KAMAYOYO Kelvin, Technical Advisor for the first-ever Zambezi River Indaba & Expo 2024 and also Chief Technical Advisor for BuyZed Campaign has noted that there was need to vigorously mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the planning processes and governance structures at village levels in Africa if the continent is to record meaningful inclusive development. He further noted that while the continent of Africa is committed to realising the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 for sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals which are in accordance with most countries’ long-term national Visions 2030, this aspiration could be difficult to attain if the SDGs are only prominent in the urban areas or offices.
Kamayoyo noted that the SDGs were formulated to transform the world and this can only be achieved if socio-economic development is solidly grounded on building everlasting partnerships, progressive and effective engagement of all stakeholders more especially the rural village communities. He argued that from face value the rural communities are vulnerable and somewhat disconnected to modernisation, and access to appropriate technology is farfetched.
However, Kamayoyo notes that since the launch of the SDGs by the UN General Assembly in 2015, some African countries have made notable progress in implementing and mainstreaming the SDGs at different levels. Most African countries have made notable efforts in mainstreaming the SDGs in their National Development Plans and creating stakeholder consultative platforms including supporting interventions that creates jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for its people in order to spur inclusive growth. Notwithstanding these developments, a lot more still need to be done especially in the area of mainstreaming the SDGs among the local rural communities in most African countries in order to enhance ownership and pragmatism of the principles for meaningful and sustainable development. Kamayoyo stressed that the world is seven (7) years away from the mark of Agenda 2030 and everybody must benefit from the desired development and as such the continent need to embark on a new path towards a more sustainable and better society for all.
This is the reason why the first-ever Zambezi River Indaba & Expo 2024 is unique from the other events held before because it emphasizes the importance of Sustainable Development Goals and the welfare of the local river communities who mostly live in rural areas with scanty resources. The Zambezi River lndaba & Expo 2024 will be held under theme: “Promoting River Restoration, Climate Smart Investment, Technology and Water Harvesting for Sustainable Development in Africa” targeting eight (8) riparian countries (thus Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania) of the river basin. The Zambezi River Indaba & Expo 2024 provides an inclusive platform for discussing both commercial and social investment that is capable of catalysing efforts aimed at buttressing the attainment of the 17 SDGs, 169 targets and 230 indicators for most African countries by the year 2030.
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