Key Impact Points:
- Only 17% of Africa’s SDG targets are currently on track for 2030.
- Kampala Declaration calls for scaling up the Forward Faster initiative across Africa.
- African private sector already committed nearly $5 billion to climate action.
Urgent Call to Action
To accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, the United Nations Global Compact hosted the SDGs Activation Day during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11).
The event, part of the Forward Faster Now Africa initiative, gathered CEOs, policymakers, UN officials, and sustainability leaders to discuss immediate and scalable corporate actions for achieving the SDGs.
Sanda Ojiambo, CEO of the UN Global Compact, emphasized the critical role businesses play in meeting the 2030 Agenda:
“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. 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.”
Strategic Business Actions
Focused sessions at the event addressed gender equality, sustainable finance, and living wages, providing actionable examples from African leaders who shared best practices and innovative strategies that businesses can implement immediately.
Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, highlighted the crucial role of the private sector:
“The private sector is no bystander; it is indispensable to job creation, innovation, and ultimately, prosperity for all Africans. We must move beyond visions, declarations, and plans— beyond even conferences—and translate these commitments into concrete action.”
Kampala Declaration: Accelerating Commitments
The Kampala Declaration, the key outcome of ARFSD-11, specifically called for incentivizing private sector investment aligned with the SDGs and significantly scaling up the Forward Faster initiative across the continent to achieve both the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Sustainable Finance and Gender Equality
Participants emphasized how innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) could unlock financial resources for the SDGs. Financial executives shared insights on blended finance and financial inclusion as key levers for mobilizing capital.
The gender equality session featured impactful strategies used by African companies to advance gender parity, from inclusive recruitment and retention to proactive male allyship.
Driving Living Wage Initiatives
Leaders discussed cross-sector approaches necessary to ensure living wages that lift workers out of poverty, stressing that collaboration across policy development, public awareness, and technical support is essential for economic growth.
Collective Impact through Coalition
The Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) showcased the power of collective action, noting nearly $5 billion mobilized for climate initiatives. Additionally, the ABLC highlighted significant efforts to enhance women’s economic inclusion through its Gender Statement.
The ARFSD annually reviews regional progress on SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, identifying actions needed to accelerate development. The African private sector has widely embraced the sustainability agenda, with over 1,100 regional participants and more than 115 companies making 585 specific commitments to achieve meaningful impact by 2030.
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