Rwanda, Zambia’s Presidents to unveil SDG sub-regional center for southern Africa: Official

Rwanda and Zambia are all set to launch the Sustainable Development Goals Sub-Regional Center for southern Africa this week. President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame will accompany his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu in making the task successful in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.

The information was revealed by the Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme at a media briefing in Kitwe, the third-largest city in terms of infrastructure development and second-largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia.

The launching ceremony will take place in the presence of over 200 government officials, international organizations, experts et al who will discuss and give their opinions on issues related to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Southern Africa. The launch of Lusaka SDGC/A Sub-Regional Center will also follow the signing of host country agreement in September last year in the city of New York between the government of Zambia and the SDG Centre for Africa.

“The SDG sub-regional centre is an international not-for-profit institution, which, once launched, will provide technical support, neutral advice and expertise to national governments, the private sector, civil society and academic institutions in order to accelerate the implementation of the SDG agenda,” the Minister of National Development Planning, Alexander Chiteme revealed in a release.

Once the SDG Sub-Regional Center will fulfil multiple tasks such as providing technical support, neutral advice and expertise to national governments, private sector, civil society and academic institutions with an aim to boost the implementation of the SDG agenda. According to Chiteme, the sub-regional center will help the southern African nations to commence unlocking bottlenecks that obstruct smooth implementation of the SDGs and assist in achieving the goals.

“As part of delegates, all the ministers charged with the coordination of SDGs implementation predominately ministers responsible for national development within the region, have been invited to attend this important event,” Chiteme added.

The launch will take place under the chairmanship of President Paul Kagame. Set by the UN General Assembly, the SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals to be achieved by 2030. The goals are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry-innovation and infrastructure, reducing inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace-justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals.

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