African economies lost US$ 13.7 billion to adverse climate events, following scant progress in adopting and domesticating disaster risk reduction policy in Africa.
This was according to a report produced by a team of experts convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa (UNDP-RBA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). It sheds light on the significant impact of adverse climate events on African economies.
The report underscores the prevalence of climate disasters in Africa, with 60 percent of worldwide climate disasters occurring in the region. As a result, approximately 12.5 million Africans have been adversely affected.
Despite this, only 29 countries in Africa have implemented national risk reduction strategies, and few have integrated climate change considerations into their national plans, predominantly focusing on resilience-building efforts in the agricultural sector.
While Africa has made progress in 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report emphasises that the current pace of progress is insufficient to achieve these goals by 2030. The analysis reveals variations in progress across subregions, with West and North Africa exhibiting relatively better performance compared to East Africa.
However, none of the subregions are on track to achieve the SDGs, and there is a general lack of data to accurately track progress in Africa, posing a significant challenge.
Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support at the ECA, underscores the importance of robust data systems to monitor progress effectively and achieve the SDGs.
To address the multifaceted challenges hindering progress, the report advocates for a comprehensive approach that encompasses social, political, environmental, and economic dimensions.
Specific focus areas such as women’s empowerment, peace-building, and security require targeted attention, alongside leveraging technological advancements like artificial intelligence to enhance interventions’ efficiency.
Moreover, the report emphasises the need for domestic resource mobilisation through innovative tax systems, improved institutional governance, strengthened data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as strategies for debt restructuring.
The report further highlights the critical importance of achieving specific SDGs, such as No Poverty (Goal 1) and Zero Hunger (Goal 2), in Africa.
It underscores the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of poverty in the region and the urgent need to address underlying drivers, including access to essential services, inequality, climate change, and conflicts.
On climate financing, the report identifies significant gaps, particularly in mobilizing resources from the private sector. It calls for policy interventions to enhance climate financing mechanisms, such as carbon markets and sustainable financial frameworks.
In addressing Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), the report notes progress in reducing homicide rates, albeit slight, indicating a gradual movement towards a safer continent. However, disparities in budget management among countries underscore the need for improved fiscal governance.
Regarding Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the report underscores the importance of domestic revenue mobilization and the challenges posed by rising debt levels across African countries.
To accelerate progress towards the SDGs, the report recommends investing in data and capacity building, fostering partnerships with diverse stakeholders, and enhancing donor support for capacity-building initiatives.
On the final note, the report calls for concerted efforts from governments, regional organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders to address these challenges and achieve sustainable development in Africa by 2030.
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