As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year, Secretary-General António Guterres has sounded a dire warning: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are “alarmingly off-track”. Speaking at the 2025 Economic and Social Council Operational Activities for Development Segment in New York, Guterres described the global situation as a “development emergency” and for African nations, the message carries particular urgency.

The SDGs 17 global goals adopted in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030 are slipping further from reach. With less than five years to go, progress on critical indicators such as poverty reduction, hunger, healthcare, education, and infrastructure is stalling or reversing. For Africa, which hosts 33 of the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs), this warning is more than a headline it’s a call to action.

Africa’s Fragile Gains at Risk

Guterres stressed that many hard-won development gains are being derailed by shrinking resources and declining international aid. According to his 2025 report, financial contributions to the UN development system dropped by $9 billion in 2023 a 16% reduction from the previous year. He further revealed that core contributions to development agencies have plunged to just 16.5%, falling short of the 30% benchmark set in the Funding Compact.

For African countries, already grappling with debt burdens, climate shocks and political instability, this funding decline could prove disastrous. The continent depends heavily on multilateral support to bolster public services, strengthen institutions, and drive economic transformation. “A development emergency is, at its root, a human emergency,” said Guterres. “The lives and futures of millions of people hang in the balance.”

Shrinking Aid, Growing Needs

The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that the continent needs over $200 billion annually to meet its SDG targets especially in sectors such as health, energy, and education. Yet, official development assistance (ODA) is not only stagnating but becoming increasingly unpredictable. Donors are “pulling the plug on aid commitments and delivery at historic speed and scale”, Guterres lamented.

This trend is troubling in light of global crises from climate change to inflation and geopolitical tensions which disproportionately affect African nations. The 2024 UN Economic Report on Africa underscored the widening financing gap, urging international stakeholders to honour aid commitments and prioritise concessional lending and debt relief. Without bold, coordinated efforts, Africa’s development trajectory could be thrown off course.

Reforms Offer Hope But Action Is Needed

Despite the grim outlook, the Secretary-General’s remarks were not devoid of hope. He highlighted the progress made in reforming the UN development system to become more responsive, efficient and country-driven. For instance, 98% of host governments report that UN activities now align closely with national development priorities a significant improvement since the reform process began.

Guterres praised the role of resident coordinators the senior UN officials responsible for country-level coordination  in mobilising support, shaping policy, and promoting accountability. In Africa, this approach has shown promise in aligning development initiatives with local realities, though gaps remain in translating frameworks into operational success.

Notably, the UN80 initiative part of the anniversary observances seeks to build on these reforms. The initiative includes a strategic review of UN mandates and a push to reallocate more funds to programme delivery rather than administrative costs. “UN80 is not about responding to global cuts. It’s about responding to global needs,” said Guterres. “The needs of people around the world.”

What Next for Africa?

For African governments and civil society actors, this moment presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Greater political will is required to harness domestic resources, attract sustainable investments, and reform governance systems. But without a renewed global commitment to multilateralism, Africa cannot go it alone.

Guterres pointed to the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville as a critical milestone. African leaders and their allies must use this forum to press for debt restructuring, equitable trade rules, and innovative financing mechanisms, including climate-linked bonds and blended finance models.

In the words of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who has championed SDG localisation efforts across Africa, “We cannot leave anyone behind if we are not even moving forward.”

Final Thoughts

The Secretary-General’s speech is a clarion call to rescue the global development agenda and Africa is at its epicentre. The stakes are existential: either the international community acts with urgency, or the world’s most vulnerable regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, will suffer the consequences of missed goals and broken promises.

For the continent’s 1.5 billion people, the future depends on what happens next.

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