African Leadership Forum Calls for ‘Africa First’ Approach to Achieve SDGs
Kampala Summit Urges Continent-Wide Commitment to Sustainable Development
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Leaders at the 8th African Leadership Forum (ALF) have issued a rallying cry for the continent to adopt an ‘Africa first’ mindset in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The high-profile event, organized by the UONGOZI Institute, is currently underway in Kampala with the theme “Realizing Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward.”
Strategic Focus on SDG Implementation
The forum brings together prominent African leaders to assess progress on the SDGs adopted in 2015, which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and ensure prosperity for all. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni opened the discussions by framing the SDGs as tools for removing strategic bottlenecks to socio-economic transformation.
“For true transformation, we must build strong states with policies centered on national interests,” Museveni stated, outlining Uganda’s five-stage economic development model from post-colonial recovery to building a knowledge-based economy.
Key Challenges and Proposed Solutions
ALF Patron and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete emphasized the urgent need for political will to turn SDG ambitions into action. “Despite implementation challenges, we must convert these into opportunities and reaffirm our commitment to both the SDGs and Africa Agenda 2030,” he urged.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn highlighted critical obstacles:
- Significant funding gaps for SDG projects
- Need for strengthened governance and anti-corruption measures
- Importance of intra-African trade through AfCFTA implementation
“With global trade uncertainties, we must strengthen intra-continental commerce, leverage technology, and reduce dependence on foreign aid,” Desalegn advised.
Economic and Developmental Priorities
UN Economic Commission for Africa’s Antonio Pedro stressed that unemployment threatens both economic stability and peace. “The private sector must invest not just for profit, but with purpose,” he noted, advocating for removing trade barriers that could boost intra-African commerce by 45%.
Former FAO official Mafa Chipeta cautioned against spreading resources too thin: “With just 2% of global GDP, Africa must strategically focus its SDG implementation rather than attempting all goals simultaneously.”
Leadership Perspectives on Africa’s Future
Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma saw opportunity in global shifts: “The ‘America First’ policy creates space for Africa to redefine its development path through human capital investment and good governance.”
Tunisia’s former President Moncef Marzouki emphasized self-reliance: “We need democratic, corruption-free governments to unlock our intra-trade potential.”
Forum Structure and Institutional Background
The ALF features four thematic sessions examining:
- Poverty eradication and economic growth
- Health and well-being
- Education and skills development
- Environmental sustainability and climate action
The event serves as a precursor to the UNECA’s Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development scheduled for April 2025. The UONGOZI Institute, established in 2010 by Tanzania and Finland, continues its mission to develop African leadership capacity for sustainable development solutions.
Read more about SDG implementation in Africa: New UONGOZI Institute Board tasked with securing sustainability