University of Cape Town

Declines in poverty worldwide have slowed, and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the first rise in extreme poverty in a generation. In sub-Saharan Africa, the dire economic situation could push up to 40 million people into extreme poverty.

Hunger is once more on the rise globally after having been kept in check for many years.

Despite the importance of women in the global response to COVID-19, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions, subjected to violence and disadvantaged by discriminatory laws ...

Education is vital as a catalyst for positive change.

Although there has been some progress towards Goal 6 worldwide, two billion people still lack access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack safely managed sanitation services.

The availability of affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy stands central to securing a viable future for humanity.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the greatest economic crisis in decades, with the manufacturing and transport industries among the sectors most impacted by the global restriction of movement of people and goods.

​ Unemployment and underemployment are persistent issues in sub-Saharan Africa, where informal employment represents 85% of total employment. ​

Inequality stunts macroeconomic growth and sustains high levels of poverty yet there is a troubling paucity of data on the topic across the African continent.

Unsustainable production and consumption is driving climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution – and it shows no sign of abating.