Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa in the Context of Complex Global Development Cooperation

Abstract

Shifts in dynamics complicate the pace and scope of globalization, which has transformed the entire world into a borderless entity, making it very difficult to separate domestic policies from foreign ones. The interdependency of economies has made African countries more vulnerable to any given policy error or economic shocks in a foreign country. Domestic policy decisions have global repercussions. Besides, the unsustainable production and consumption systems (including greenhouse emissions associated with industrialization and urbanization) in the largest economies of the world unequivocally contribute to the rising impact of climate change in Africa – the continent that contributed to climate change the least, yet has the weakest capacity to manage its impacts. How does this dynamically changing development context affect the implementation of SDGs in Africa? What are the emerging opportunities and challenges associated with the rollout and implementation of SDGs in Africa? What specific actions should Africa and the rest of the world take to ensure the objective of ‘leaving no one behind’ in Africa by 2030 is realized? These are some of the questions this paper will address. However, it is first important to know: why are the SDGs important to Africa?