Africa-Press – Angola. Angola is in position 156 in terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda by the United Nations (UN), in 2015, in a universe of 193 member countries of this international institution.
The current Angolan position on the 2030 Agenda, like that of other nations, is still far from achieving the 17 SDGs established by the UN and the 10 universal principles launched in 2000 by the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, according to the director of the Global Compact of this Organization in Angola, Eliana dos Santos.
Given this scenario, the person responsible considers that there is still a lot of work to be done in Angola, essentially pointing out the need for the private business class to increasingly reinforce the mechanisms for action and practical application of matters related to the environment, human rights and anti-corruption. , in Angolan reality.
Eliana dos Santos revealed that, to date, only 22 Angolan companies have joined the UN Global Compact, which aims to align companies’ business strategies with the ten principles related to matters of human rights, environment, practices labor and anti-corruption, expecting that the number of companies will increase to 25 by the end of this year.
For this reason, he said, the UN system in Angola and its partners promoted last Friday, in Luanda, a meeting that brought together the Angolan business class, with the aim of debating the role of the private sector in achieving the goals set out in the agenda 2030 of the United Nations.
For the director of the United Nations Global Compact platform in Angola, it is important that businesspeople look at the issue of sustainability as an opportunity to diversify their businesses, taking actions that ensure the future of nations.
In turn, the resident coordinator of the UN system in Angola, Zahira Virani, recognized that all countries in the world are “well behind in achieving the SDG targets”, at a time when there are only seven years left until 2030, the period established to achieve the Objectives.
Regarding the Angolan reality, he added that, so far, the country has achieved around 25% of the SDGs, a fact that forces Angola to redouble its efforts and accelerate its actions to achieve the recommended goals.
On the other hand, Zahira Virani calls on companies that have joined or intend to be part of the UN Global Compact to put the ten principles into practice and be committed to promoting sustainable development that guarantees the well-being of all populations.
The United Nations Global Compact provides a platform for companies to align their strategies and operations with the ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, developing actions that contribute to facing society’s challenges.
Launched in 2000 by Kofi Annan, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world that aims to align company strategies with the ten universal principles and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Encouraging dialogue between companies, governments, civil society and other components, as well as the search for the development of a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable global market are also among the objectives of this initiative.
Recently, in Angola, Banco de Negócios Internacional (BNI) became the newest member of the United Nations Global Compact, joining the more than 16 thousand companies from 160 countries that have joined this initiative.
According to BNI management, the bank’s adherence to the UN initiative is of crucial importance, as it constitutes a business ethical reference that allows the private sector to reinforce essential human values, in close coordination with the SDGs, creating a framework collective for all humanity.
The bank also adds that this is a particularly important moment, because innovation and respect for the environment and communities are part of its priority pillars in the present and in the near future, always taking into account the achievement of sustainable development.
In the face of geopolitical uncertainties and other global instabilities, the United Nations Global Compact ensures the existence of a safer and more sustainable world.
Meanwhile, the 2030 Agenda is a commitment made by 193 countries, including Angola, which made up the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development, held in September 2015, in New York (USA), with a view to achieving a world better for all people and nations, by 2030.
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