A new Africa Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report has called for deliberate policies to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by 2030.
The report was released at the ongoing 17th African Economic Conference (AEC) in Balaclava, Mauritius.
The report is titled “Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disease, While Advancing the Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
The joint report was by the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
It stated the need to accelerate progress towards the SDGs so at least 492 million people would not be left in poverty.
Speaking on the report, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP Africa could no longer wait on the margins.
“The time is now for the continent to rechart its development path and own its development agenda.”
Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, Secretary General, AfDB said Africa had more to do as a continent for better results.
“Knowing the challenges we have, it is important that we look inward and find a way to implement home-grown initiatives to tackle challenges.
“The partnership between AfDB, ECA, AUC and UNDP is a good platform that presents the challenges for our countries to tackle,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the ECA, said she was hopeful that the report would achieve something substantial.
“I am hopeful that the findings and recommendations of the 2022 Africa SDGs Report will help member states to take urgent action to accelerate attainment of the SDGs and the agenda 2063.”
The 2022 Africa SDGs report evaluates Africa’s progress towards the SDGs and the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The report gives an in-depth analysis of five SDGs.
They are Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), Goal 15 (Life on Land) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG Goal 4 on Quality Education notes that Africa has made slow progress in the provision of quality education for all.
According to the report, there is a need to increase funding for education infrastructure.
This would be focusing on pre-primary and primary education, investing in the training of teachers, and digital connectivity.
SDG Goal 5 on Gender Equality shows slow progress towards gender inclusivity.
It, however, recommends the enforcement of legal frameworks to protect women and girls against discrimination, domestic violence, child marriage and female genital mutilation.
Moreover, SDG Goal 14 on Life Below Water notes that organic and chemical pollutants from human activities continue to endanger Africa’s marine ecosystem.
The report calls for institutional capacity strengthening to enforce laws and regulations for the sustainable use of marine resources.
The report further notes that life under water is an important source of livelihood for many African countries, especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Also, the SDG Goal 15 on Life on Land notes that loss of forest cover, biodiversity and land degradation remains high and widespread in Africa.
This is mainly due to the deforestation of land for farming and grazing, and climate change.
The data shows land degradation affects 46 per cent of Africa’s land and 65 per cent of the population, costing the region 9.3 billion dollars annually.
According to the report, more public and private partnerships are critical to mobilise and channel funding to scale up sustainable management of land, forests and biodiversity towards a green and resilient recovery.
Furthermore, SDG Goal 17 on Partnerships notes the continent has made little progress in implementing SDG goal.
The report notes that Africa’s domestic revenue generation and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows continue to lag behind other regions.
In 2020, the report notes that Africa lost about 89 billion dollars to Illicit Financial Fows (IFFs).
To advance sustainable development, the report suggests the need to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and curb illicit financial flows.
It also suggests support from international actors to roll out innovative financial instruments such as green and blue bonds, and debt-for-climate swaps.
“To get back on track, Africa needs to foster its domestic resource mobilisation and savings, as well as boost its ICT to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and the Agenda 2063,” the report states.
