UCT-SDG-Report-Draft06 - high - Flipbook - Page 5
The Africa we Want
1
High standard of
living, quality of
life & well being
for all
2
Well-educated
citizens & skills
revolution underpinned by science,
technology &
innovation
3
Healthy &
well-nourished
citizens
4
Transformed
economies & job
creation
5
Modern
agriculture for
increased
productivity &
production
6
Blue/ocean
economy for
accelerated
economic
growth
7
Environmentally
sustainable &
climate resilient
economies &
communities
8
United Africa
(Federal or
Confederate)
9
Established key
continental
financial &
monetary
institutions
10
World-class
infrastructure
criss-crosses
Africa
Democratic
values, practices,
universal principles of human
rights, justice &
the rule of law
entrenched
11
12
Capable
institutions &
transformative
leadership in
place
13
Peace,
security &
stability is
preserved
14
A stable &
peaceful
Africa
A fully functional & operational African
peace & security
architecture
15
16
African
cultural
renaissance
is preeminent
17
Full gender
equality in all
spheres of life
18
Engaged &
empowered
youth &
children
19
Africa as a
major partner in
global affairs &
peaceful
coexistence
20
Africa takes
full responsibility
for financing
her development
Goals
*
Strong connection
Medium connection
A transdisciplinary approach
Khusela Ikamva
The goals of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 do not sit in
silos: while easy to put into neat categories on paper,
in reality they are interrelated and deeply complex.
Similarly, they do not sit within neat geographic or
political boundaries. Transdisciplinary research and
multilateral collaboration are necessary to create the
sustainable and just development Africa so sorely needs.
Of course, universities are so much more than just
centres of research. We are home to a dynamic and
diverse community and have a responsibility not only
to our campus but the broader society in which we are
embedded.
This was the intent behind UCT’s hosting of the
International Summit on the SDGs in Africa 2021. The
summit was organised along seven thematic tracks
in which UCT researchers joined with the private
sector, NGOs, government and other partners. The
thematic tracks address cross-cutting complexities and
dilemmas to accelerate a just and sustainable process of
development in Africa.
These thematic tracks are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ethical, capable, and enduring institutions
Science, technology, and innovation
Strengthening circular economies at different scales
Transdisciplinarity and engaged scholarship
Building responsive and resilient systems
New approaches to teaching and building capacity
Poverty and inequality
During the course of 2022 and early 2023, the
groundwork was laid for projects that would develop
research along these thematic tracks. A postdoctoral
research fellow was appointed for each track to drive
work in that area. I look forward to reporting on these
efforts in next year’s publication.
* SDG infographic reference: Garfias Royo, M., Diep, L., Mulligan, J., Mukanga, P.
and Parikh, P. (2022). Linking the UN Sustainable Development Goals and African
Agenda 2063: Understanding overlaps and gaps between the global goals and
continental priorities for Africa. World Development Sustainability, 1, p.100010.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wds.2022.100010.
In 2021, UCT launched the Khusela Ikamva (secure the
future) sustainable campus project. The first phase of
the project runs from 2021 to 2026. Key to the project
is the living lab approach, in which various sustainability
solutions can be developed and tested on campus.
The project has four elements, focusing on different
aspects of sustainability on campus:
•
•
•
•
Energy/carbon footprint
Sustainable water use
Waste/energy/food nexus
Establishing a community of practice
These are covered in this report under the relevant SDG
chapters.
Khusela Ikamva is envisioned as a key enabler to
transform UCT to become a more sustainable campus,
not only through the physical infrastructure but also
through its social fabric, which is the campus community.
Universities are often thought of as microcosms of the
environments and societies they are embedded in.
The external environment has the power to impact the
university, but so too can the university’s influence have
great impact on its broader environment. Through our
commitment to Agenda 2063 and the SDGs, and our
active initiatives like Khusela Ikamva, we hope to create
a butterfly effect, infusing a culture of sustainability into
everything we do.
Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 – 5
