Since the turning of the century, the modern world has become increasingly receptive to transformative development ideas, embracing global frameworks designed to foster innovation, equity and sustainability. From economic blueprints and international accords, efforts have been made to guide the world towards a more inclusive and efficient ecosystem. Africa has long bore the brunt of colonial disruption, weak governance systems and entrenched global power imbalances. Rich in immense potential, ironically, the continent continues to grapple with systemic dysfunction and alarmingly, a significant number of African nations remain at the mercy of leaders who are driven by self-interest.
The adoption of Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 marked a historic moment in the evolution of global development approaches. Building on the shortcomings of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs introduced 17 interlinked goals as a universal blueprint to safeguard the planet through participatory interventions. But still for many African countries, the path towards the realization of these goals has been riddled with internal complexities. The past two decades have been characterized by challenges such as financial crises, climate disasters, pandemics and political instability, which have tested the precarious nature of the continent’s resilience. Realizing the SDGs in Africa therefore should not merely be about policy alignment or institutional reforms. It demands a profound interrogation of the mindset, systems, power dynamics and developmental philosophies that have defined the continent’s trajectory through the years. It calls for a vision that is rooted in agency, accountability and long-term prosperity.
For Africa to strategically advance the Sustainable Development Goals, the starting point must be the restructuring of its governance and financial systems. For a long time, the continent’s progress has been stifled by governance models that centralize power, suppress innovation and entrench impunity. This has resulted in policy frameworks that are often disconnected from realities and prevent applicable solutions to present and future risks from being developed and implemented. Parallel to this is an unstable financial system that is skewed towards conditional internal and external debt which deviates SDGs priorities and resources of African countries.
Domestic fiscal strategies often prioritize politically expedient projects over transformative investment in human resources, public infrastructure and social systems. If the SDG agenda is to evolve from wishful-thinking to actualization, public institutions must be rooted in transparency, accountability and inclusivity.
Beyond restructuring of systems and structures, Africa’s realization of sustainable development goals also calls for a critical engagement with international legal frameworks that govern global development. Historically, international law has operated within the confinement that reflect the interests and ideologies of former colonial powers under the guise of neutrality and societal betterment. However, Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) critiques these historical biases embedded in international law, advocating for a more equitable world order that centers the experiences and aspirations of colonized nations. The application of TWAIL in the context of SDG implementation challenges the continent to not only engage with development goals but also to interrogate the very systems that define what development looks like to them, who gets to shape it and whose voices are legitimized in the process.
Without observing through this lens, the continent risk perpetually adapting to approaches that were never designed to serve its unique contexts to begin with. TWAIL therefore is not merely academic but, if applied pragmatically, is a necessary tool in reclaiming agency, redefining justice and demanding that the global development agenda evolves beyond performativity inclusion. For instance, the advocacy for equitable debt restructuring facilities and the championing of Africa’s land as foundational pillars of local development and not merely an extractive asset.
The acceleration of implementation of SDGs in Africa cannot be confined to policy, law or finance. It requires a cultural and ethical renaissance – a return to values that center public service, intergenerational responsibility and stewardship. These principles, sadly, have been gradually eroded by colonial ideologies and governance failures, rewarding impunity, populism and political survival, at the detriment of societal wellbeing. Corruption has been deeply engrained and normalized across many socio-economic sectors, widening inequality. Reclaiming a value-driven approach that prioritizes honest leadership is imperative. Combatting social injustices requires a cultural reset where merit is rewarded, integrity is valued and public service is treated as stewardship. Africa’s true power lies not only in its resources but in its ability to reawaken a moral compass that places people and their environment at the heart of progress.
The realization of sustainable development goals in Africa is not a straightforward path, carved with ready-made solutions and a one-size-fits-all. This vision cannot be achieved through cosmetic policy alignment measures as well. Rather, it calls for structural courage, institutional integrity and a reclamation of our collective agency. Timeously, the implementation of SDGs present a unique opportunity for the continent to redefine progress, embracing best practices that are both locally grounded and globally relevant. Africa’s potential is vast but realizing it will require bold, transformative actions and an unwavering commitment to sustainable development that prioritize people, equity and the planet.
