KAMPALA: FORMER President Jakaya Kikwete has issued a clarion call for urgent, accelerated action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the African continent by the 2030 deadline.
In a compelling address at the 8th African Leadership Forum (ALAF) in Kampala yesterday, Dr Kikwete called for bold reforms, effective resource mobilisation, strong political will and enhanced accountability to turn “ambitions into actions and vision into impact.”
“The countdown to 2030 is on. The urgency of action cannot be overstated,” said Dr Kikwete who serves as the Patron of the African Leadership Forum.
“Only through this collective resolve we can turn ambition to action and vision to impact,” said Dr Kikwete at the meeting attended also by, Former Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and Former President of the Republic of Tunisia, Dr Mohamed Moncef Marzouki.
Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and Former President of the Republic of Tunisia, Dr Mohamed Moncef Marzouki. Other high-profile people included Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Dr Antonio M.A.
Pedro, former Uganda’s Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, former Uganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa.
The ALAF, established in 2014, serves as a pivotal platform, convening current and former African leaders to engage in candid and constructive dialogues on the continent’s most pressing challenges and emerging global dynamics affecting its development.
This year’s forum, themed “Realising Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward,” centred on reviewing the current status of SDGs implementation, identifying key challenges and bottlenecks, promoting regional cooperation and knowledge sharing and developing innovative solutions and strategic partnerships for accelerated progress.
Dr Kikwete highlighted the significance of these objectives, acknowledging that while the SDGs are sometimes viewed as overly ambitious, Africa has demonstrably made significant strides.
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“It is hard to deny the fact that Africa is on the move and our successes, though hardearned, are real,” Kikwete stated.
He cited tangible gains in economic diversification, poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, increased access to education and environmental stewardship.
He further acknowledged the growing empowerment of African youth, the rise of innovation across the continent and Africa’s increasingly influential voice on the global stage.
“The Africa we know today is not the same as that we inherited at independence, nor the one that emerged after the structural adjustment programmes of the 1980s and 1990s,” he emphasised, highlighting the continent’s dynamic evolution.
He paid a heartfelt tribute to the “unsung heroes” of sustainable development – the dedicated individuals, leaders, farmers, workers, entrepreneurs and young change-makers whose relentless efforts are the driving force behind progress in their respective communities.
However, he also offered a stark reminder of the significant challenges that persist, including poverty, disease, inequality, illiteracy and the escalating threat of climate change.
“Even as we celebrate, we must remain clear-eyed about the challenges that threaten to derail our progress,” he cautioned. Reiterating the urgency demanded by the approaching 2030 deadline, he concluded his address with a powerful call to action.
“Only through this collective resolve we can turn ambition to action and vision to impact,” he affirmed.
The 8th ALAF, building upon a legacy of addressing strategic themes such as continental integration, the role of business, peace and security, financing transformation, natural resource management and intra-African trade, once again underscored its crucial role in fostering leadership and driving sustainable development across the continent.
