The United Nations released “The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024” which paints a bleak picture of how far the planet is in achieving vision 2030. Among its statistics is that only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one third has stalled or even regressed.
The year 2023 was the warmest on record. Global temperatures approached the Paris Agreement’s lower limit of 1.5°C for the first time. Global greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations set new records in 2022, with no signs of decreasing worldwide cooperation to maximize gains beginning today. The 2024 progress report finds that the world is significantly off track in meeting the 2030 Agenda.
Despite the worrisome or bleak statistics, Kenya has been working hard to achieve the country’s goals. Kenya has made tremendous progress towards reaching its Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Kenya’s long-term development vision, Vision 2030, aims to transform the country into a newly industrializing, middle-income nation by 2030, providing a good quality of life to all residents in a clean and secure environment.
The implementation of Vision 2030 is closely aligned with the SDGs, and progress is monitored through five-year Medium-Term Plans (MTPs). The third MTP (2018-2022) emphasized accelerated and inclusive economic growth, social transformation, and sustainable development, incorporating SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 into its framework. The Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV), which will guide the final phase of the Kenya Vision 2030, runs from 2023-2027, and is aimed at harmonizing the implementation of various programmes and projects meant to increase money in wananchi’s pockets and improve standards of living.
Kenya has adopted a comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainable development, with initiatives covering the social, economic, political, and environmental components. This method has resulted in advancements in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, and governance. The country has achieved significant progress in decreasing poverty and supporting economic growth, as indicated by a lower poverty rate and expected GDP growth. Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) in current prices is expected to increase by 41.4 billion US dollars between 2024 and 2029 (+39.81 percent). After the fifth straight year of growth, GDP is expected to reach 145.38 billion US dollars, marking a new high in 2029.
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The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Kenya supports the realization of SDGs through partnerships and integrated programming, ensuring that the principle of “leaving no one behind” is central to development efforts. This framework has been instrumental in aligning national priorities with global development goals and expanding public-private partnerships.
Kenya’s progress towards achieving Vision 2030 and the SDGs demonstrates the country’s commitment to sustainable development, although challenges remain. Continuous efforts and collaboration with international partners are essential to achieving the ambitious targets set for 2030. Efforts and consistency will enable the country to stay on course towards the realization of Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
