Giving Compass' Take:

• Mbali Kgame reports the progress that South Africa has made toward achieving sustainable development goals and the work that remains to be done. 

• How can funders effectively move the needle on the SDGs in South Africa? What existing talent and resources can be leveraged to make SDG progress?

• Learn about evaluating SDG progress. 

South Africa is among the many nations that have adopted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — also known as the Global Goals — which work to end extreme poverty by 2030.

In total, there are 17 different goals that work together to create a better world. Between them, these goals have the power to end poverty, fight inequality, and stop climate change. The goals range from ending hunger, to promoting peace and justice, to ensuring access to adequate water and sanitation.

In taking on the challenge and working towards achieving these goals, South Africa launched the National Development Plan in 2012 — to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.

The plan aims to achieve this through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of its citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capabilities of state, and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society.

According to the South Africa poverty trend report, over half of the South African population is living in poverty. While the percentage fell from 2006 to 2011, from 67% to 53%, it increased again to 55% in 2015.

And the most vulnerable to poverty, according to Statistics South Africa, are children under 17, women, people of color, and people living in rural areas.

The latest figures from the General Household Survey, released by Stats SA, show that more than 7.4 million people were experiencing hunger in 2016 — some 13% of the country’s population.

A high cost of living combined with low-income rates means that about seven in every 10 households rely on public health facilities.

Despite the fact the public system serves the majority of the country’s population, these institutions are under-funded.

Read the full article about South Africa by Mbali Kgame at Global Citizen.