As we reach the halfway point since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 progress assessment reveals that the world is significantly off track. Out of the 169 targets, only 17% of the assessable targets are on track for 2030 with the rest showing moderate to severe deviations, stagnation or regression.  Africa faces similar challenges, compounded by multiple crises. 

The 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report prepared by the African Union (AU), African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reviews progress on key SDGs highlighted at the 2024 High-Level Political Forum, including ending poverty eliminating hunger, combating climate change, promoting peaceful societies and strengthening global partnerships. It shows that only 6% of the 32 measurable SDG targets reviewed are on track to be achieved by 2030. Progress has been made in areas like access to drinking water, basic sanitation, climate action at a policy level, and improving statistical systems. 

However, crises have halted gains in poverty reduction, and social protection systems remain fragmented. Hunger is on the rise, with over 281 million people experiencing food insecurity in 2022. Africa also faces a large financing gap for climate action, needing US$277 billion annually to meet climate goals, but receiving only US$29.5 billion—11% of the required funds. Governance challenges like corruption and illicit financial flows, inadequate domestic resource mobilization, declining official development assistance (ODA), persistent debt distress, and significant data gaps further compound these issues. Key recommendations of the report include:

• Scaled-up concessional development financing.
• Forward-looking debt sustainability analyses.
• Comprehensive economic and institutional reforms
• Strengthened climate information services and early warning systems; and
• Full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

South Africa's Progress: Mixed Results

According to Sustainable Development Goals: Country Report 2023 prepared by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA); South Africa's progress is mixed. While the country has made strides in education, healthcare, water, sanitation, electricity, and gender equality, significant challenges remain, especially in addressing poverty and inequality, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some key SDG challenges facing South Africa are:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – Despite social assistance programs, a significant portion of the population remains in poverty.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – Despite a strong legal framework, violence against women remains widespread
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Efforts to reduce inequality are ongoing but systemic disparities are still prevalent.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – South Africa is grappling with climate resilience and needs stronger climate action.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Governance challenges, including corruption, undermine efforts to build trust and justice.

Time to Accelerate:  Driving SDG Progress 

South Africa urgently needs to accelerate its efforts to achieve the SDGs by focusing on areas that can have a multiplier effect, such as addressing inequality, upskilling workers, and increasing the use of renewable energy. Strengthening data systems to track progress and allocate resources effectively is also essential.

The SDG Insights | UNDP which leveraged artificial intelligence to analyze national priorities, identified transformative pathways for South Africa to tackle poverty, inequality, unemployment, and transition to a low-carbon economy, and attainment of the SDGs. The key transformative pathways identified include

•  Target 5.4: Value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities

• Target 7.2: Increase global percentage of renewable energy

• Target 8.2: Diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity

• Target 10.1: Reduce income inequalities

• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions

Potential Impacts by 2030

• A mix of renewable energy sources could stimulate economic productivity.
• Upskilling workers is crucial, especially in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates globally (33.5%).
• Social protection programs, both unconditional and conditional, can lower barriers to labor force entry, helping reduce poverty and inequality.

If successfully implemented, these policies could:

• Decrease inequality by 8.35% by 2030.
• Lift 25 million South Africans out of poverty.
• Reduce unemployment by more than 13 percentage points.
• Grow GDP by 0.5 percentage points above baseline projections.

To drive industry and service sector growth, it is essential to align skills development with labour market demands. However, balancing investment in SDG achievement with managing high public debt levels will be a key challenge for South Africa.

Moving from Commitment to Action 

South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to Agenda 2030 and the SDGs during the SDG Summit in September 2023, pledging transformation in several critical areas, including the just energy transition, climate finance, digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, and biodiversity protection.

These commitments align with South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 (NDP 2030), and their success depends on moving from promises to action. The formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) after the 2024 elections presents an opportunity to accelerate progress on the SDGs. With strong partnerships, appropriate reforms, and enhanced investment, South Africa can make meaningful strides toward achieving prosperity for all by 2030.

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "The SDGs aren't just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights, and expectations of people everywhere." South Africa in partnership with the UNDP and partners, must turn these ambitions into reality.

Rogers Dhliwayo is the Economics Advisor for UNDP South Africa, based in Pretoria. He specializes in economic policy and sustainable development, providing strategic insights to advance South Africa’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).