Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Making a Case for the StrongestPredictors towards the Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) in Africa
Abstract
In 2015, the United Nations set forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform towards the achievement of the UN Vision 2030. The UN SDGs framework remains a powerful milestone that if attained would see Africa open up at least 380 million jobs and a USD 12 trillion market by 2030. Nonetheless, eight years down the line, Africa still lags behind when compared to the rest of the world in as far as progress towards the attainment of SDG targets is concerned. In responding to this gap, this paper holds the contention that without peace, justice and strong institutions, this noble goal would be rather difficult to achieve. Against this premise it makes a case for these predictors- peace, justice and strong institutions- as the surest way towards setting Africa on the path towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this direction, the paper begins with a background on the transition from millennium to sustainable development goals and the history of Africa’s performance; followed by theoretical analysis and thematic discussions on peace, justice and strong institutions in Africa, and lastly, experiments of devolution in Kenya, the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, and regional integration such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While peace in this paper connotes resolution of conflict, justice is seen as a force for addressing the foundations of conflict and the larger question of grievance as a driver of conflict. Justice goes further to address marginalization of women, youth, the elderly and the disabled thereby building inclusive societies across Africa; equity or fairness, equality and shared prosperity are at the core of the pillar of justice. Strong institutions on their part will create resilience against economic, social and political shocks and provide firm foundations for good governance hence creating stability for development. In sum, inclusive, peaceful, stable and better governed societies will guarantee achievement of sustainable development in Africa.
In 2015, the United Nations set forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform towards the achievement of the UN Vision 2030. The UN SDGs framework remains a powerful milestone that if attained would see Africa open up at least 380 million jobs and a USD 12 trillion market by 2030. Nonetheless, eight years down the line, Africa still lags behind when compared to the rest of the world in as far as progress towards the attainment of SDG targets is concerned. In responding to this gap, this paper holds the contention that without peace, justice and strong institutions, this noble goal would be rather difficult to achieve. Against this premise it makes a case for these predictors- peace, justice and strong institutions- as the surest way towards setting Africa on the path towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this direction, the paper begins with a background on the transition from millennium to sustainable development goals and the history of Africa’s performance; followed by theoretical analysis and thematic discussions on peace, justice and strong institutions in Africa, and lastly, experiments of devolution in Kenya, the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, and regional integration such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While peace in this paper connotes resolution of conflict, justice is seen as a force for addressing the foundations of conflict and the larger question of grievance as a driver of conflict. Justice goes further to address marginalization of women, youth, the elderly and the disabled thereby building inclusive societies across Africa; equity or fairness, equality and shared prosperity are at the core of the pillar of justice. Strong institutions on their part will create resilience against economic, social and political shocks and provide firm foundations for good governance hence creating stability for development. In sum, inclusive, peaceful, stable and better governed societies will guarantee achievement of sustainable development in Africa.