UCT-SDG-Report-Draft06 - high - Flipbook - Page 4
Forging our own
path for sustainable
development in Africa
Deputy Vice-Chancellor:
Research and
Internationalisation, Professor
Sue Harrison
The United Nation’s Sustainable
Development Goals, while not perfect,
have created an excellent common
global framework for creating a just and
sustainable future. This common framework
is also useful to benchmark the progress
each country or institution is making
towards achieving the goals. This report is
one small way in which we are holding our
university to account.
At the same time, UCT’s Vision 2030 strategy focuses
on being an institution in Africa for Africa. This means
putting the challenges that this continent faces first.
Africa does not have the same developmental needs as
North America, Europe or even Asia. We are unique in
our diversity, our history, and our heritage. It is therefore
important that Africa sets its own agenda in a manner
that is both sustainable and just.
The AU Agenda 2063
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 was developed in
2013, two years before the United Nations created
the Sustainable Development Goals. There is an onus
on the developed world to use both frameworks to
inform action towards solving global challenges. It is
even more important for institutions in Africa to do so,
given the emphasis of Agenda 2063 on the continent
taking ownership in solving its own problems: it is not
coincidental that ‘Agenda’ is in its name.
Recognising the importance of Africa having agency
in driving development priorities along with the global
agenda of the SDGs, a number of authors and entities
4 – University of Cape Town
have analysed both frameworks to identify overlaps and
gaps. This can help policymakers, funders, and public
and private institutions to work towards both sets of
goals when addressing challenges on the continent.
Given that Agenda 2063 was developed first, and that
the African framework was drawn on heavily in the
creation of the SDGs, it is not surprising that there is
considerable overlap.
2030 Agenda
UN
Does not contain
AU Goal 8: A United Africa or
AU Goal 16: Imminent African
cultural renaissance
People, Planet,
Prosperity, Partnership,
Peace
90% overlap
Does not contain UN’s
SDG 12: Sustainable
consuption
8
United Africa
(Federal or
Confederate)
16
AU
3
Agenda 206
African
cultural
renaissance
is preeminent
