The quickening countdown to 2030

Africa is ‘stagnating’ when it comes to the UN’s 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs), according to political advisors, NGOs and academics at Friends of Europe’s 17 June Policymakers’ Dinner “The quickening countdown to 2030”.

On the eve of the European Development Days, participants at the dinner (which was held under the Chatham House rule) agreed that private investment is the only way to make up for lost time.

With just 11 years to go, one participant estimated that the only SDG Africa will be capable of meeting in time is the goal on climate action (SDG 13). But if African regions work together – particularly to roll out new technology and attract foreign investment – there is hope, according to another participant: “Land-locked countries are not viable economic entities and need to integrate.”

For one participant, the SDGs should be taken to the “next level”, and looked at in tandem with practical issues, such as childcare. Another participant noted that Africa’s young and growing population is “a new market, an opportunity” for private investors interested in transport, energy and other big infrastructure projects.

There are entrepreneurial success stories on the continent. In Nigeria, one enterprising company has created a house-to-house recycling service using a fleet of low-cost cargo bikes. Rwanda is working with its neighbours to help attract foreign investment to the entire region of East Africa. And one NGO is working with village savings and loans institutions to help finance female and young entrepreneurs.

As one participant concluded: “It’s going to take everyone: the African Union, the European Union, the private sector, NGOs – and technology will be an integral part. Africa missed the first three industrial revolutions. We simply cannot afford to miss the fourth one.”

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