Getafe: Mr Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA), has called for a bold action to achieve sustainable development in Africa. In a statement by ECA on Wednesday, Gatete made the call during his address at the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) in Kampala.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gatete spoke under the theme of ‘Job creation and economic growth through sustainable solutions’, emphasizing the urgency with just five years left to meet the 2030 Agenda goals. He commended Uganda for its hospitality and President Museveni’s commitment to Africa’s development, acknowledging the role of key partners, including the African Union Commission and UN system.
Gatete cautioned that Africa’s structural vulnerabilities, ranging from debt to climate shocks, pose threats to progress, with public debt now accounting for 64.3 per cent of GDP. He noted that Africa’s GDP growth remains at just 3 per cent, significantly below the 7 per cent needed to achieve SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
He highlighted that traditional aid is insufficient and called for evidence-based, inclusive investment in people and institutions to drive transformation. Gatete pointed out that only 10 out of 144 SDG targets are on track, with 106 lagging and 28 regressing, describing this pace as unacceptable.
Focusing on five SDGs-health, gender equality, decent work, life below water, and partnerships-he linked them with AU Agenda 2063 targets. On health, Gatete noted that four in five African nations spend under $86 per person, far below the WHO’s $249 minimum, advocating for increased domestic investment.
Regarding gender equality, he criticized the low women’s representation in leadership and a 12 per cent gender gap in mobile finance, underscoring the need for inclusive policies and access. Gatete described the informal workforce and unemployment crisis in Africa as dire, advocating for skills training, job formalization, and entrepreneurship support to harness labor potential.
He highlighted the blue economy’s potential, with projected growth from $296 billion in 2018 to $576 billion by 2063, but with only 3.5 per cent of SDG funding. He noted that illegal fishing costs Africa $10 billion yearly and urged investment in aquaculture, blue carbon, and coastal tourism, citing Seychelles’ and Gabon’s debt-for-nature swaps.
On SDG 17, Gatete emphasized that Africa cannot succeed in isolation and must build strong global, regional, and national partnerships to meet development targets. He proposed four key strategies: raising domestic revenue, attracting private capital, expanding inclusive finance, and fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Gatete highlighted that tackling illicit financial flows, currently costing Africa $89 billion a year, could unlock critical resources for the continent’s development. He urged unlocking private sector investments using credit guarantees, blended finance, and deepening capital markets to finance renewable energy and agriculture.
Additionally, Gatete stressed the importance of scaling up microfinance, impact investing, and digital inclusion to empower women and youth, who face steep barriers to finance. He championed AfCFTA as a path to increase Intra-African trade by 45 per cent and spur growth in industry, agriculture, services, and job creation.
He advocated for investment in AI, blockchain, and digital policy, stating that an AU Protocol on Digital Trade could revolutionize commerce and job creation continent-wide. Gatete emphasized that bold leadership, decisive policies, and strong partnerships are crucial to deliver on the SDGs and Africa’s development agenda, asserting, “The clock is ticking. Together, we can deliver the Africa we want.”