‘Time for Africa to act and stop talking’

Africa’s leaders have been told to stop talking and start acting if the poverty gap of Africa to the rest of the world is to be finally closed.

Not mincing words, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Deputy Executive Secretary, Giovanie Biha, added that Africa was running out of time to ensure the successful implementation of the sustainable development goals and called for bold actions by the continent’s leaders to ensure no one is left behind by development processes.

In closing remarks to the fifth Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development in Marrakesh, Biha warned that “time is not our side and the need to close to the poverty gap has never been stronger than now, especially given our growing youthful population.

“This is a watershed moment for the continent. Challenges and opportunities present themselves to us in equal measure and we need to rise to the challenge, especially as we implement the SDGs.

“Let us move from policies and strategies to implementation and execution. It’s also a call to all governments and their partners to put the means, mobilize and allocate adequate resources in support of these SDGs and Agenda 2063.”

SDGs are a global agenda adopted by countries in 2015 with a vision of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The 17 SDGs and 169 targets are part of the 2030 Agenda which recognizes “that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.”

In adopting the agenda, countries resolved to take “bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.”

Speaking as well, Morocco’s Secretary of State for Sustainable Development, Nezha El Ouafi, reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment, as the bureau chair, towards the progress of the sustainable development goals in Africa.

She added that Morocco was pleased to have hosted ARFSD 2019 and hoped member states would continue to work together in tackling challenges facing the continent as it implements the global and regional development agendas.

Zimbabwe will host the sixth session of the ARFSD in 2020 in Victoria Falls.