Malawi’s President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, has urged the international community to adopt a new approach to realizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.
Speaking during an interactive dialogue and plenary session at the Summit of the Future, President Chakwera expressed concern that most nations, including Malawi, are currently off-track in meeting the 17 UN-sanctioned SDGs.
The Malawian leader openly discouraged the continuation of punitive lending terms by global financial institutions and the weak mechanism for enforcing commitments on peace and security. He strongly advocated for the incorporation of peace and security assessments into the lending criteria of these institutions to curb the appetite of those perpetuating conflicts, which affect global trade, investment, and general development.
President Chakwera emphasized the need to prioritize remedial climate financing towards clean energy projects and digital infrastructure to accelerate meaningful development within communities. He also called for an equitable approach that allows Malawi and other UN member states to access resources necessary to achieve the SDGs on time.
The Malawian president’s remarks underscore the urgent need for a more collaborative and inclusive approach to sustainable development, as the world races against the clock to meet the ambitious 2030 targets.
By Sunday, 22nd September, it had been four days since the Malawi leader arrived in New York attending the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79). Since his arrival, President Chakwera has, on daily basis, attended several sideline engagements ahead of the main show where heads of states and governments are anticipated to deliver their addresses.
