Illicit Financial Flows Undermining Africa’s Potential To Achieve SDGs, UN Report Says

Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) are seriously undermining Africa’s potential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are growing concerns that IFFs represent a major drain on capital and revenues in Africa, undermining productive capacity and Africa’s prospects for achieving the SDGs. For instance, from 2000 to 2015, the total illicit capital flight from Africa […]

Ensure Public Procurement Does No Harm To People, Planet, UN Report Urges Govts

As governments respond with unprecedented spending to combat the coronavirus pandemic, a new report released by the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), urges them to ensure public procurement does no harm to people and the planet. The report looks at the role of government as a vehicle to drive the adoption of voluntary […]

Anambra legislators warn government contractors against deviating from specifications

The Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), Economic Planning and  Donor Agencies wants contractors executing public projects in the state to adhere strictly to government specifications. According to the committee, this is to realize the objectives and blueprint of Governor Willie Obiano-led administration towards project execution, especially in the education […]

COVID-19 Crisis Pushing Critical Economic, Social, Environmental Development Beyond Reach- UNCTAD

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched the 2020 edition of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pulse, warning that the COVID-19 crisis is pushing critical economic, social and environmental development targets beyond reach. The organisation’s online annual update tracking progress on a range of indicators of the UN’s SDGs shows that poverty, […]

COVID-19 Pandemic Represents Greatest Threat To Humanity- IPU 

The COVID-19 pandemic represents the greatest threat to humanity since World War II, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) says.  Despite the far-reaching impacts of this crisis, many governments have struggled for access for science-based recommendations to support an effective response, and governance challenges have also led to uncoordinated activities in a number of countries.  Now, more […]

Dealing with the Productive Collaboration Challenge in Africa

The government played a very key role in attracting foreign investments. We built the infrastructures and provided well-planned industrial estates, equity participation in industries, fiscal incentives and export promotion. Most importantly, we established good labour relations and sound macroeconomic policies-the fundamental that enable private enterprises to operate successfully- Lee Kuen Yew, Former Prime Minister of […]

Citizen Groups Seek New Business, Trade Models To Tackle Rising Inequality, Poverty

Rising inequality, entrenched poverty and a deepening ecological crisis have led the global community to seek new models of business and trade that drive fair and sustainable economies. The new International Fair Trade Charter that has emerged enshrines the common vision and fundamental values of the Fair Trade movement to put the world on the […]

Group Hammers Governments, Harps On Right Of Children To Quality Education

Human Rights Watch, a global human rights group, wants governments to end all discrimination in children’s access to education and urgently strengthen policies and funding to ensure all children are able to benefit from their right to quality education. Governments, according to the rights group, have 10 years left to meet the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development […]

Experts Say International Standards Can Help Two Billion People Get Access To Mainstream Financial System

With nearly two billion people in seven countries including Nigeria, lacking access to the mainstream financial system of the world, experts have explained how international standards can help to establish transparency, rebuild trust and solve the identity crisis in the digital age. In this day and age, it is obviously catastrophic for those who not […]

International Standards Are Essential For Mobilising Finance Globally, Says Young, ISO’s Technical Panel Chair on Sustainable Finance

Chairman of the new International Standard Organisation Technical Committee (ISO/TC 322) on Sustainable Finance, Peter J. Young, is putting up a compelling case for why international standards are essential for mobilizing finance globally to address environmental and social imperatives as well as ensure future prosperity. In an interview with ISOfocus, Young argues that tackling climate change, poverty and […]