Environmental change is a reality in many parts of the continent and is exacerbated to a large extent by the demographic and socio-economic changes outlined
above (IPBES 2018). On the one hand, unsustainable agricultural practices and
Table 1.1 Priority sustainable development areas, relevant SDGs and key challenges and constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa
Priority areas
Relevant
SDGs
Key challenges and constraints
Maintain peace and security 16
Low political commitment, democratic deficits,
conflicts, corruption
Ensure good governance and
build strong institutions
17
Low political commitment, weak institutions, corruption, limited capacity, poor public service
provision
Attract sustainable financing All
Poor capacity to mobilize domestic resources, high
dependency on foreign funding, low capacity to use
funding effectively
Develop human capacity
All
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Foster technology transfer
17
Weak partnerships, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Combat climate change
13
Lack of reliable data, poor financial and technical
capacity
Mitigate environmental
problems
14,15
Lack of reliable data, poor financial and technical
capacity
Catalyse/sustain economic
growth
1,8,10
Low economic diversification from primary sectors,
low value addition
Improve quality of education 4
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Generate employment
opportunities
8,10
Low economic diversification from primary sectors,
lack of expertise and capacity (especially for youth)
Ensure food security
2,3
Poor investment in agriculture, population growth,
restrictive policies, climate change
Promote modern energy
options
3,7,15
High dependency on traditional bioenergy, restrictive policies, poor financial and technical capacity
Reduce gender inequality
5
Low political commitment, lack of education,
restrictive institutions
Alleviate poverty
1,10
Poor economic performance and employment generation, population growth, vulnerability of
livelihoods
Improve health and nutrition 3
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and infrastructure, lack of education
Deliver infrastructure
3,6,9,11
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and infrastructure, population growth, climate change
Boost agricultural
productivity
1,2
Low investment, land degradation, poor institutional
support, climate change
Develop sustainable cities
3,11,12
Rapid urbanization, financial constraints, lack of
expertise and infrastructure
Source: Adapted from Boafo et al. (2019)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
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above (IPBES 2018). On the one hand, unsustainable agricultural practices and
Table 1.1 Priority sustainable development areas, relevant SDGs and key challenges and constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa
Priority areas
Relevant
SDGs
Key challenges and constraints
Maintain peace and security 16
Low political commitment, democratic deficits,
conflicts, corruption
Ensure good governance and
build strong institutions
17
Low political commitment, weak institutions, corruption, limited capacity, poor public service
provision
Attract sustainable financing All
Poor capacity to mobilize domestic resources, high
dependency on foreign funding, low capacity to use
funding effectively
Develop human capacity
All
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Foster technology transfer
17
Weak partnerships, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Combat climate change
13
Lack of reliable data, poor financial and technical
capacity
Mitigate environmental
problems
14,15
Lack of reliable data, poor financial and technical
capacity
Catalyse/sustain economic
growth
1,8,10
Low economic diversification from primary sectors,
low value addition
Improve quality of education 4
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and
infrastructure
Generate employment
opportunities
8,10
Low economic diversification from primary sectors,
lack of expertise and capacity (especially for youth)
Ensure food security
2,3
Poor investment in agriculture, population growth,
restrictive policies, climate change
Promote modern energy
options
3,7,15
High dependency on traditional bioenergy, restrictive policies, poor financial and technical capacity
Reduce gender inequality
5
Low political commitment, lack of education,
restrictive institutions
Alleviate poverty
1,10
Poor economic performance and employment generation, population growth, vulnerability of
livelihoods
Improve health and nutrition 3
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and infrastructure, lack of education
Deliver infrastructure
3,6,9,11
Financial constraints, lack of expertise and infrastructure, population growth, climate change
Boost agricultural
productivity
1,2
Low investment, land degradation, poor institutional
support, climate change
Develop sustainable cities
3,11,12
Rapid urbanization, financial constraints, lack of
expertise and infrastructure
Source: Adapted from Boafo et al. (2019)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
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