Sustainable Development Goals

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Over the next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities, and tackle climate change while ensuring no one is left behind.

The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new Goals are unique in that they call for action by all poor, rich, and middle-income countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address various social needs, including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities while tackling climate change and environmental protection. -https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

Develop Africa's Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals: Develop Africa is committed to helping fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2006, we have been steadily working to establish meaningful and sustainable development in Africa. Develop Africa was birthed out of the vision that human resource development is the key to improving nation-building capacity in Africa. Our strategic interventions are focused on achieving sustainability or change with a long-term focus. This is achieved when our beneficiaries are empowered to bring lasting change and care for themselves, their families, and their communities. For lasting change to happen, interventions must be targeted towards continuity and building capacity.

Through training, scholarship, investment, and partnerships, Develop Africa is helping to develop Africa's people by promoting transformational education, resource development, investment training, and strategic empowerment. We envision an African continent fully developed regarding its human and resource capacity, free from poverty, ignorance, and civil conflict, and where the poorest and most vulnerable people become "leaders" and effectively manage their national resources.

Quality Education

The 4th sustainable development goal is quality education because it is the foundation for improving people's lives and sustainable development. Develop Africa believes education is the key to unlocking the golden door of freedom for all in Africa. Education is the glue that holds our society together. It is the step up necessary to see above what is around you. Education provides guidance toward success as well as weapons against poverty. Education empowers women to break from oppressive gender roles and contribute more significantly to society. Education can mean the difference between a healthy, long life and an unfortunately short one.

"767 million people live below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day, and More than half of children that have not enrolled in school live in sub-Saharan Africa"-https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/

Since 2006, Develop Africa has worked to help change those statistics for children in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon, the Gambia, and Nigeria. One of the ways that Develop Africa aids in quality education is through book and school supply donations. Develop Africa has shipped school supplies to over 10,000 children, including pencils, paper, solar lights, solar radios, books, crayons, notebooks, and more.

Another way Develop Africa helps children receive a quality education is through scholarships/school tuition fees paid for over 150 students to date through generous child sponsors and donors. Thomas has been able to attend school for the past eight years, and she graduated high school this year thanks to the scholarship program through Develop Africa.

Develop Africa also provides computer training to children and young adults to help bridge the digital divide and give these students the skills necessary to succeed. More than 100 students have completed their basic computer training in the Creating Pathways Center, which was opened for young single mothers or pregnant who were unable to return to school because of their pregnancy. Develop Africa also works with multiple schools, including the all-girl FAWE school, to provide ongoing computer training for children and young adults.

Develop Africa is working toward reaching the SDG goals by 2030- "By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular, the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance"- https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/

We are working on opening doors to equal educational opportunities for children who live in poverty and giving girls an equal chance to get an education. We are also working to provide vocational training, computer training, and microfinance loans specifically to young women. We aim to give the children a complete education, vocational opportunities, and aid in starting or growing businesses. Our goal is to provide effective long-term investment that will help provide quality educational opportunities for more youths and young adults so that they can rise above poverty and become better decision-makers. The principal economic advantage of this education project is that it will produce people capable of making a more significant contribution to the national economy. These future leaders' incremental earnings represent the added social output generated by investment in their education. Read more about our educational program.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The 5th sustainable development goal is gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity.

Women in Northern Africa hold less than one in five paid jobs in the non-agricultural sector. The proportion of women in paid employment outside the agriculture sector has increased from 35 percent in 1990 to 41 percent in 2015 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/

Sustainable Development Goals:

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation.
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.

Boys traditionally receive preferential access to educational opportunities. According to UNICEF 2016 statistics, among youth 15-24 yrs in Sierra Leone, from 2009-2014, the literacy rate for males is 73% and that of girls is 56%. Early marriage hinders girls from pursuing an education and gaining independence. We are helping empower girls and young women by supporting the education and development of girls. Girls are encouraged to continue their education; financial support is provided to make this a reality. Targeted training ensures the girls have the life skills and mindset needed for success and continual progress. Vocational and business opportunities ensure progress toward self-sufficiency. Read more

Affordable & Clean Energy

The 7th Sustainable Development Goal ensures access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Statistically, less than 10 % of homes in Sierra Leone have electricity. Develop Africa is working to combat the lack of electricity by shipping safe, renewable, and environmentally-friendly devices, including solar lights, solar radios, rechargeable batteries, solar lights for the whole home, and solar water pumps not only in Sierra Leone but also in Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria, and the Gambia. Solar-powered technology is a reliable and less expensive solution to the lack of electricity. Using renewable energy will also positively impact global warming and climate change.

Over 250 solar lights have been distributed, and over 250 solar radios have been distributed along with rechargeable batteries to families in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Gambia in the past several years. Solar-powered technology effectively provides renewable energy and technology to kids and youths as they study. It will save the families hundreds of dollars in recurring expenses over 2-3 years. Also, we will be eliminating the potential for house fires. By providing ongoing and consistent power to tools/devices, the educational efforts of the kids and youths will be multiplied. They will additionally have access to additional learning resources.

Develop Africa is working to achieve the SDG goals by 2030-

- By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services

-By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

-https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/

Develop Africa will continue to provide solar-powered technology to students and families who do not have electricity, giving them access to affordable, reliable, renewable energy. Read more about our solar energy program.

Climate Action

The 13th Sustainable Development Goal is to combat climate change and its impacts urgently. Degradation and deforestation of the world's tropical forests are cumulatively responsible for about 10% of net global carbon emissions. In Sierra Leone, the severe and accelerating rate of deforestation is not only threatening biodiversity and ecosystem balance in the country but is also contributing to global climate change. In Freetown, the runoff water from the surrounding hills results in flooding and loss of property each year.

Develop Africa is working to help reverse deforestation by planting trees in the hills above Freetown and the peninsular area. Reforestation by planting one tree at a time will help reverse deforestation's effects. This project and your support will provide the ongoing funds needed to purchase seedlings to cover the cost of staffing and other tree-planting expenses.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals is to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries- https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/

Develop Africa has actively reversed deforestation by planting 100 seedlings in the fall of 2017 and another 100 in the spring of 2018 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. By restoring vegetation and the forest, we are helping to combat global warming. We are also helping to reduce runoff water from the hills. The trees will help to reduce landslides and rock slides that have resulted in the loss of life. Reforestation is essential for the community's overall health and quality of life.

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/