Par the editorial staff
Africa is making progress in 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the current pace of progress is insufficient to achieve the goals by 2030, according to a report by experts on progress in sustainable development in Africa. This is the main conclusion of a report produced by a team of experts convened by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Regional Bureau for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-RBA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the sidelines of the tenth session of the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (ARFSD-10) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Progress varies across sub-regions, with West Africa and North Africa leading the way. However, East Africa shows relatively weak performance.
« None of the subregions is on track on achieving the SDGs goals, » the experts’ report says. Highlighting the lack of accurate data as a major obstacle to monitoring progress, the report advocates for improving data collection and analysis systems to effectively achieve the SDGs.
« Harnessing technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence, to target interventions and achieve the SDGs more efficiently”
« Addressing wide-ranging challenges—including social, political, environmental, and economic—is essential; specific focus areas like women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and security need targeted attention », urged António Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary for Program Support at the ECA, emphasizing the need to harness technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence, to target interventions and achieve the SDGs more efficiently.
The report highlights specific challenges associated with each goal. For example, tackling poverty requires particular attention due to its deep-rooted and complex dynamics.
To achieve zero hunger, based on data examined between 2019 and 2023, 600 million people will need to be lifted out of poverty by 2030
« The big deviation from zero hunger is expected to be 600 million hungry people by 2030, based on data reviewed between 2019 and 2023 », the report states.
Concrete actions are needed to achieve the SDGs by 2030, according to the report, including mobilizing domestic resources, improving institutional governance, and developing innovative financing strategies.
Investment in data and capacities is essential, as is the integration of different data sources and the identification of new partners. The ECA is called upon to produce an SDG index to assess country progress.
Call to action
Africa stands at a crucial turning point in its development. By overcoming obstacles and working together, the continent can achieve its sustainable development goals and offer a better future for its inhabitants.
