Achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in Africa: A Critical Review of the Sustainability of Western Approaches

Abstract

This Chapter examines the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from an African perspective. Focusing on how the strategies of governments and policy makers, as well as the Corporate Responsibility (CR) of business can contribute to meet the SDGs 2030, it traces the development of western concepts of Sustainability, CR, and Corporate Social Responsibility to investigate their suitability, relevance, and impact in an African-specific context. This qualitative review, which is based exclusively on secondary data, establishes the rationale for its ultimate contribution: The recommendation to consider a new African concept of CR emanating from the practices followed in the Ubuntu approach. The authors reason that to most optimally meet the SDGs 2030 the Ubuntu philosophy facilitates a suitable, practical, and applicable response to the particular context of the African environment and culture. Triggered by the serious developmental challenges faced by the African continent, including poverty, education, health, industrialisation, and environmental protection, the Chapter focuses on how to achieve the SDGs 2030 in Africa. The applicability of western sustainability and CR concepts are critically examined and five conclusions, as well as an outlook are presented, advocating why Sustainability and CR concepts could become even more important in future African business.