Environmental modelling provides predictive insights, helping policymakers anticipate future risks and plan accordingly. Ecology, the study of organisms and their interactions with the environment, reveals the underlying mechanisms that sustain ecosystem services. Economic policy acts as the bridge, ensuring that sustainable practices are incentivized while destructive ones are discouraged.

By weaving these three disciplines together, we can develop sustainable strategies that balance conservation with development. But how exactly do these elements function together? Let’s explore the essential triad that underpins ecosystem service management.

Understanding Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services refer to the benefits humans derive from nature, and they are classified into four main categories:

1. Provisioning Services: Products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, water, timber, and medicinal resources.
2. Regulating Services: Benefits from ecosystem processes, including climate regulation, flood control, and disease regulation.
3. Cultural Services: Non-material benefits like recreation, spiritual enrichment, and cultural heritage.
4. Supporting Services: Fundamental ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production.

However, the degradation of these services is alarming. According to global studies, over two-thirds of ecosystem services are in decline due to overexploitation, habitat destruction, and climate change. A stark example is clean drinking water—over two billion people worldwide face shortages, and without intervention, this number could double in the coming decades.

Protecting these services requires forward-thinking solutions, integrating environmental science, technology, and economic frameworks.

Environmental Modelling: Predicting and Planning for the Future

Environmental modelling is a powerful tool that helps scientists and policymakers understand and predict ecosystem changes under different scenarios. By simulating climate variations, land-use changes, and human activities, these models inform proactive decision-making.

Types of Environmental Models:

• Climate Models: Predict weather patterns and climate shifts, helping policymakers prepare for extreme conditions.
• Hydrological Simulations: Analyze water flow, aiding in watershed management and flood control.
• Biodiversity Forecasting: Maps species distribution and predicts habitat loss, guiding conservation efforts.

A notable success story comes from New York City, where environmental modelling influenced a groundbreaking decision: instead of constructing an expensive water filtration plant, planners opted to protect the Catskill Watershed. By maintaining natural water purification processes, they ensured clean drinking water for millions while saving billions of dollars.

Without these predictive tools, long-term sustainability would remain a guessing game, leaving ecosystems and human populations vulnerable to crises.

Ecology: The Science of Interconnectedness

At the core of ecosystem service management lies ecology, which helps us understand how organisms interact with their environment. These interactions are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and natural resource availability.

Key Ecological Concepts in Ecosystem Management

• Ecological Thresholds & Tipping Points: Identifying limits beyond which ecosystems collapse.
• Biodiversity and Resilience: Higher biodiversity equates to greater ecosystem resilience.
• Ecosystem Restoration: Rebuilding degraded environments through conservation strategies.

A crucial example is pollination in agriculture. Over 75% of global food crops depend on pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. However, habitat destruction and pesticide use are causing drastic declines in pollinator populations, threatening food security. Similarly, wetlands—often seen as wastelands—play a vital role in water purification and flood control. Ignoring such ecological functions leads to unintended consequences, from reduced agricultural yields to increased disaster vulnerability.

By integrating ecological insights into policy, we can design interventions that sustain both biodiversity and human livelihoods.

Economic Policy: Aligning Incentives with Sustainability

Economic policies serve as the bridge between scientific knowledge and practical action. By recognizing the economic value of ecosystem services, governments and businesses can implement strategies that promote sustainability while discouraging environmentally harmful practices.

Effective Economic Tools:

• Carbon Pricing: Charges businesses for carbon emissions, encouraging low-carbon alternatives.
• Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): Rewards landowners for conservation efforts (e.g., maintaining forests, wetlands).
• Subsidies for Sustainable Agriculture: Incentivizes farming practices that protect soil health and biodiversity.

A compelling example is Switzerland’s PES scheme. Forests near Basel play a crucial role in purifying drinking water. Instead of building expensive water treatment plants, local residents contribute a small surcharge on their water bills, funding sustainable forest management. This approach balances economic development with environmental preservation, proving that conservation can be both profitable and practical.

When ecosystem services are woven into economic policy, environmental protection becomes an investment rather than a cost.

Dr. Joshua Rufus Abadi is a renowned environmental engineer specializing in water contamination. He has provided consultancy on oil spills in Nigeria and has spearheaded the EU WasClean project. Additionally, he collaborates with the University of Southampton and the University of Brighton, and leads environmental initiatives for Inspired Grace Healthcare.

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In the past two decades, primary school enrolment across sub-Saharan Africa surged from 52% in 1990 to nearly 85% in 2019. This impressive growth is largely due to international support, national policies prioritising education, and initiatives such as the Education for All movement, which emphasised universal primary education.

READ ALSO: Building Local Capacity in Africa: Education and Skills Development

By 2024, nearly 85% of African countries had achieved gender parity in primary school enrolment. Girls’ education, particularly in West and East Africa, has seen significant advances due to community-based programmes and partnerships between governments and NGOs. However, disparities remain. According to UNESCO’s 2024 Scorecard, nearly 20 million children are still out of school across the continent, the majority living in conflict-affected areas or rural regions with limited infrastructure.

Several countries have made remarkable strides towards achieving SDG 4. Rwanda stands out with its 12-year basic education policy, ensuring free education for all children up to the age of 18, while Kenya has leveraged technology through its Digital Literacy Programme to improve access to learning, especially in remote areas. Ghana has made notable progress in closing the gender gap in education, with initiatives such as the Girls’ Education Unit increasing enrolment and retention rates among girls. Similarly, South Africa’s emphasis on inclusive education for children with disabilities has led to successful integration into mainstream schools.

Nigeria’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme has improved school attendance and retention by providing free meals to over nine million children. Uganda’s Universal Primary Education initiative has dramatically increased enrolment rates, particularly in rural areas, reaching 90% by 2022. Mali has made significant literacy gains through its Literacy and Basic Education Programme, focusing on adults, particularly women, in rural regions. These initiatives have collectively driven substantial progress in ensuring that all children, regardless of background or ability, have access to education.

Each of these countries has tailored its approach to local challenges, demonstrating that with political commitment, community engagement, and innovative strategies, significant progress is possible. While challenges remain, particularly regarding quality and infrastructure, these successes underscore that the African continent is on the right path to achieving universal education. By investing in transformative programmes, nations across Africa are breaking barriers and providing new opportunities for future generations.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the global education landscape, and Africa was no exception. The rapid closure of schools in 2020 affected over 250 million learners across the continent, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities in access to quality education. The abrupt shift to remote learning left millions of children without access to digital devices or internet connectivity, making education particularly challenging in rural and underserved areas.

However, the crisis also spurred innovation. African countries turned to mobile learning platforms, radio broadcasts, and television programmes to deliver lessons, though these were largely temporary solutions. Long-term strategies are needed to ensure technology integration is equitable and effective. Investments in educational technology could play a crucial role in bridging the educational divide and ensuring no child is left behind.

Regional Disparities and Gender Inequality

Africa’s progress in education is not uniform. Countries in North Africa have made substantial progress towards achieving SDG 4, with near-universal primary school enrolment and high literacy rates. In contrast, sub-Saharan Africa continues to face persistent challenges, particularly in rural areas and conflict zones.

Gender inequality remains a significant barrier. While the gender gap in education has narrowed, girls in Africa are still more likely to be excluded from school due to cultural factors, early marriages, and safety concerns. According to UNESCO, girls in rural areas and conflict-affected countries are twice as likely to be out of school compared to boys. Addressing gender disparities is critical not only for the empowerment of women and girls but also for economic growth, as educated women contribute significantly to national development.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

A key area for Africa’s education system is Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The continent’s rapidly growing young population requires skills-based education to meet labour market demands. Unfortunately, TVET systems across Africa are underdeveloped, underfunded, and often disconnected from economic needs. Many countries still lack sufficient infrastructure to provide technical education to their youth.

TVET programmes also struggle to deliver high-quality, relevant training aligned with local economies. For example, while agriculture remains a crucial sector for many African countries, vocational education in agricultural sciences is still insufficient. Efforts to improve and expand TVET programmes are underway, but greater investment is required to develop skills for the future workforce.

Financing Education

For Africa to meet its SDG 4 targets, substantial investments in education are required. According to the African Union’s 2018 policy framework, African countries should allocate at least 4–6% of GDP to education. However, many countries continue to fall short of this target. The funding gap is compounded by domestic resource mobilisation challenges, where education competes with other urgent needs such as healthcare, infrastructure, and security.

International support remains crucial. The World Bank and other global partners have played an essential role in financing education programmes in Africa, but funding must be directed towards building sustainable education systems resilient to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Way Forward

To overcome these challenges, Africa must invest in technology-driven educational solutions, strengthen its teaching workforce, and prioritise learning outcomes in policy-making. Countries like Kenya and South Africa are already leading with ambitious plans to integrate digital tools in classrooms and universities, preparing students for the demands of the digital economy.

Collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector is essential to achieving SDG 4. Initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education and the African Education Fund are already supporting education reforms, and more countries must align their national strategies with these global efforts.

Achieving SDG 4 in Africa is ambitious but attainable. With concerted efforts, innovative solutions, and increased investment, the continent can overcome barriers to education and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. As we look to 2030, it is clear that education is key to unlocking Africa’s potential, providing the foundation for sustainable development, economic growth, and societal well-being. Through inclusive policies, equitable access, and quality learning, Africa can break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for generations to come.

The post Can Africa Achieve Education for All? appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

Innovative Strategies Driving Change

Digital Transformation in Education (SDG 4: Quality Education):

AI-Powered Learning: Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionising education by providing personalised learning experiences. AI-driven platforms are tailoring educational content to individual student needs, enhancing engagement and comprehension.

• Virtual Ideation Marathons: Initiatives like the SDG Innovation Challenge offer virtual platforms for young African community practitioners to develop solutions that further sustainable development in their communities, thereby enhancing educational opportunities and community engagement.

Global Goals Week

 Clean Energy Revolution (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy):

1. • Global Investments in Renewables: In 2023, global investments in renewable energy surpassed $500 billion, marking a significant milestone in the transition towards sustainable energy sources.

Sustainable Development Report 2024

1. • Off-Grid Solar Solutions: Innovations in off-grid solar technology are providing electricity to millions in rural regions, transforming lives and local economies by improving access to information, education, and healthcare.

Targeted Poverty Alleviation (SDG 1: No Poverty):

1. • Microfinance and Direct Cash Transfers: Programs such as Kenya’s M-Pesa have empowered marginalised communities by providing financial services that offer stability and promote economic growth.
   • Social Entrepreneurship: The rise of social enterprises that combine profit-making with social impact is creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly in low-income countries, fostering economic development and social progress.

Challenges on the Path to 2030

Despite these innovations, significant challenges impede progress:

• Economic Disparities: The global wealth gap continues to widen. While extreme poverty rates have decreased, many individuals remain vulnerable, living just above the poverty line. The rising cost of living has compounded challenges, particularly in developing nations.
• Educational Inequities: Remote learning technologies, though promising, have highlighted a digital divide. Millions of children in low-income regions still lack access to devices and internet connectivity, perpetuating disparities in educational outcomes.
• Energy Transition Costs: Transitioning to renewable energy requires significant upfront investment. Developing nations often struggle to access the necessary capital and technical expertise, slowing progress.

Progress and Promising Outcomes

1. Poverty Reduction:
   • Since 2015, over 1 billion people have risen out of extreme poverty, driven by economic growth in Asia and Africa. However, recent setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have stalled progress, necessitating renewed efforts.
2. Education Advancements:
   • The global literacy rate continues to climb, with innovative programs like UNICEF’s Learning Passport helping bridge gaps in conflict-affected regions. The inclusion of girls in education is steadily improving, although gender disparities persist in some areas.
3. Renewable Energy Adoption:
   • Countries like India are emerging as renewable energy leaders, meeting ambitious targets for solar and wind energy production. Global investments in renewables have reached unprecedented levels, signalling a strong commitment to sustainable energy.

Achieving the SDGs by 2030 remains a formidable task. The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report reveals that only 17% of the targets are on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress and over one-third stalling or regressing.

Global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and growing climate challenges have significantly hindered progress.

To overcome these obstacles, partnerships between governments, private enterprises, and civil society are crucial. Policies that prioritise equity, innovation, and resilience must take centre stage. While progress has been uneven, the potential for transformative change remains within reach if the global community acts with urgency.

The SDGs represent more than just a checklist—they are a collective vision for a sustainable and equitable world. Whether through cutting-edge technology, grassroots activism, or international collaboration, every effort counts as we move closer to 2030. For now, the journey continues.

Dr. Joshua Rufus Abadi is a renowned environmental engineer specializing in water contamination. He has provided consultancy on oil spills in Nigeria and has spearheaded the EU WasClean project. Additionally, he collaborates with the University of Southampton and the University of Brighton, and leads environmental initiatives for Inspired Grace Healthcare.

The post Sustainable Development Goals: Progress and Persistent Challenges appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

As the world continues to await new developments from different countries on the attainment of the global action goals, this article will focus on the progress so far recorded by Zambia, especially on SDG Goal 12 which is targeted at ensuring sustainable consumption and production.

According to the UN, Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all and its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.

The goal foresees sustainable production and consumption based on advanced technological capacity, resource efficiency and reduction of global waste.

Among other things, achieving goal 12 which has 11 indicators under it will have meaningful impacts on other goals that have to do with land and water, energy and climate change as well as the reduction of the poverty rate.

In Zambia, the attainment of this goal is tied to the attainment of the other goals because the Zambian Government has shown a strong commitment to the 17 SDGs by integrating them into the country’s national development plan which is the 7thNational Development Plan (7NDP).

The Southern African nation has so far integrated about 86 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals in the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP) since the commencement of the global agenda in 2015 to align with and address socio-economic issues to meet national development targets. By doing so, the SDGs are considered in the development of policies and initiatives in the country, a development that has earned Zambia to be ranked 140 globally and 28th in Africa with a score of 54.16 in terms of success in achieving SDG goals according to the Sustainable Development Report 2022. In meeting the goal 12 target by doing away with unsustainable patterns of consumption and production which are part of the causes of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Zambia pledged to reduce its emissions by 38,000 Gg CO2 by 2030 and between 2015 and 2019, the country was able to reduce its cumulative emissions by 39%, showing that the country still has a lot ahead of it and needs to double its efforts in that aspect.

Zambia is also promoting sustainable initiatives like renewable energy which has helped the country diversify its energy mix from 99% reliance on hydropower production in 2011 to80.6% in 2019 while solar energy accounts for about 3 % per cent of the total energy. For its production patterns, Zambia is promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA), water harvesting techniques as well as green infrastructure in its climate change adaptation interventions. Under the CSA, the government is rolling out CSA practices capable of sustainably increasing productivity, enhancing resilience, and reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions. The government is also conducting multiple CSA measures to repair degraded landscapes and improve farmers’ resilience to climate change in conjunction with national and international research and development partners.

To record more successes in that regard, efforts have also been made to develop and deploy up-to-date technologies and practices for reducing or eliminating the negative effects of climate change.

In all, Zambia has made substantial progress in expanding CSA and is now considered a regional leader in this field. However, to achieve more in that regard, it has opened its doors to partnerships from willing stakeholders to accelerate the CSA adoption agenda and promote sustainable production patterns.

Another indicator strategic to the achievement of goal 12 is addressing food losses whereby by the year 2030, countries should halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

For Zambia with crop losses of between 30 to 40 per cent, access to adequate food in many small holder farming households is a challenge.

However, with support from partners like the World Food Programme, (WFP), the Zambian government has been able to tackle post-harvest losses by supporting farmers with sensitization programmes on how to access and use low-cost, modern and durable post-harvest management solutions.

With that, farmers now have better opportunities for post-harvest and storage to avoid food losses.

In terms of the reduction of global waste under goal 12, the Zambian Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) and the Zambian Environmental Management Agency are at the forefront of promoting the three tenets of sustainability which are often referred to as the three R’s namely reduce, reuse and recycle.

They engage in monitoring manufacturing companies by promoting and encouraging sustainable manufacturing practices which have seen several manufacturing companies in Zambia adopting environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in their businesses.

For instance, Zambian Breweries which is a frontier in this case has the Manja Pamodzi Project which collects plastic waste for recycling and then feeds them as raw materials to recycling manufacturing companies.

It is in light of this that the Zambian government also embraced the adoption of a circular economy which is an evolution of the way goods and services are produced and consumed.

The circular economy mode redefines the economy around principles of effective utilisation of waste and pollution and keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible.

Though progress on this is still at a minimal level in the country, the government is working on partnerships with other countries that have embraced the circular economy to get a better understanding of its implementation for effectiveness.

As such, it is encouraging its small and medium enterprises to look beyond their capacities and work alongside each other and other big firms both within and outside the country on the path of the circular model to get Zambia to the desired state of sustainability.

Overall, while Zambia has not gone too far on all indicators of SDG goal 12, it is sure on the path to achieving the goal with most of its current programmes, policies and initiatives steered towards that direction.

It is in furtherance of this that the government is seeking more private sector partnerships as it looks forward to its 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) that will take the country further towards sustainable production and consumption models for a green economy and guaranteed way of attaining inclusive and sustainable development for its citizenry.

The 8NDP which will run from 2022 to 2026 is a follow-up on the 7NDP and is expected to help actualize SDG goal 12 alongside other SDGs.

Examining Zambia’s Progress in SDG Goal 12

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There is no denial of the glaring social gap between the haves and the have not’s in society.

From time immemorial, the poor have existed and as society continues to evolve and develop, their presence will be evident. Hence the need for measures to be put in place to close this gap if sustainable development is to be attained in this world.

Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present and future generations through balancing economic, social and environmental considerations.

Every day, many people, especially in third-world countries, hardly survive the pressures of poverty which cause many to engage in unworthy activities. The extreme state of poverty has caught the attention of great leaders who see the need to resolve this issue; hence, the United Nations (UN) set out specific goals for all counties by 2030 to attain a sustainable society. The goal of eradicating poverty is one of the seventeen that the United Nations penned down. Social justice has been identified as one effective way to end poverty in our world for sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Goal 1

Globally, more than 800 million people live on less than $1.25 daily; many lack fundamental amenities such as food, clean drinking water and healthy sanitation. The citizens of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are the most affected, as about 80 per cent of these people live in extreme poverty. Also, the proportion of women who experience living in poverty is most likely more than men as women are at a disadvantage due to unequal access to education, salary and many more.

There has been the existence of poverty for ages and various action plans have been used to aid tackle it and this has led to a reduction in the rate of poverty over the years. However, much of the progress made on poverty has been reversed and the world has graduated into a state of extreme poverty in 2020 due to the economic pressure it has been experiencing as it is still recovering from the blow it received due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID – 19) and its aftermath.

Statistical records show that, between the years of 2015 to 2018, the percentage of poverty dropped from 10.1 per cent to 8.6 per cent; however, in 2019, there was an increase from 8.3 to 9.2 in 2020. Also, there was a reduction of workers living in poverty from 14 per cent to 6.6 per cent between 2010 to 2019.

Unfortunately, in 2020 the global progress made was affected due to the pandemic, and the percentage increased from 6.7 to 7.2 from 2019 to 2020. Furthermore, the Ukraine-Russian war has impacted the inflation rates, compounding the rate of extreme poverty being experienced as about 95 million people have been added to the people living in poverty.

The State Of Extreme Poverty In The World And The Factors Contributing To It

Eradicating poverty is a major global challenge and a prerequisite for sustainable development. It is one of the 17 global goals of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. For development to be sustainable, then it needs to be inclusive.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate poverty has set action plans towards fulfilling this goal, including social justice. Social Justice is an equal society for all taking into consideration the right and development of people for the eradication of poverty, an act of justice.

The concept of social justice refers to human rights specifically focused on improving the lives of marginalized groups, be it based on ethnicity, race, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or disability. The target is to create action plans using seven targets to eradicate poverty in all forms and levels.

These seven action plans include; eradicating extreme poverty for all people; reducing poverty by at least 50% in all categories by 2030 according to national and international; implementing social protections to achieve substantial coverage of the poor and vulnerable; equal rights to ownership, basic service, technology, and economic resource as the poor and vulnerable also have equal rights and access to all forms of resources; build resistance to environmental and economic social disasters; mobilize resources to implement policies to end poverty and creating pro-poor and gender-sensitive policy frameworks at national, regional and international levels to support accelerated investments aimed at poverty reduction.

The rule of law is an essential precondition for sustainable economic development. To achieve progress in attaining eradication of poverty, the poor must enjoy the rule of law and functioning institutions of justice; else, extreme poverty will worsen because the power would continue to be at a significant advantage while the poor continually remain at their mercy because the powerful will continue to exploit the poor. Social justice as a means to eradicate poverty hence is the application of the rule of law to aid in redistributing power to enhance the well-being of individuals through equal access to all types of amenities, be it economic, social, or physical. Therefore, an effective justice system is crucial in securing a capable and accountable state. Goal 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals tackles the issue of “access to justice” and ensuring legal access to one’s rights and identity, such as birth registration.

With the backing of the law and the system of legal rights and obligations, poverty eradication is an achievable aim. The legal responsibilities of poverty eradication could be categorized into four types: the moral obligations in soft law (e.g., charitable donation), the contractual obligations in private law, the institutional obligations and mandatory obligations in public law, the interventional obligations and the relief obligations in social law.

A fundamental principle of social justice is human rights. Regardless of an individual’s status in life, one’s right cannot be taken for granted. An individual’s socioeconomic background cannot be ground to deny people their human rights and access to their entitlement. Basic rights such as freedom of speech, protection, and access to social amenities must not be denied because of poverty. Regarding all people equally in the eye of the law and justice will ease the burden of economic differences.

Another fundamental to social justice is access to resources. Given equal access to all, irrespective of socioeconomic background, with regards to education, employment, gender, status and many more is a great leap to aid eradicate poverty as financial barriers created by economic differences would be eliminated in all these areas and all would enjoy and benefit from quality access to resources.

Inclusion and participation are other vital principles in social justice. This is a stage of empowerment of all, including the grassroots, to be involved in affairs that affect them hence putting them at a level of valuing their self-worth and owning what is theirs. At this stage, the vulnerable would have a voice and can no longer be cheated.

The vision of eradicating poverty is a challenging journey. Still, it is possible if all are committed to this journey, ensuring social justice at every level, be it local, national or international.

As stated by the UN-appointed human rights expert Olivier de Schutter, although the global cost-of-living crisis happens to be a significant obstacle to eradicating poverty by 2030, countries can still make significant progress towards this Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

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By: Ojuederie Eruke.

Fifteen years after the United Nations came up with the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which basically focused on issues bothering on poverty alleviation, Education, Gender equality, Child mortality, Maternal health, Disease, The environment, and Global partnership, the transition to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does not seem to spark up much light in the African continent. For the common man, it tends to reflect only a modest expansion of what was listed as Millennium Development Goals, with little or no impact.

Given that the UN has recently rolled out 17 SDGs which include No poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions and partnership for the goals, in September 2015, there is a huge question as to what these goals hold for Africa. The future may remain bleak for the man on the street if the right steps are not employed to ensure that set targets are met.

Taking a look at the successes of the MDG’s from its inception in the year 2000 to 2015, reports from the United Nations information desk reveals that:

• Poverty: the number of people living on $1.97 per day reduced from 1.9billion in1990 to 836million in 2015
• Education: there is a rise in primary school enrollment with 52% in1990, 60% in 2000, and 80% in 2015
• Gender equality: Countries around the world recorded an increased involvement in parliament. Also, two-thirds of developing countries have achieved gender parity in primary education.
• Child mortality: there has been a reduction in child mortality
• Maternal health: has been reduced to half of the target
• Disease: in the aspect of disease, the set target has not been met
• Environment: Half of the target now have improved drinking water
• Global Partnership: partnership has increased

Although these records show that there was notable progress with the MDG’s, the rural dwellers and vulnerable people especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, are still being left out.

In Africa according to the UNDP reports, Gambia reduced poverty by 32% between 1990 and 2010, while Ethiopia reduced its poverty rate by one-third focusing on agriculture and rural livelihood. Niger’s school of Husbands has also recorded some success in transforming men into allies in promoting women’s reproductive health, family planning and behavioural change towards gender equality. In the area of environment, Cape Verde increased its forest cover by more than 6% points with millions of trees planted.

Global partnership and development assistance to Africa remains low at an average of US$47 billion annually.

During Nigeria’s Presidential summit in 2014, a report from the regions revealed that although MDG projects which were put in place recorded few successes, it was rather obvious that those in charge of the projects expected an extension or modification of the program which would give ample time for the projects to be completed.

These testaments however, reflect only a little fraction of the actual target of the millennium development goals as many are yet to benefit from the programme.

The main Agenda of the SDG’s as noted by the UN, is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom by calling on all countries and stakeholders to engage in collaborative partnership in order to implement this plan.

Be that as it may, the SDGs which build upon the Millennium Development Goals are meant to complete what the MDG’s did not achieve especially in the area of human rights for all, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, under the three broad aspects: the economy, society and environment.

African Leaders have in recent times demonstrated their willingness to tackle poverty challenges by designing their own development solutions under the form of NEPAD programmes and the developmental frameworks and plans, visions and strategies embodied by NEPAD and Agenda 2063.

Speaking in New York in October 2015, the head of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Ibrahim Mayaki, stressed the need to empower the small-scale farmers who are women to ensure food security.

“We should think about the private sector, including small and medium-size firms, where innovation is taking place,” Dr. Mayaki said.

These new goals seem to take into consideration Africa’s interests, much more than the MDGs did with emphasis targeted to situations many Africans can relate to.

Both the SDGs and MDGs place poverty eradication at the top of the agenda. This shows that it is considered by Africa and the developing world in general to be one basic requirement. In fact, actualizing that goal will solve more than half of the issues listed as SDG’s.

Another feature of the plan for the SDGs as distinct from the MDGs is the grouping of peace and security issues under the development category. This stems from the fact that conflicts erupt whether countries advance in their development or not.  For Africa, putting peace and security into the SDGs directs attention to conflict-preventing factors such as equity, inclusiveness and rule of law.

Unlike the MDGs, the SDGs will apply equally to all countries in terms of finance. One question is whether Africa, which has long been an area of concentration for official development assistance (ODA), will see less incoming aid since the continents position as privileged beneficiary of aid may already be slipping. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), official bilateral aid to Africa fell by 10 % in real terms in 2012 and by about 5% in 2013, despite an increase in ODA to all developing countries for an all-time-high in the latter year. In Africa, incoming foreign direct investment now surpasses ODA.

As experts have advised, a simple substitution of private resources for public funds may not be the best way to characterize African options. The Common African Position takes into account a blend of finance sources. These include improving traditionally low domestic tax collection rates, tapping global financial markets, stepping up intra-African trade, South-South cooperation and public-private partnerships.

Similarly, the SDGs also reflect extra elements of importance for Africa, like the agri-business dimension, the relevance of trans-boundary water management, and the value addition potential of fisheries. The agriculture sector is still mostly treated.

As the UN seeks methods of reaching the set target of the SDG’s, it is also very necessary for countries to work towards achieving these goals at all cost in line with the sole aim of strengthening universal peace and prosperity.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said “we need to tackle root causes and do more to integrate the economic, social and environmental dimension of sustainable development”.

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