African Local Governments and Cities in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

In this chapter the author presents a synopsis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which also commits to support the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063. (The heads of state and governments of the African Union (AU) adopted Agenda 2063 in January 2015 as both a vision and action plan to build a prosperous and united Africa based on shared values and a common destiny. The seven Aspirations of Africa expressed in Agenda 2063 are (i) a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development; (ii) an integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance; (iii) an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law; (iv) a peaceful and secure Africa; (v) an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics; (vi) an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children; and (vii) Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner.) He argues that local governments and cities in Africa continue to play a critical role in implementing the 2030 Agenda to achieve the SDGs not only because SDG 11 puts emphasis on cities and local governments but mainly because all SDGs have to be achieved in and by local communities in local governments and cities. The focal point of the chapter is on local government and city polycentric governance and transformational leadership. The gist of the chapter is that SDGs will be difficult to achieve if local governments and cities do not succeed in galvanizing transformational leadership and people into coherent and integrated polycentric governance to create a collective impact through resilience, creativity and innovation, effective delivery of services, future-oriented governance, partnerships, collaboration, and all the values and principles enshrined in the 2030 Agenda including equity, transparency, accountability, inclusion, integration, and leaving no one behind in sustainable development.