Centre for Human rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has expressed its support for the call by the American billionaire and philanthropist, Mr Bill Gates, on rich governments to increase aid assistance to Africa and for debt forgiveness for overburdened countries to accelerate progress in the SDGs.

The call is contained in a statement signed on behalf of the centre by its Executive Director, Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi.

The statement noted that the need to rescue African states was urgent as the combination of post-COVID-19 economic crisis, climate change and the lack of accountability had driven unprecedented inflation levels, poverty and inequality hauling more households and families into poverty and worsening inequality globally while threatening the progress in the SDGs.

“According to the latest progress report on the journey to the SDG targets, only 17 per cent of the 169 targets are on track to be reached by 2030, with one of the most problematic goals being SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth i.e., promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

“At the current pace, the SDG overall performance may turn out to be a global failure creating far worse pressure on democracy and global peace,” the statement noted.