Algeria Organizes a Side Event in New York on the Role of Startups in Advancing Innovation and Water Security, within the Framework of the Follow-up and Review Mechanism for the Implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs

As part of the 2026 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, Algeria organized a side event following the presentation of its second Voluntary National Review, within the framework of the follow-up and review mechanism for the implementation of the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Held under the title “The Pivotal Role of Startups in Advancing Innovation and Leveraging Partnerships for Sustainable Water Security,” the meeting featured interventions by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lounès Magramane; the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa; the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi; the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP), Mr. Abdallah Al Dardari; the Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr. Máximo Torero; and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Algeria, Ambassador Savina Ammassari.

The meeting focused on innovative technological solutions and artificial intelligence as means of addressing water-security challenges in line with Sustainable Development Goals 6, 9 and 17. It also highlighted the pioneering programmes of the public startup accelerator Algeria Venture and the African Startup Conference.

The Algerian experience received widespread praise and broad recognition from officials of the participating United Nations bodies and representatives of the various countries in attendance, who regarded it as a pioneering model for harnessing the potential of young people and strengthening South-South cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.