By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - Africa Monitor, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), has launched the ‘Citizens Report’, a citizen driven initiative to monitor the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the continent.
The report seeks to present findings of the citizens carried out by the youth as well as create awareness about the SDGs to equip people to better demand delivery of services from their governments.
It is also to hold governments accountable; to improve development results and to enhance policy responses to the needs of the most vulnerable communities.
Ms Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Monitor, launched the report during the second Africa Youth Summit held in Accra.
The event was held under the theme: "Hear Our Voices: Demand Driven Data for SDGs- the Case of the Citizens Report."
The Africa Youth Summit supported by the UNDP and some other development partners is a continental annual gathering of African youth to mobilise and inspire active participation of the youth in the implementation of the SDGs in Africa.
It is also aimed at engaging Africa youth to discuss sustainable development and consider the demography of the continent in attaining the SDGs.
She said the report would collect data generated by citizens to monitor the implementation of SDGs, focusing on eradicating extreme poverty in a generation, quality education, skills and employment; and reduce inequality in all its forms with a special focus on gender, income and spatial inequalities.
Ms Mniki-Mangaliso said through the initiative, African youth would be able to monitor the implementation of sustainable development in Africa using the data and leverage on new technology where they collect the data.
She said the 2030 agenda for sustainable development promotes this core notion of voice, clearly stating that development is not possible without the empowerment and full engagement of citizens.
She said Africa Monitor has selected youth champions in seven African countries to carry out the project and ensure that they engage the appropriate officials for effective implementation processes.
She urged all to visit www.africamonitor.org to access and acquaint themselves with the report to be implemented in their respective countries.
Ms Sylvia Sefakor Senu, the UNDP Economic Analyst, said this is the time for young people to engage at the local level in their various countries to effect the change they desire.
"As young people you are not limited at all so go all out and make your voices heard to compel duty bearers to act," she said.
Ms Senu said at UNDP they have been talking about the institutionalisation of data for long so that people would no longer rely on the five year surveys and censuses but rather a timely data to work with when the need arise.
She urged the youth to gather systematic data anywhere they find themselves to be able to use it to engage officials.
Mr Victor Owusu Boateng, a Representative from Ghana Statistical Services, SDGs Unit, called on the youth to do more on administrative data gathering because that was where the chunk of the information could be found.
He said there is the need for the youth to fill the data gaps to strengthen the data ecosystem of the continent.
GNA
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