play a critical role in shaping these narratives, so partnerships between journalists, researchers, and development practitioners are essential to ensure data-driven and empathetic reporting. Additionally, education and public awareness campaigns can help dispel myths, foster understanding, and highlight how migration, when managed well, benefits both origin and destination communities.

IITUMBA Ndinelao,Namibia,PCKMD Much appreciation IITUMBA Ndinelao,Namibia,PCKMD, thank you for your reflections. One thing I am aware of is, it will take some time before the African leadership is fully behind this, but once they are on board, then they can begin working towards building those continental instruments and institutions required for deeper integration. And of course, I agree with you, digital integration is the way to go...particularly when we are talking about the demographic dividend, if it Africa was to leverage it for deeper African integration, then digital trade is the way to go...

ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS Thank you Martha for this. Time does fly by quickly and truthfully, I have focused my energies on the research on the Division work that I barely think of other things. I love the ideas by DIOP Astou,Senegal,OES and SYAHUKA Hilda, Uganda, DOA , they can be arranged, I do gravitate more to the proposal by NDIMBO Gabriel Kanuti,Tanzania,IDEP, of having research clusters. I think is doable because, there is a diversity of expertise among the fellows, having project clusters in similar fields, will allow fellows in the same semantic fields to learn from each other. This can also translate to writing joint papers in your field of interest.

SOUMTANG BIME Valentine, Cameroon, DES-P, your feedback underscores a significant paradox confronting many international organizations: how to remain efficient while investing heavily in the development and well-being of people. To strike the right balance between operational efficiency and investment in employee well-being, flexible work modalities (e.g., remote work and flexible hours) should be developed based on 'work outcomes' rather than inflexible presence requirements. This flexibility helps them to achieve a better work-life balance, decreases stress, and increases motivation. On the other hand, it's crucial that mental health and wellness support avenues, such as counseling sessions or stress-relieving workshops, are made available and workload managed to achieve this. When you build a culture where kindness and support are appreciated, teams themselves become more resilient and can deliver sustainable performance. Combining agile work modes with a strong well-being policy therefore also boosts engagement, creativity, and team effectiveness, while satisfying employees' legitimate expectations of quality of work life.

GULE Thandile Tanzile,Eswatini,CFND Much appreciation Thandile, for such an elaborate response highlighting what is happening, continental wise, to address the water scarcity issue. I love that you mentioned cross-sectoral integration. I believe that is where most countries get it wrong, for example other ministries may deem water management and conservative as a preserve of the Ministry responsible water, forgetting that, Agriculture sector, for example, depends on water whether natural rain or through irrigation. That collaboration is needed to create cohesiveness in addressing water challenges and provide a more wholistic approach rather than a fragmented one. I also appreciate the concept of integrating traditional knowledge in water management, to help forge for sustainable water management as well as promote community involvement.

CHIGARU Farai, Malawi, SRO-WA, it is indeed sad to note that a formidable country like Malawi continues to face poor governance and extreme corrupt structures that tend to detriment overhaul socio-economic and environment systems.

I think to mitigate this, leveraging on strategic partnerships across sectors among (agriculture, minerals, energy, education etc) CSOs, development partners, donors, and philanthropists among others would come in handle in strengthening weak pitfalls in the existing system.

SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA, Internet shutdowns remind me of Election Day in some countries where "government" turns off the internet to avoid risk of violence. This country-wide shutdown halts several streams of product and service lines. This shows vulnerability of complete reliance of certain systems, and governance systems of states.

Governance evolves around several facets. However, in light of ECA, I think before ECA initiates governance related initiatives, the institution needs to reflect on its own readiness to convene diverse perspectives of members states, understand their policy, and programme dimensions, and instigate relationships/channels across countries to leverage benefits for them.

CHIGARU Farai, Malawi, SRO-WA said in Development as an Attitude: Not a Budget Line:

Very insightful LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD . My question would be analogous to the chicken and egg dilemma, in relation to the mindset and development phenomena - would you not argue that development comes first and then mindset follows?

I get your point, I would however, argue that development is an attitude not the other way round.

NDIMBO Gabriel Kanuti,Tanzania,IDEP said in Africa Food Systems Forum 2025:

LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD Thank you for your input. Sure, the African position on GMOs was discussed through two angles: (a) embracing Indigenous knowledge in agriculture and (b) agroecological practices. These two issues, from Africa's perspective, could help to build a resilient food system that sustains cultural identity and the environment.

Thank you for your response.

This reduces the time-lag and delivery process for both countries, and I believe this can steer more trade collaborations across various services and products all factors kept constant.

Great to see UNECA driving data-powered social protection. Building robust evidence systems is crucial for inclusive policies across the continent. Looking forward to seeing how the Livingstone outcomes will be scaled and replicated to strengthen resilience and equity in other regions.

BANENGAI KOYAMA Torcia Chanelle,Central African Republic,MFGD Taxing the diaspora risks alienating a community that already contributes significantly through remittances. Instead of a mandatory tax, why not design innovative diaspora bonds or investment vehicles that allow participation while ensuring transparency and trust?

The Ramses Exchange fire is a stark reminder: resilient e-government requires redundancy, cybersecurity, and disaster-recovery planning. Africa cannot afford fragility!

It’s inspiring to witness Climate Week! The focus on turning commitments into actions, particularly during the Implementation Forum (Sept 3–4), reflects the emerging leadership of climate action in Africa. Looking forward to outcomes feeding into ACS2 and COP30 and beyond

while China's tariff elimination presents a promising avenue for Africa's economic growth, the continent's readiness to fully leverage this opportunity depends on addressing existing structural challenges and enhancing internal capacities.

Yes, Africa can gain a demographic dividend from its youthful population by strategically investing in key areas such as education and skills development to ensure quality training, improving healthcare access for a healthier workforce, creating job opportunities in sectors like technology and agriculture, supporting entrepreneurship through resources and finance, and enhancing infrastructure for better connectivity. These investments are crucial for leveraging the potential of the youth to drive sustainable economic growth.

Empowerment is truly about agency the ability to make choices and control one’s own narrative. It’s more than just titles or income; it’s about confidence and support that enable individuals to thrive. How do you define it?

This overview of imputation techniques for panel data is insightful and highlights the importance of addressing missing values to preserve analysis quality. The distinction between single and multiple imputation is clearly articulated, emphasizing that while single imputation is quick, multiple imputation offers a more robust solution. This guidance will be invaluable for users working with Stata to ensure more accurate and reliable results in their analyses.