The gathering of heads of states and high representatives at UN Headquarters on Friday, 25 September 2015. Img Src: United Nations.

The United Nations General Assembly gathered the heads of states, government and high representatives to celebrate its 70th anniversary. In the assembly, the far-reaching agenda was adopted on behalf of the people.

The agenda would guide the universal progress towards sustainable development and shared lasting peace on the planet. Africa has been mentioned and emphasized on as the poorest and the continent in need of more efforts for its future.

The Agenda being a global plan of action for all people, including Africa, must be the main reason why Africans should pay attention to it.  The fact that Africa is on its way to Sustainable Development and that Africa has been emphasized on in the Agenda must be the second.

Since the Agenda 2030 aimed at freeing the human race from tyranny of poverty, with Africa being considered richer but at the same time poorest continent which is in need of much more efforts to develop, Africans need to pay much attention to this agenda.

All that being said, and as far as lasting peace and sustainable development are concerned, Africa got what it takes to develop but there is a different reality on the continent. Africa needs to wake up and commit, for the Agenda will never be realized without efforts of all as it declares that no one will be left behind.

By the end of the 20th century, the United Nations adopted 8 Millennium Development Goals, which became the Agenda for the 15 years that followed until 2015.

Now, with the Agenda 2030, there is a new page for Sustainable Development Goals, which stimulates action over 15 years from 2015 to 2030 in three dimensions; economic, social and environment.

The agenda contains 17 Goals for Sustainable Development and 167 targets, demonstrating the scale and the ambitions of the new universal agenda, while seeking to accomplish the unaccomplished part of the Millennium Development Goals. It can be referred to as the universal roadmap for sustainable Development and lasting peace.

Here’s a quick reflection of the 17 Goals.

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Ensure healthy and promote well-being of all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable Quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full of productive and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate changes and its impact.
14. To conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnership for sustainable development.

 

17 Sustainable Development Goals (Photo; United Nations).

A reminder that the UN was established, in 1945 after World War II, with the aim of restoring universal peace and security. From then on, the organization did a lot through its systems and its organs such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations for Development and Peace (UNDP).