Foresight Africa 2025-2030: The road to sustainable and inclusive development

As 2025 dawns, many African countries enter the new year with a sense of cautious optimism, balancing considerable progress with persistent vulnerabilities. 2025 also marks five years to the target date set for the 2030 agenda and achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). While meeting the targets of the SDGs was always an ambitious goal, many African countries suffered considerable setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, eroding decades of development gains and stymieing progress.

Despite these challenges, opportunities abound for Africa to make a meaningful “last mile” push towards attaining the SDGs. With the right policies and by capitalizing on its internal strengths—including human capital, natural resources, digital innovation, and regional integration—Africa can turn the tide and reshape the continent’s development trajectory.

On January 14, the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings Global launched a special edition of its flagship report, “Foresight Africa: Top priorities for Africa 2025-2030,” focusing on Africa’s progress toward achieving the SDGs. Five years out from the target deadline, the report takes stock of the achievements made, challenges faced, and identify concrete actions that will accelerate Africa’s sustainable development progress.

This year’s launch event featured remarks from Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda H.E. Édouard Ngirente, President of the Republic of Botswana H.E. Duma Boko, Minister of Minerals and Energy for the Republic of Botswana Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla), and Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana of the Republic of Rwanda. The event also included a high-level lineup of experts to offer insights on unlocking the region’s economic potential, achieving the SDGs, empowering women and girls, the role of good governance and citizenship in service delivery, bolstering Africa’s relations with the world, and the diverse role of technology in approaching these important issues.

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