International aid is not keeping up with the depth of the crises and the breadth of the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on the African continent. Worse, it is decreasing. African civil society and the private sector must make a decisive contribution to the collective development effort, particularly in responding to the humanitarian and climate emergencies that threaten the continent's development.
The countdown has begun. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres keeps repeating it: Given the current “funding abyss” to achieve the SDGs by 2030, Africa has little chance of reaching targets set by the Agenda 2030. Virtually all of the continent's countries are behind schedule. Still lacking resources of its own, Africa is facing worsening humanitarian needs caused by persistent conflicts, the COVID-19 crisis, and climate-related disasters.
More than 300 million Africans are at risk of experiencing severe food insecurity. In the Horn of Africa, which is experiencing a historic drought, around 22 million people are exposed to acute food insecurity.
About the authors
Fanilo Rakotovao
Fanilo Rakotovao is the impact social director at AXIAN Group. Originally with a background in internet marketing and strategic management, Rakotovao found her calling and redirected her focus toward sustainable development, specifically the societal impacts of private-sector activities. She has over 20 years of experience in the private sector, including over 14 years in new technologies, with the rest directly addressing causes such as child malnutrition, drinking water supply, and sanitation.
Isabelle Salabert
Isabelle Salabert is the executive director at AXIAN Foundation. Salabert has a doctorate in molecular physics and worked in knowledge management for 10 years before moving to Madagascar. She led a department at TELMA, initiated the TELMA Foundation, and now directs the AXIAN Foundation. Committed to health care, education, and sustainable development, she fosters partnerships and presides over the Private Sector Humanitarian Platform.
Amélie Yan-Gouiffes
Amélie Yan-Gouiffes is a senior adviser in crisis management, resilience, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. She helps governments, individuals, and companies build sustainable legacies. With 26 years in crisis response across multiple continents, she prioritizes people, the planet, and prosperity by forging innovative partnerships. Recently, she worked in Madagascar, aligning the private sector with crisis management. A member of ISSP and Rotary Madagascar, Yan-Gouiffes is also a certified coach, speaker, podcaster, and author.
