African leaders have issued a stark warning that the continent is falling behind on global development and climate goals, adopting a new declaration that calls for urgent, coordinated action to reverse slow progress and deliver tangible results. Agreed at the close of the Twelfth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development held in Addis Ababa, the declaration underscores growing concern that Africa is off track on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the heart of the discussions was the newly adopted Addis Ababa Declaration on ‘Turning the Tide’, which outlines a roadmap for accelerating implementation of both the 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063. The declaration addresses the fact that progress on 12 of the 17 SDGs have stalled, with five experiencing regression. It calls for reforms to the international financial architecture to close a development financing gap estimated at up to US$1.6 trillion annually. It prioritises water and sanitation,energy, industrialization and sustainable cities. It also aims to align the post-2030 global framework with Agenda 2063 and ensure Africa’s priorities are reflected in future development agendas.
