UNDP, ECA, and AfDB Unveil 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report

According to the report, Africa is on track to achieve fewer than three of the 32 targets assessed, with setbacks in eight targets and slow progress or status quo in the remaining targets.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have presented the 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report (ASDR). The event was held on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development in New York.

The ASDR, 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,” emphasizes the need for increased access to concessionary development financing, improved climate information and early warning systems, and economic reforms.

The report provides an in-depth review of African countries' progress towards five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 32 targets. The SDGs under review are: ending poverty (Goal 1), eliminating hunger (Goal 2), combating climate change (Goal 13), promoting peaceful societies (Goal 16), and strengthening global partnerships (Goal 17).

According to the report, Africa is on track to achieve fewer than three of the 32 targets assessed, with setbacks in eight targets and slow progress or status quo in the remaining targets.

“Advanced economies have rebounded from COVID-19, but many countries in Africa struggle with high debt, double-digit inflation, and limited access to crucial development and climate funding,” said Claver Gatete, ECA Executive Secretary. “Disparities in the Human Development Index are widening between top-ranking nations and those at the bottom, highlighting significant challenges across Africa despite some progress in recent decades.”

Despite a two percent increase in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa in 2023, the total ODA remains at 0.37 percent of donors’ combined Gross National Income, well below the 0.7 percent target agreed on by UN Member States. With the 2030 SDG deadline approaching, most countries may fail to mobilize adequate resources to close their financing gap.

“African countries have made some significant progress in important areas, but we are running out of time,” stressed Matthias Naab, UNDP Africa Deputy Regional Director a.i. “It is imperative we reinforce partnerships and look at innovative solutions to stop the current deceleration - and even reversal in some areas – and work more closely with African countries and people to get back on track towards our Global Goals and the Africa We Want.”

Despite challenges like COVID-19, Africa has made strides in poverty reduction (Goal 1). In 2022, Africa accounted for more than half (54.8 percent) of people living in poverty worldwide. Efforts are underway to enhance social protection systems, which currently cover only 17.4 percent of the population, well below the global average. Access to drinking water increased from 68.7 percent in 2015 to 72.9 percent, and basic sanitation services now reach 52 percent of the population.

Efforts to combat hunger (Goal 2) remain crucial, with 281.6 million people affected by hunger in 2022, up by 11 million from 2021. Initiatives to address these issues include improving agricultural investment and aid to enhance food security.

Africa has shown resilience in addressing climate change (Goal 13), with ongoing efforts to enhance disaster risk reduction. However, only $29.5 billion of the $2.8 trillion needed between 2020 and 2030 for African countries to implement their NDCs under the Paris Agreement has been mobilized.

“Financing remains a challenge for Africa. It needs between $118.2 billion and $145.5 billion per year to implement the continent’s climate action commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions,” explained Al Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager of the AfDB Climate Change and Green Growth Division.

In terms of governance (Goal 16), countries like Malawi have made significant measures to combat corruption, though it remains a significant challenge in many African countries. Illicit financial flows, totaling around $1.3 trillion in outflows and $1.1 trillion in inflows in 2020, continue to hinder the financing of key agendas, with Africa losing about $88.6 billion annually.

The ASDR also highlighted key data gaps in many African countries and recommended that policymakers and academics prioritize skills and capacity building to provide a more accurate picture of achievements and needs in inclusive and sustainable development.

“This new report underscores African countries’ commitment and progress, but it also highlights the challenges that remain for us to shape up ‘The Africa We Want,’” said Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union. “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 more inclusive growth. It also shows clearly how innovative financing and strengthened partnerships are key for countries to redouble their efforts.”