SDG 8 plays a vital role in efforts to achieve the 2030 Program – Chinganya

Sustainable Development Goal 8, a multi-dimensional goal at the heart of the Global 2030 Agenda, is under the spotlight of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) currently being held in New York.

Oliver Chinganya, Director of the African Center for Statistics of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said at a parallel meeting of the Workers 'and Unions' Group, that the success of the African Economic Forum for Africa (ECA), said: SDG8 could not only contribute to the achievement of many other SDGs, but also promote inclusive and sustainable development and make a concrete contribution to improving people's lives and well-being.

SDG 8 seeks to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Mr. Chinganya, who is also responsible for the Division of Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management at ECA, said that inclusive and sustainable economic growth can foster progress and generate implement the sustainable development strategy.

However, he added, while the production of social and economic statistics in Africa has improved over the last 20 years, many countries still lacked the statistical capacity to collect, manage and report on the SDGs. general, in particular data and statistics of the labor market. making it difficult to monitor progress.

"Even where data exists, most data is out of date or unmatched from country to country. The lack of comparable surveys is largely due to different investigation deadlines, making it difficult to measure trends and comparison of nations, "said Mr. Chinganya.

To meet these challenges, he said, ECA, in collaboration with the Commission of the African Union (AUC), is working to improve labor market information systems. Member States in the context of building the capacity required for the collection, badysis and dissemination of data in support of credible policy development in Africa.

There is an opportunity and opportunity to strengthen South-South partnerships by promoting regional cooperation in terms of statistical capacity building, Chinganya said.

For the future, he said new potentials for improving productive employment were emerging in Africa.

"The intensification of regional integration through the new Continental Free Trade Area in Africa (AfCFTA) can increase Africa's GDP by 1% and total employment by 1.2%. According to our research, small and medium-sized businesses, which account for 80% of businesses in the region; Women, who make up 70% of informal cross-border traders and young people, will be able to find new job opportunities and be among the main beneficiaries of the agreement, "Chinganya said.

ECA estimates that AfCFTA could boost intra-African trade by 52.3 per cent by removing import duties, which could double if non-tariff barriers are also reduced and have a concomitant effect on trade. job creation.

For Africa's youth-dominated population – nearly 20% of the continent's total population is between the ages of 15 and 24 – more emphasis needs to be placed on improving skills through technical and vocational education .

"Its structure should be aligned with the needs of the labor market. This could be done by involving the private sector more to match the demand for skill profiles. The intensification of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at all levels of education is a necessity, "added Mr. Chinganya.

"Young people are neither lazy nor powerless to transform their socio-economic situation, they are key players and leaders in many initiatives. It is therefore essential to involve them and involve them in political processes. "

He said that funding models for young people, such as the Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund, that support entrepreneurship and encourage the formalization of SMEs, contribute immensely to the employment prospects of young Africans.

Doing Business reforms aimed at simplifying and streamlining the business environment, especially the regulatory framework, are therefore essential to unlocking the potential of the private sector to create employment opportunities.

"We have a lot to learn from each other's experiences and it is imperative that we work together to achieve SDG8," he told stakeholders at the meeting.

The meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, is under the theme; "Empowering people and ensuring inclusion and equality".