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African campaigners urge domestic funding towards SDGs

Xinhua, October 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Campaigners drawn from Sub-Saharan African countries on Monday renewed call for domestic financing towards the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The campaigners, who met in Nairobi for a continental forum on measuring the effectiveness of foreign aid, stressed that resources mobilized from the local private sector would supplement donor funds and trade to catalyze sustainable development.

Leo Atakpu, the Chair of Nairobi-based not for profit group, Reality of Aid Africa Network, said that domestic financing would be more effective in solving Africa's perennial socio-economic challenges in the light of shrinking foreign aid.

"African countries must strengthen policy and institutional capacity to mobilize domestic resources and utilize them for development purposes. We must rally behind a continental consensus on domestic financing of programs that addresses poverty, malnutrition, conflicts and health challenges," Atakpu said.

He spoke ahead of a high level Pan African meeting to evaluate progress in the implementation of SDGs to be held in Nairobi from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.

Atakpu said African policymakers, experts and campaigners will explore new policy and financing options to stimulate inclusive development.

"Robust financing towards projects that accelerates sustainable development has gained traction as many African countries aspire to join the middle income league," said Atakpu.

The UN 2030 agenda has resonated in Africa where challenges like poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy and ecological depletion are more pronounced.

Experts hailed continental initiatives aimed at finding durable solution to chronic under-development.

Vitalice Meja, a Kenyan development specialist noted that a policy dialogue to revitalize domestic funding towards the UN 2030 agenda has intensified in Africa since the beginning of this year.

"The political commitment towards implementation of sustainable development goals has not slackened and we hope Africa's private sector will own this process fully," Meja remarked

He urged concerted action on conflicts and climate change that have derailed implementation of the UN 2030 agenda in Africa. Endit