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Africa needs faster action to meet SDGs, agenda 2063 targets – Report – EnviroNews
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African leaders, development partners and experts have called for accelerated action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said this in a statement on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Abuja.
The ECA said the call was made at the launch of the 2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report (ASDR), on the sidelines of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum in New York.
The report was jointly produced by the African Union Commission (AUC), the ECA, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
It remains the only publication that systematically tracks Africa’s progress on both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063.
The report focuses on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, covering water, energy, infrastructure, sustainable cities and partnerships.
It identifies progress in some sectors but says Africa remains off track to meet the 2030 targets due to persistent structural challenges.
According to the report, financing constraints, climate shocks, rising debt vulnerabilities and weak institutional capacity continue to hinder implementation across the continent.
It recommended scaled-up investment, stronger institutions, innovation and enhanced regional cooperation to accelerate progress.
The report also called for stronger global partnerships and reforms to the international financial architecture to better support Africa’s development priorities.
It described the publication as a practical tool to guide evidence-based policymaking and strengthen implementation efforts across the continent.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, said fragmented implementation, inadequate financing and limited institutional capacity remained major obstacles to achieving development goals.
She described regional cooperation as one of Africa’s strongest accelerators for sustainable development.
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Amb. Selma Haddadi, said Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda represented a shared roadmap for Africa’s prosperity.
She added that “the true measure of Africa’s progress is not the strategies we adopt, but the lives we transform. This is the decade for accelerated delivery.”
The Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Claver Gatete, said Africa had reached a decisive moment with less than five years remaining to achieve the SDGs.
He said “the ASDR 2026 demonstrates that progress is possible, but only through transformative and coordinated action.
“By strengthening institutions, mobilising finance and leveraging innovation, Africa can build a more resilient and prosperous future.”
Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, said investing in people, innovation and natural resources would determine Africa’s future prosperity.
She urged governments and development partners to move beyond incremental progress and pursue bold investments and reforms.
“The report is already informing policy discussions following the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.
“This includes priorities on clean energy, infrastructure, regional integration and implementation capacity,” she said.
Al Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager of Climate Change and Green Growth at the AfDB, said Africa must urgently strengthen the foundations of transformation.
He identified water, energy, infrastructure, sustainable cities and partnerships as critical sectors requiring greater investment and climate-resilient approaches.
By Lucy Ogalue