The United Nations Global Compact, policymakers and private sector leaders have collaborated on a SDG Activation Day in Kampala, Uganda, to seek to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.
The event, which took place during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), brought together CEOs, corporate sustainability professionals, business leaders, government officials and UN representatives, for a series of high-level discussions.
Featuring the theme ‘Moving Forward Faster Now on the SDGs with African Businesses’, the event took place as part of the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Now Africa initiative, which was launched in 2023 to mobilise corporate action in areas such as gender equality, living wage, water resilience, climate action and sustainable finance.
These five areas are ones in which the private sector can ‘collectively make the biggest, fastest impact by 2030’, UN Global Compact added, noting that just 17% of SDG targets are currently on-track for 2030.
Forward thinking
“To achieve the Africa that we all want, we know that we need forward thinkers – bold private sector leaders committed to working together and alongside governments and civil society,” commented Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and executive director of the UN Global Compact.
“Our UN Global Compact Forward Faster initiative is designed to guide and support business leaders and companies in areas where the business community is best equipped to scale sustainable business and sustainable development. These companies tell us that joining Forward Faster has helped shape company strategy, increase visibility, and build public trust, as well as get ahead of new regulations.”
Sustainable growth
Elsewhere, Antonio Pedro, deputy executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, noted that with the African Continental Free Trade Area opening up a $3.4 trillion market, the private sector has an opportunity to foster inclusive and sustainable growth.
“The private sector is no bystander; it is indispensable to job creation, innovation, and ultimately, prosperity for all Africans,” he commented. “We must move beyond visions, declarations, and plans— beyond even conferences—and translate these commitments into concrete action.” Read more here.
