Government courts private sector on SDGs
With only 5 000 days to the deadline of the United Nations Agenda 2030 under which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fall, government has called for partnership from the private sector to achieve the goals.
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Jean Kalilani on Friday said Malawi achieved only four of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) because the private sector had been sidelined.
She was speaking at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe where she presided over the official opening of a half day workshop on the role of the private sector in SDGs organised by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC).
Said Kalilani: “Let me call upon the private sector to work with government, civil society organisations [CSOs] and development partners to achieve the SDGs at all levels, especially at community level.
“Countries which are developing today have the support of the private sector which provides meaningful corporate social responsibility, innovative and effective solutions and contributes towards attainment of government’s development agenda.”
According to the minister, the call for the private sector involvement was in alignment with the 2030 UN Agenda which calls for inclusiveness.
In his remarks, AICC chief executive officer Felix Lombe said the pressure on resources is growing globally due to climate change and population growth, among other factors.
He, therefore, said it is important to invest in the success of the SDGs. n
