The United Nations has said an estimated N1.2 trillion yearly is needed by Africa to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Director, United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, Mr. Ronald Kayanja, made this known at the launch of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economic Development in Africa Report (EDAR) for 2016.
He said: ‘‘Trillions of dollars are needed. It is estimated that Africa will need between $600 billion to $1.2 trillion every year to achieve the goals and most of this money will have to be mobilised locally within countries.”
Kayanja explained that for 16 years, UNCTAD has been releasing the report yearly to raise key issues affecting Africa’s development, adding that the 2030 development agenda will guide global collective action for sustainable development over the next 15 years.
He maintained that the 17 SDGs offer a blueprint on how the global economy, society and the environment should look in 2030 alongside specific actions that will be required at global, regional and national levels.
He, however, hinted that countries this year have just begun the challenging task of implementation. But to achieve the N1.6 trillion annual SDGs target, Kanya said financing must flow to the sectors and countries that need it most, so that the infrastructure needed to develop sustainability and limit global climate change is available to all.
