Statement on the study "Covid-19 and Sustainable Development in Africa: Will anyone be left behind?"

 On the sidelines of its participation in the high-level political forum, Maat issues a new research paper

Aqeel: Civil society and the private sector must be involved to address the lack of financing for sustainable development in Africa

Pasha: Confronting the repercussions of Covid 19 should not discourage African countries from confronting terrorism that impedes development

Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights has released a research paper entitled “Covid 19 and sustainable development in Africa: Will anyone be left behind?”, On the sidelines of its participation in the high-level political forum of the United Nations held from 6 to 17 July 2020.

The research paper dealt with the repercussions of the "Covid 19" pandemic on African countries, and their capabilities to complete work in accordance with the goals of sustainable development, especially economic, social and environmental. The paper focused on highlighting the international and regional statistics and prospects for Africa after Covid 19.

The research paper referred to the most important challenges that may hinder the implementation of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations and 2063 of the African Union, which it highlighted in the internal financing problems of African countries and the fear of stopping external financing to help these countries implement their development agendas, in parallel with the specter of increasing debt. As well as poor information infrastructure, in addition to facing Covid 19 in parallel with other disasters afflicting the continent. Also, the expectation that states will not be bound by climate-related agreements. And all this with the increase in waves of terrorism in light of Covid 19.

Ayman Aqeel stated; President of Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights ‌ that African countries need to work in parallel between responding quickly to stop the impact of the pandemic, and achieving sustainable development goals in a flexible manner. ‌ “Aqeel” indicated the need to involve the private sector and activate the social responsibility of private sector companies, in addition to increasing partnership with civil society to compensate for the problems of financing development agendas.

While Abdul Rahman Pasha, the research team official at the Foundation's African Affairs and Sustainable Development Unit, warned that the preoccupation of African countries with facing the repercussions of Covid 19 should not discourage them from confronting terrorism, and he recommended that they be more responsive and in anticipation of the increasing capabilities of these groups, especially as they are also affected. Economically, what will drive it to more unexpected activity.

It is worth noting that this research study comes within the interest of the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights in Africa, as it is a member of the General Assembly in the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, as well as the North African region coordinator in the group of major NGOs in Africa affiliated to the high-level political forum of the nations United.

A research paper on the impact of COVID-19 on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals