In the past four months, we’ve made significant strides toward our mission, engaging deeply in Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) while advancing our key initiatives. These activities have enriched our understanding of sustainable development priorities and reinforced collaborations across sectors. Our participation has allowed us to meaningfully contribute to global discussions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030.
Our recent activities have gone beyond the VNRs and VLRs. We participated in critical events like the BRICS Civil Forum, led SDG-focused initiatives, and partnered on impactful projects. Through these engagements, we continue to amplify grassroots voices and demonstrate our commitment to Agenda 2030.
African Monitor’s Participation at the BRICS Civil Forum 2024
As co-chair of the Civil Society Forum on the New Development Bank (CSF-NDB), the African Monitor participated in the BRICS Civil Forum in Moscow, Russia, from 1st -6th July 2024. The BRICS Civil Forum brought together representatives from government and civil society across BRICS+ nations, with Africa represented by delegations from South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia, as well as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
The forum provided African Monitor and the CSF-NDB a critical opportunity to elevate African civil society voices and engage in meaningful discussions with BRICS+ counterparts.
Key topics included:
- Right to Development: Equality, Equity, and Justice
- Future BRICS Cities: Needs and Development Priorities
- Vision 2050: Values and Rights of Peoples
- Ethics in New Technologies
- Digital Security and Information Integrity
- Ecology, Energy Transition, and Social Justice
- Sovereign Economic and Financial Policy
- Transforming Education Systems in BRICS Countries
- Building Cultural Bridges among BRICS Nations
- BRICS Future Education Models
- Health as a Development Foundation in BRICS+ Countries
- Vision 2050: The World Through BRICS’ Eyes
- BRICS’ Role in Building a More Just Global Order
By leveraging platforms such as the CSF-NDB, the Global Forum for National SDGs Advisory Bodies, and South Africa’s G20 Presidency collective, African Monitor works alongside peers to realize a shared vision of an African continent achieving its development potential, where dignity, justice, human rights, and good governance are upheld for all.
Puseletso Takes on Germany at the SDG Initiative Learning Excursion
From August 24 to 31, African Monitor’s Puseletso Maile and Programme Associate Sixolile Ngcobo joined a learning excursion to Germany, organized under the Sustainable Development Goals Initiatives (SDGI). The delegation included members from the Presidency’s Policy and Research Services (PRS), the University of Pretoria’s SDG Hub, Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation, and GIZ South Africa.
The trip fostered high-level meetings with prominent German stakeholders, including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), research institutes, and other key partners, to strategize and plan for SDGI II, drawing on insights from previous SDGI projects.
The excursion kicked off in Frankfurt, featuring a cultural program and a learning exchange among the SDGI delegation. This was followed by a meeting with Mr. Matthias Rompel from the GIZ Regional Department for Africa and the GIZ Sectoral Department in Eschborn. On Tuesday, the delegation travelled to Bonn, where they met Dr Sven Grimm from the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and participated in a sustainability tour of the GIZ Campus led by Ms. Lara Milerski.
In Berlin, the SDGI delegation attended a workshop with BMZ DataLab, the German Foreign Office’s Data Innovation Lab, and Data2Policy. They also met Mr. René Franke from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Southern Africa Regional Department. On Thursday, they met Dr. Roos from the Research Service in the German Parliament and concluded on Friday with Mr. Marc-Oliver Pahl from the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE).
Sixolile Ngcobo represents African Monitor at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York from 11 -18 July 2024
Sixolile Ngcobo represented African Monitor and the South African Working Group on SDGs (SAWG) at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. During her presentation, she shared African Monitor’s experiences with the Voluntary National Review (VNR) processes, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and discussing the challenges and successes encountered in facilitating multi-stakeholder engagements.
After her presentation, Sixolile handed over the 2024 People’s Report to the attending organizations. Her insights into the VNR and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) ignited lively discussions about the crucial role of VNRs in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.
Read the People’s Report here: People’s Report
Civil Society takes survey to measure SDG Progress from 2015 to 2024
In collaboration with Act for Sustainable Development (A4SD), African Monitor conducted a survey among civil society organizations to evaluate the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in South Africa. Participants assessed each of the 17 Goals on a scale from -5 (significant regression) to +5 (significant progress), using 2015 as the baseline year.
A total of 48 civil society organizations contributed to the survey, and the results have been compiled. Overall, the findings indicate that South Africa has considerable work ahead to make meaningful progress on all 17 SDGs.
You can view the survey findings here:
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa and African Monitor host a dialogue to reflect on South Africa’s 2024 VNR Journey
On September 25th, African Monitor, in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa (FES) and on behalf of the SAWG, hosted a hybrid dialogue focused on South Africa’s 2024 Voluntary National Review (VNR) reporting.
The dialogue aimed to provide feedback and reflect on the contributions of various stakeholders—including business, academia, civil society, local government, and the National Planning Commission (NPC) – to the VNR
The objectives of the session included:
- Offering an overview of the 2024 VNR and Voluntary Local Review (VLR) processes.
- Highlighting the challenges and successes encountered in coordinating these efforts.
- Sharing lessons learned from the coordination and reporting of the 2024 VNR and VLR processes.
Key speakers included Basetsana Meletse and Bella Mabula from the Passover Community Fund, Thamsanqa Dlambulo, Managing Director of the Mpumelelo Youth Movement, Puseletso Maile, Research and Advocacy Coordinator at African Monitor, Xolisa Dilata, Deputy Director at the National Planning Commission, Sixolile Ngcobo, Programmes Advisor at African Monitor, Tebogo Matlou, Programme Manager for International Programmes and Partnerships at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Rethabile Mbokodi, Programme Manager at UN Global Compact, and Rogers Dhliwayo, Senior Economist at UNDP.
The session emphasized the importance of grassroots participation in the VNR processes, with attendees advocating for a bottom-up approach. It also highlighted the significance of multi-stakeholder partnerships for the 2024 VNR process, stressing the need to strengthen these collaborations to ensure the effective implementation of the SDGs and future VNR reporting. Additionally, the dialogue called for increased community and youth engagement in the reporting processes.
What to Expect at the Open SDGs Club Symposium 2024
The Open SDGs Club South Africa is an inclusive and collaborative platform that facilitates meaningful interactions among stakeholders committed to advancing the transformative Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. Established by African Monitor in 2019, the Club draws inspiration from the Open SDGs Club Berlin and has since hosted the annual SDGs symposium in partnership with the South African CSOs Working Group on SDGs (SAWG-S
DGs).
This two-day program aims to assess the commitments outlined in the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 and promote collective actions to accelerate progress in the coming five years.
At the 2024 SDGs Symposium, we will also launch the People’s Report, which follows South Africa’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) processes. This year’s theme is “Mobilising Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Accelerated Action and Delivery of SDGs at the Local Level”
Archbishop Ndugane gets honoured at the UNISA Chancellor’s Calabash Awards.
His Excellency Dr. Thabo Mbeki, Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA), hosted the Chancellor’s Calabash Awards and Dinner under the 2024 theme: “Reclaiming and Re-imagining Africa’s Intellectual Futures.”
The Chancellor’s Calabash Awards celebrate UNISA alumni and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society. This year, Archbishop Njongo Ndungane received the Robben Island Alumnus Award for his significant role in the fight against apartheid, his leadership in promoting change within the Church, his advocacy for the rights of HIV-positive individuals, and his steadfast support for gender equality.
In addition to these achievements, Archbishop Ndungane founded African Monitor in 2006, an independent Pan-African organization dedicated to monitoring development commitments and evaluating their impact on grassroots communities.
We are immensely proud of his recognition for his unwavering dedication and contributions to South Africa.
Exciting times ahead
With just five years left until 2030, we are gearing up for the Open SDGs Club Symposium this November—a pivotal opportunity to bring together stakeholders, share insights from the 2024 Voluntary National Review (VNR), and develop a collaborative roadmap. This event aligns with our ongoing partnerships with government, civil society, academia, and the private sector to implement South Africa’s SDG Coordination Mechanism and the National Development Plan (NDP).
The upcoming Open SDGs Symposium will serve as more than just a dialogue; it will be a call to action for rapid, transformative efforts to promote sustainable progress across all regions.
The National Framework for Sustainable Development (NFSD), approved by South Africa’s Cabinet in 2008, emphasizes the necessity of multi-stakeholder approaches to accelerate SDG implementation. Building on the successes of this year’s VNR and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR), African Monitor is committed to streamlining both local and national SDG actions, particularly at the municipal level, where service delivery and sustainable development intersect. By operationalizing the National SDG Coordination Mechanism, we aim to enhance sectoral coordination and boost citizen engagement in development planning, ensuring that our path to 2030 leads to a future characterized by social justice, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
As 2024 draws to a close, African Monitor reflects on a year rich with impactful engagements, from global forums to grassroots initiatives, all dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in South Africa and beyond. Through the Voluntary National Review (VNR) and Voluntary Local Review (VLR) processes, we’ve built strong partnerships across sectors, bringing diverse voices together and highlighting local perspectives.
This year, we championed Africa’s priorities at major events, including the BRICS Civil Forum in Moscow and the New Development Bank (NDB) Annual Meeting in Cape Town. We also joined strategic dialogues in Germany with partners from the SDG Initiative, a collaboration between South Africa’s Presidency and GIZ, and advocated for inclusive SDG progress at the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York.
We are especially proud of the honor awarded to our founder, Archbishop Ndungane, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to justice and equality.
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