West Africa sustainable development report, 2023: Accelerating SDGs in West Africa

Abstract

At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda timeline, global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains off-track, with only 15% of targets on course, particularly in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, have further hindered implementation. The West Africa Sustainable Development Report (2023), produced by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), evaluates progress across the 15 ECOWAS member states toward the SDGs and Agenda 2063. Focusing on five key SDGs aligned with the 2024 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)—SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace and Justice), and SDG 17 (Partnerships)—the report analyzes trends, challenges, and policy recommendations to accelerate progress. Using harmonized data from international and national sources, the report highlights persistent gaps in data availability and the difficulty of quantifying the impact of recent crises.