southern Africa have some of the highest homicide rates globally, with Lesotho
topping the list at 38 homicides per 100,000 people (World Bank 2017). At the same
time, SSA countries register some of the highest perceived corruption rates from the
private sector (Transparency International 2018). SSA has also by far the lowest
rates of child registration globally, with fewer than half (46%) of all children under
5 years of age registered across the continent, and even fewer recorded in some
countries such as Somalia, Malawi and Ethiopia (UN 2019).
Many scholars have suggested that failure to effectively meet SDG16 might have
ramifications and for other SDGs as effective governance systems, peace and
security are critical elements for sustainable development (Bolaji-Adio 2015). As
discussed below, various interconnected challenges prevent progress for SDG16,
including constraints in developing appropriate governance systems/frameworks,
weak institutions, institutional failures, inequality and the lack of data and clear
definitions of SDG16 indicators.
Establishing appropriate governance systems is not always straightforward in
many parts of the continent, both at the local and national level. Often the promoted
ideals of good governance according to SDG16 language have predisposition
towards a certain ideological model of good governance, which does not necessarily
reflect local realities, capabilities and possibly needs (Bolaji-Adio 2015). For example, in many parts of the continent seemingly participatory and representative
systems of governance have sometimes heightened polarization and failed to prevent
or contain communal violence (Bolaji-Adio 2015). At the same time, the prevailing
and deeply ingrained racial/ethnic/religious/cultural divisions and differences pose
serious challenges in establishing good governance systems, and often underlie
conflicts and violence at different scales (Raleigh 2014).
Weak institutions and institutional failures are prevalent through the region,
providing a fertile ground for bribery and corruption that characterizes many business activities such as import licensing and construction permits, among others
(World Bank 2017; ACCA 2014).
The pervasive inequality is another major challenge for meeting SDG16, which
has been thoroughly discussed throughout this chapter. The lack of access to justice,
information, education and other fundamental freedoms in many SSA countries are
only some of the major factors related to how low inequality can influence the
attainment of SDG16 (Sects. 1.2.4, 1.2.5 and 1.2.10). Inequality also stems from low
birth registration (one of the major targets of SDG16), which is often constrained by
low capacity and specific local cultural characteristics, beliefs and taboos
(UN 2019).
Finally, there are also major challenges related to the definition and measurement
of SDG16. Apart from the lack of defined indicators and data for some targets (SDG
Centre for Africa 2019), there are grave concerns that most of the underlying
language and measures of SDG16 are framed in a way that will not eventually
encourage governance improvements and the achievement of peace and security in
the region (Bolaji-Adio 2015).
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
35
topping the list at 38 homicides per 100,000 people (World Bank 2017). At the same
time, SSA countries register some of the highest perceived corruption rates from the
private sector (Transparency International 2018). SSA has also by far the lowest
rates of child registration globally, with fewer than half (46%) of all children under
5 years of age registered across the continent, and even fewer recorded in some
countries such as Somalia, Malawi and Ethiopia (UN 2019).
Many scholars have suggested that failure to effectively meet SDG16 might have
ramifications and for other SDGs as effective governance systems, peace and
security are critical elements for sustainable development (Bolaji-Adio 2015). As
discussed below, various interconnected challenges prevent progress for SDG16,
including constraints in developing appropriate governance systems/frameworks,
weak institutions, institutional failures, inequality and the lack of data and clear
definitions of SDG16 indicators.
Establishing appropriate governance systems is not always straightforward in
many parts of the continent, both at the local and national level. Often the promoted
ideals of good governance according to SDG16 language have predisposition
towards a certain ideological model of good governance, which does not necessarily
reflect local realities, capabilities and possibly needs (Bolaji-Adio 2015). For example, in many parts of the continent seemingly participatory and representative
systems of governance have sometimes heightened polarization and failed to prevent
or contain communal violence (Bolaji-Adio 2015). At the same time, the prevailing
and deeply ingrained racial/ethnic/religious/cultural divisions and differences pose
serious challenges in establishing good governance systems, and often underlie
conflicts and violence at different scales (Raleigh 2014).
Weak institutions and institutional failures are prevalent through the region,
providing a fertile ground for bribery and corruption that characterizes many business activities such as import licensing and construction permits, among others
(World Bank 2017; ACCA 2014).
The pervasive inequality is another major challenge for meeting SDG16, which
has been thoroughly discussed throughout this chapter. The lack of access to justice,
information, education and other fundamental freedoms in many SSA countries are
only some of the major factors related to how low inequality can influence the
attainment of SDG16 (Sects. 1.2.4, 1.2.5 and 1.2.10). Inequality also stems from low
birth registration (one of the major targets of SDG16), which is often constrained by
low capacity and specific local cultural characteristics, beliefs and taboos
(UN 2019).
Finally, there are also major challenges related to the definition and measurement
of SDG16. Apart from the lack of defined indicators and data for some targets (SDG
Centre for Africa 2019), there are grave concerns that most of the underlying
language and measures of SDG16 are framed in a way that will not eventually
encourage governance improvements and the achievement of peace and security in
the region (Bolaji-Adio 2015).
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
35