In a collective effort to address pressing global challenges, stakeholders from various sectors convened in SA for the annual Open SDGs Club Symposium 2024, a platform established in 2019 to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The two-day event highlighted critical needs and coordinated strategies towards achieving the overarching goals set forth by the United Nations in 2015.
Speaking at the symposium, Namhla Mniki, convenor of The Open SDGs Club, emphasised the importance of unity among multiple stakeholders, stating, “Every single year we meet with different parties—government, civil society, academia, and businesses—to discuss who is doing what and the challenges we are facing.”
With a firm commitment to collaborative action, Mniki underscored the central aim of the symposium: to reflect on progress made towards the SDGs and identify gaps that require urgent attention.
The ongoing urgency surrounding the SDGs is echoed in the UN Secretary-General’s Progress Report, which reveals that only 17% of SDG targets are currently on track. As the clock ticks toward the 2030 deadline, the need for accelerated action has never been more apparent.
“Today, there has been a collaboration to seek to meet these seventeen goals which were set for nations around the world,” mentioned Ndaba Mazabane President and chair of the African Monitor.
He pointed to the ambitious hope of eradicating hunger by 2030 as one of the symposium's key talking points, highlighting that achieving these goals pertains to a comprehensive range of categories, including economics and sustainable development.
The symposium served as a critical arena for discussions surrounding South Africa’s Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR). Insights gleaned from the nation’s 2024 reporting on these processes formed the backbone of conversations aimed at improving local and national initiatives towards achieving the SDGs.
It is explained that the significance of the People’s Report, annexed to the official VNR, was also acknowledged. This report captures the voices and perspectives of civil society organisations regarding the country’s progress toward the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that no voice is left unheard. It champions the principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind’ and serves to promote multi-stakeholder engagement in addressing critical developmental challenges.
As part of the groundwork for the upcoming VNR submission, African Monitor has facilitated vital stakeholder consultations, with support stemming from various municipalities, including Tshwane and Johannesburg. These efforts, vital for local government contributions and impact, align perfectly with the overarching theme of the symposium—‘Mobilising Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Accelerated Action and Delivery of SDGs at a Local Level’.
Tebego Matlou from the South African Local Government Association (Salga) reiterated this mission, stating, “The ultimate goal is for local government to accelerate the implementation of SDGs to be among those that are to be counted globally, not only for compliance but for making an impact in local government and ensuring that services are improved in our municipalities.”
The Open SDGs Club continues to serve as a beacon for collaboration, offering a space where insights can be shared, and solutions co-created. As South Africa prepares its VNR and reflects on its progress, the commitment to sustainable development remains unwavering, promising to lead the way towards a better future for all.
The Star