Former African leaders rally for united push on SDG progress

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Former African leaders meeting at the 8th African Leadership Forum (ALF) in Kampala have called for collaborative efforts to address the challenges hampering the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to ensure the well-being of the continent’s people.

The leaders emphasised the need to prioritise SDGs that promote economic growth, noting that it forms the foundation for progress on all other goals.

Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania speaking during the 8th African Leadership Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

The ALF conference, which commenced on Monday, April 7, 2025, and is set to conclude on April 8 at Speke Resort Hotel in Kampala, is convened by former Tanzanian President Dr Jakaya Kikwete and Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

The event is organised as a prelude to the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), a multi-stakeholder forum scheduled to run from April 9 to April 11, 2025.

"If an economy grows, then you can create jobs (and address all other bottlenecks to SDG implementation)," said Kikwete.

He identified education as a key driver of economic growth, pointing out that only 20 percent of Africans have access to secondary education.

Kikwete called for greater investment to enable more Africans to pursue higher education, noting that empowering education goes beyond secondary school. He cited that only 10 percent of people in Africa have access to tertiary education, compared to 80 percent in countries like Japan. This disparity, he said, explains the development gulf between Africa and parts of Asia, North America, and Europe.

Hailemariam Desalegn echoed these concerns, urging the promotion of the rule of law and stronger measures against corruption and illicit financial flows.

Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia speaking during the 8th African Leadership Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

"We must adopt climate-smart agriculture, enhance food storage facilities, and empower smallholder farmers. We also have to accelerate energy transition as Africa has immense potential for renewable energy," he said.

A race against time

With only five years remaining to achieve the 2030 targets, the forum is seen by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as a crucial opportunity to catalyse meaningful change on the continent.

Although some progress has been made, as reported in voluntary national reviews, experts warn that Africa—like many other regions—is off track in achieving most SDG targets and has even experienced regression in some areas.

The SDGs represent a comprehensive and integrated framework of global aspirations that build on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 

Uganda adopted the SDGs in 2015, joining 192 countries worldwide on the journey towards the 2030 deadline.