Malawi, alongside other UN members, will not be able to achieve any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, a decade after adopting the goals.
This is according to the 2025 Sustainable Development Report published on Tuesday ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development scheduled for June 30 to July 3 2025 in Seville, Spain.
According to an analysis of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiate for the United Nations (UN), of the 17 SDGs Malawi adopted in 2015, none is on track.
Malawi is also facing major challenges in fighting poverty (SDG1) with progress showing a declining trend while challenges remain on achieving good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13) as progress has moderately improved.
Progress on SDG2 (zero hunger), SDG4 (quality education), SDG7 (affordable clean energy), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG15 (life on land), SDG16 (peace, justice and string institutions) and SDG17 (partnerships for the goals), stagnated.
Consequently, Malawi has been ranked 139 out of 167 economies with an SDG index score of 57.1, above regional average score of 53.9 percent.
In a written response yesterday, National Planning Commission (NPC) acting director general Joseph Nagoli said while Malawi is struggling to meet SDG targets, there has been some progress.
“It is true many countries, including Malawi, are struggling to meet SDGs,” he said.
However, Nagoli said by end of 2024, “the country has made good progress” on SDGs three, four, six, seven and 14; moderate progress on five, nine, 13 and 17 with slow progress in one, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16.
The purpose of the SDGs, which have a deadline of 2030, is to provide a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
The country began domesticating the SDGs through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III (2017/22) and later in the Malawi 2063, currently being implemented under the First 10-year Implementation Plan (MIP-1).
Speaking separately, Economics Association of Malawi president Bertha Bangara-Chikadza observed that when SDGs are off-track, the MIP-1 dashboard, which continues to track progress while showing the reality on the ground, also reveals the reality of the country’s development.
“Therefore, there are serious spillovers between failing to attain SDGs and failing to attain MIP-1 and also MW2063; because this also entails missing on the trajectory that was to transform us by 2030,” she said.
On his part, development economist Dalitso Kabambe observed that failing to meet the SDGs is more than a mistake.
He said: “It condemns [Malawians] to hunger, corruption and broken systems. If we continue on this path, it’s like telling every poor Malawian: ‘You don’t matter’.
“We must stop pretending that everything is fine with fancy words and promises from donors.”
