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Executive summary
The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 provides an overview of current progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets in the Asia-Pacific region. The report shines the spotlight on success stories and trends and the unique challenges faced in the different parts of the region. It draws out priorities and opportunities for enhancing data availability on SDG indicators especially for the most vulnerable population groups which could help to shape more equitable and inclusive development pathways.
National trends and transformative actions
The success stories of individual countries demonstrate strategies to strengthen both data systems and policies to improve biodiversity and nature conservation public digital infrastructure social protection and access to education. Examples in this chapter from around the region illustrate these strengths. The integrated approach to climate change adaptation mitigation and marine and coastal biodiversity conservation in Maldives serves as a holistic model for climate action in SIDS. The establishment of national environmental portals in 14 Pacific SIDS highlights the value of enhancing regional collaboration and partnerships underpinning a much broader sustainable development effort.
Acknowledgments
The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2023 was prepared by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the overall guidance of Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP and Lin Yang Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP with support from the Editorial Board of ESCAP. Rachael Joanne Beaven Director of the Statistics Division provides overall leadership in preparation of this flagship publication.
Foreword
Information and communication technologies (ICT) have played – and still play – a crucial role in the fast-paced transformation of the African continent. The sector with the information technology (IT) and business process management (BPM) companies it comprises accounts for 6%–10% of service exports in most African economies.
Executive summary
The IT and BPM industries have been crucial in boosting the economic growth of developing countries. The ICT service exports of most African economies ranged from 4%–10% of total service exports in 2021 indicating that ICT plays a major role in these nations. Kenya Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal depend even more on tech: ICT exports accounted for an average of 15% of their total service exports in 2021.
About the paper
This report analyses the tech sectors of 11 African countries and examines factors such as information and communication technology infrastructure the regulatory environment and the potential impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Regional progress
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific will take an extraordinary collective effort. On its current trajectory the region will not meet any of the 17 goals by 2030. Stepping up climate action stands out as an immediate priority across the region as does working to reduce the inequalities that impact women and girls populations in rural areas and the urban poor. Small island developing States face the steepest climb as the progress they had made was lost to the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and they continue to lag behind the rest of the region after two years of recovery.
A story of growth
Africa was the fastest-growing mobile economy in the world in 2021 with more than 100 mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in several countries.
Comprehensive country analyses
This second edition of the report examines IT/BPM sectors in Côte d’Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal South Africa Uganda United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. It considers enabling factors such as ICT infrastructure government incentives and policies as well as regulatory and compliance-related information.
African Market Trends in Technology Services: 11 Country Profiles
This report analyses the tech sectors of 11 African countries and examines factors such as information and communication technology infrastructure the regulatory environment and the potential impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Key findings include that financial services healthcare and agriculture offer the most opportunities for tech firms while large English-speaking populations and favourable time zones provide export opportunities. This publication shares insights that will guide companies interested in offering information technology and business process outsourcing services in Africa. The report is also valuable for tech hubs investors and government organizations looking to navigate the sector across Africa.
Acknowledgements
A team led by Martin Labbé (ITC) prepared this report under the supervision and guidance of Robert Skidmore (ITC).
Foreword
In 2024 we are at a critical juncture in our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the global economy recovers from the pandemic resilience is required to confront ongoing crises and increasingly severe natural disasters and the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 shines a spotlight on the challenges we must overcome to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024
The Asia and the-Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 is one of the annual flagship publications of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It provides an overview of SDG Progress in the region which serves as a foundation for many other activities conducted by ESCAP and our partners. This year the report shines the spotlight on success stories and trends and the unique challenges faced in the different parts of the region. It draws out the priorities and opportunities for enhancing data availability on SDG indicators especially for the most vulnerable population groups which could help shape more equitable and inclusive development pathways strategies.
Role of the African Continental Free Trade Area in the tech sector
The digital sector plays a pivotal role in driving economic prosperity. In its initial stages the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) primarily focuses on facilitating the movement of goods services and associated financial transactions. This is achieved through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) which enables instantaneous local currency transactions within Africa eliminating the need for conversion into hard currencies.
SDG data availability
On average 52 per cent of indicators have two or more data points across the Asia-Pacific region and more than a third of the indicators have no data whatsoever. Despite a positive trajectory for data availability over time the pace of progress has slowed. Gender equality (Goal 5) and peace justice and strong institutions (Goal 16) continued to be the goals with the least available data while good health and wellbeing (Goal 3) affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and life on land (Goal 15) registered higher data availability with coverage reaching more than 70 per cent of SDG indicators. Countries in the region have shown commitment to evidencebased SDG implementation through the voluntary national review process and many data initiatives showcased in this chapter. Improved national and global coordination for data sharing and use remains a priority to achieve the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific.