Africa’s Sustainable Development Report Highlights Challenges and Opportunities
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have released the 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report (ASDR), which provides an in-depth review of African countries’ progress towards five sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their 32 targets.
The report, titled “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: The Effective Delivery of Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Solutions,” highlights the challenges Africa faces in achieving the SDGs. Despite some progress, the continent is on track to reach only less than three of the 32 targets assessed in the report, with setbacks recorded for eight of them.
The report emphasizes the need for scaled-up access to concessionary development financing, strengthened climate information and early warning systems, and economic reforms to address the challenges. It also underscores the importance of innovative financing and strengthened partnerships to accelerate sustainable development actions.
Africa has made strides in poverty reduction, with efforts underway to enhance social protection systems and improve access to drinking water and sanitation. However, the report highlights the need for urgent support to combat hunger, undernourishment, and stunting, which affect 281.6 million people in Africa.
The report also emphasizes the importance of addressing climate change, with Africa needing between $118.2 billion and $145.5 billion per year to implement its climate action commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions. Financing remains a significant challenge, with only $29.5 billion mobilized of the $2.8 trillion needed between 2020 and 2030.
In terms of governance, the report highlights the need for African countries to prioritize domestic resource mobilization and combat corruption, which remains a significant challenge. The report also recommends that policymakers and academics prioritize skills and capacity building to have a more accurate picture of countries’ achievements and needs.
The ASDR underscores African countries’ commitment and progress, but also highlights the challenges that remain. It stresses the urgent need to accelerate sustainable development actions and the imperative for African countries to step up their efforts and empower communities for a more inclusive growth.
The full report is available at bit.ly/2024ASDR.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations agency fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow @UNDP and @UNDPAfrica.
