New York:South Africa has urged for decisive actions and increased development financing to transform the Pact for the Future into substantial opportunities for Africa's youth, ensuring meaningful progress by its 2028 review.
According to South African Government News Agency, Ronald Lamola, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, emphasized that while Africa's youthful population offers tremendous potential for the continent and the global community, the ambitions of the Pact cannot be realized without sufficient development financing. Lamola made these comments at a high-level side event focused on the Pact's implementation in Africa, held during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Pact for the Future, established by UN Member States in 2024, aims to advance sustainable development, international peace and security, and other global priorities. Lamola highlighted that youth empowerment and development financing are critical for Africa, which has the world's youngest population, with a median age of 19. He stated that the commitments in the Pact must lead to tangible improvements for young Africans, through education, skills development, and meaningful participation in society.
He further noted the necessity of addressing Africa's development financing needs, including closing an annual financing gap of 1.3 trillion US dollars to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Lamola also called for reforms in the global financial architecture, emphasizing debt transparency, accountability, and international tax cooperation as vital components.
As the continent looks towards the 2028 review, Lamola stressed the importance of shifting from commitments to measurable progress, with collaboration among countries and institutions to realize the Pact's goals. He reaffirmed the Southern African Development Community's dedication to partnering with regional and international bodies to prioritize Africa's development and empower its young population.