Sustainable Development Report on Africa: Sustainable Consumption and Production for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction

This third issue of the Sustainable Development Report on Africa (SDRA) is a joint report of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United National Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Programme (UNIDO) and the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARSCP). This issue of SDRA is produced under the theme Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa. The SCP principles that underlie the sustainable development goals and commitments on the thematic cluster of issues addressed in the report influenced the choice of theme. The report documents progress made by African countries in the implementation of sustainable development commitments on the thematic cluster of issues comprising transport, chemicals, waste management, mining and sustainable consumption and production (SCP), including a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP. It also highlights implementation challenges and constraints confronting African countries, and identifies policy measures and actions needed to accelerate implementation. The cluster of issues addressed in the report will be considered during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Sessions of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), (CSD-18 and 19) in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Implementation progress was assessed taking into account the main commitments and goals contained in Agenda 21 (A21), the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (PFIA21), and JPOI. The assessment provided in the report is in keeping with the overall goal of SDRA production, which is to serve as an important medium for monitoring and assessing sustainable development in Africa. The report is targeted at all relevant stakeholders, including member States, regional and subregional organizations, civil society, the private sector and development partners. The intent is to advance the actions necessary to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development in Africa. The report is also intended to serve as a reference document for CSD-18 deliberations.