Africa's Sustainable Development

Africa has made many commitments toward Sustainable Development Goals. However, between the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change issues their efforts have been severely derailed. Currently, Africa is struggling to meet its SDGs targets, leaving millions of people in extreme poverty with number projected to grow. In order to commemorate and examine ways for the African government to facilitate the industrialization process Africa Industrialization Day was created, taking place on November 20th annually.

CHALLENGES

Africa has set 5 SDGs:

1. Goal 4: Quality Education

2. Goal 5: Gender Equality

3. Goal 14: Life Below water

4. Goal 15: Life on Land

5. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

As of 2022 many of their efforts and progress have started to slow for a variety of reasons. A journal of Economic Cooperation and Development published in 2013, posits that a majority of the challenges stem from extreme poverty, rapid population growth, rapid urbanization, deforestation, the environmental impact of extractive industries, the rate of economic growth, rural development, and natural environmental hazard. According to the 2022 Africa SDGs report, all five of the SDGs that Africa has committed to achieving have seen varying degrees of slowing progress. The report states that “without renewed effort, nearly 492 million Africans will be left in extreme poverty, with at least 350 million still in that condition in 2050.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

To improve Africa’s prospects of achieving these goals, it is important that they begin improving internal infrastructures while implementing locally sustainable solutions. These can be done through fostering their domestic resource mobilization and savings. Achieving the SDGs could become a GREAT investment opportunity. The UN estimates that achieving the SDGs could open $12 trillion in market opportunities and 380 million jobs by 2030. While all the goals they aim to fulfill are necessary to the countries development, it may benefit Africa to focus on tackling specific goals at a steady pace. However, doing so requires not only the effort of organizations but also that of the government. Both need to cooperate in order to commit to stronger and more proactive strategies. By creating a more secure foundational structure, especially one developed internally and locally, the solutions that come forth may prove to be more effective. Currently, many of the reasons that Africa has been unsuccessful in achieving their SDGs, and inconsistent with their efforts stems from the continents instability. To increase their chances of success, and increase the variety of efforts to achieve SDGs, they must first prioritize developing their infrastructure. Fostering domestic resource mobilization and saving, allows Africa to be more independent. Not only for now, but by developing these systems now they learn to create independent projects and proceedings without the interference of external aid. To serve as a solid jumping off point for their efforts and dedication to the aforementioned SDGs.

While Africa has come a long way in terms of development, with a slightly higher overall score than in 2019, there is still a long way to go. Africa remains to have the largest number of underdeveloped countries in the world, fulfilling their SDGs would be a large step on the path towards development.

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