However, for many SSA countries some of the SDGs (and underlying targets) are
overambitious, and hence unlikely to be achieved due to the very low starting points
(Lange and Klasen 2017; SDG Centre for Africa 2019). For example, the likelihood
of countries such as Ethiopia meeting SDG targets related to access to clean water
and sanitation is remote mainly due to its very low starting base, i.e. only 7.1% of the
national population has access to basic sanitation (WHO and UNICEF 2018).
Likewise, the target for the under 5-year-old child mortality appears unrealistic for
many SSA countries (Lange and Klasen 2017). This seems to imply a similar
trajectory with some of the MDGs, considering that many SSA countries failed by
a wide margin in meeting them (UN 2015).
This two-volume edited series explores some of the main sustainability challenges facing SSA countries in the context of the SDGs. In particular each individual
chapter tackles different sustainability challenges across the full spectrum of the
SDGs. The thematic, methodological and geographical focus varies substantially
between chapters in an effort to appreciate the full breadth of the current sustainability challenges across SSA, as well as of the different methods that can be used to
understand them and solutions to tackle them.
The aim of this first chapter is to identify and critically discuss some of the current
trends and challenges for meeting the different SDGs in SSA. Considering the many
Fig. 1.1 Categories of sustainable development goals
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
7
overambitious, and hence unlikely to be achieved due to the very low starting points
(Lange and Klasen 2017; SDG Centre for Africa 2019). For example, the likelihood
of countries such as Ethiopia meeting SDG targets related to access to clean water
and sanitation is remote mainly due to its very low starting base, i.e. only 7.1% of the
national population has access to basic sanitation (WHO and UNICEF 2018).
Likewise, the target for the under 5-year-old child mortality appears unrealistic for
many SSA countries (Lange and Klasen 2017). This seems to imply a similar
trajectory with some of the MDGs, considering that many SSA countries failed by
a wide margin in meeting them (UN 2015).
This two-volume edited series explores some of the main sustainability challenges facing SSA countries in the context of the SDGs. In particular each individual
chapter tackles different sustainability challenges across the full spectrum of the
SDGs. The thematic, methodological and geographical focus varies substantially
between chapters in an effort to appreciate the full breadth of the current sustainability challenges across SSA, as well as of the different methods that can be used to
understand them and solutions to tackle them.
The aim of this first chapter is to identify and critically discuss some of the current
trends and challenges for meeting the different SDGs in SSA. Considering the many
Fig. 1.1 Categories of sustainable development goals
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
7