UnitedNations

A/78/234-S/2023/553

GeneralAssemblyDistr.:General

26July2023

SecurityCouncil

Original:English

GeneralAssembly

Seventy-eighthsession

Item67(b)oftheprovisionalagenda*

NewPartnershipforAfrica’sDevelopment:progressinimplementationandinternationalsupport:causesof

conflictandthepromotionofdurablepeaceand

sustainabledevelopmentinAfrica

SecurityCouncil

Seventy-eighthyear

PromotionofdurablepeaceandsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica

ReportoftheSecretary-General

Summary

ThepresentreportissubmittedpursuanttoGeneralAssemblyresolution

77/271,

inwhichtheAssemblyrequestedtheSecretary-GeneraltoreportonpersistentandemergingchallengestothepromotionofdurablepeaceandsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica,includingtherootcausesofconflictandconditionstopromotesustainabledevelopment,aswellasontheapproachandsupportoftheUnitedNationssystem.

Theyear2023isalandmarkmoment,markingthemidwaypointofthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment,aswellastheendpointofthefirst10-yearimplementationplanoftheAfricanUnionAgenda2063.Atthesametime,Africahashadtoimplementtheseambitiousdevelopmentagendasagainstthebackdropofthecoronavirusdisease(COVID-19)pandemicaswellasglobalfood,energyandfinancecrises,allofwhichhaveaffectedthecontinent’sprogress.ThepresentreportprovidesabroadoverviewofthepeaceandsecuritylandscapeinAfricafromJuly2022toJune2023,aswellasthecontinent’sprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,withaspecificfocusontheintersectionalitybetweenpeaceandsecurity,development,humanitarianactionandhumanrights.

Thereportalsoprovidesanin-depthanalysisofunemploymentandlackofdecentworkaspotentialdriversofconflictandinsecurityinAfrica,inparticularintermsof:(a)reinforcinginequality,deepeningdivisionsandheighteninggrievances;(b)weakeningresilience,includingtohumanitarianandeconomiccrises;and(c)strengtheningnon-Statearmedgroupsandcriminalenterprisesthathavegrownadeptatprovidinglivelihoodsupportintheabsenceofgovernment.

*

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Finally,thereportprovidesconcreteexamplesofhowtheUnitedNationssystem,AfricanMemberStatesandrelevantdevelopmentpartnershaveutilizedacoherent,cross-pillarapproachtosupportpreventioneffortsthroughthepursuitofthesustainabledevelopmentofAfricaunderthe2030AgendaandAgenda2063.

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I.Introduction

1.ThepresentreportissubmittedpursuanttoGeneralAssemblyresolution

77/271,

inwhichtheAssemblyrequestedtheSecretary-GeneraltocontinuetomonitorandreporttotheAssemblyonanannualbasisonpersistentandemergingchallengestothepromotionofdurablepeaceandsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica,includingtherootcausesofconflictandconditionstopromotesustainabledevelopment,aswellasontheapproachandsupportoftheUnitedNationssystem.ThereportcoverstheperiodfromJuly2022toJune2023.

2.Theyear2023representsalandmarkmomentasthemidwaypointofthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentanditsSustainableDevelopmentGoals,aswellastheendofthefirst10-yearimplementationplanoftheAfricanUnionAgenda2063.WhileAfricahasembarkedonadeterminedtrajectorytowardsrealizingtheseagendas,ithasdonesoagainstthebackdropofhistoricandunprecedentedchallenges,includingthecoronavirusdisease(COVID-19)pandemicanditseffectsasseenintheglobalfood,energyandfinancecrisis,allamplifiedbytheconflictinUkraine.

3.However,evenbeyondtheserecentcrises,thejourneyofAfricatowardsachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoalshasbeenhinderedbyvariousobstacles,includingpersistentconflictsandrelatedhumanitariancrises.Recognizingthatconflictanddevelopmentareintertwined,thefirstsectionofthepresentreportwillprovideanoverviewoftheprogressofAfricatowardstheGoalswithintheoverarchingcontextofthepeaceandsecuritylandscapeonthecontinent,aswellasofthenexusbetweendevelopment,peaceandsecurity,humanitarianactionandhumanrights.

4.Inviewoftheunderlyingroleoflivelihoodsinpromotingdurablepeaceandsustainabledevelopment,thesecondhalfofthereportwillprovideanin-depthanalysisofunemploymentandthelackofdecentworkaspotentialdriversofconflictinAfrica.Itwillgiveparticularemphasistotheirroleinheighteninggrievancesandprovidingfertilegroundfornon-Statearmedgroupsandcriminalgroups.

II.AchievingdurablepeaceandsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica:theultimatepreventiontool

ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals

5.In2022,Africafacedaconfluenceofchallenges,includingthepandemic,theconflictinUkraineandtheirwide-rangingeffects,aswellasthecontinuingimpactsofclimatechange,conflictsandforceddisplacement.Theimpactofthechallengeshasbeenstriking.TheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)estimatesthatthepandemicpushed23.6millionpeopleinAfricaintoextremepovertyin2021,comparedwithprojectionsofhowthecontinentwouldhavefaredinaworldwithoutCOVID-19.1SupplychaindisruptionsasaresultofthepandemicandthewarinUkrainecausedpricestorisesignificantlyonthecontinent,withparticularlysharpincreasesinthecostsoffoodandenergy.Asaresult,ratesofgrowthinincomepercapitahavedeclinedfrom1.6percentin2021and2022toanestimated1.4percentin2023.Thiscontributestokeepingpovertyentrenchedonthecontinentand,withoutfurtheraction,delayingprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.2

1SeeEconomicCommissionforAfrica,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeandAfricanUnionCommission,AfricaSustainableDevelopmentReport2022(AddisAbaba,EconomicCommissionforAfrica,June2023).

2SeeWorldEconomicSituationandProspects2023(UnitedNationspublication,2023).

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FigureI

StatusoftheachievementoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsinAfrica

Source:SustainableDevelopmentReport2022.

6.Halfwaytothedeadlineforthe2030Agenda,theworldisstrugglingtoachievetheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(seefigureI).The2023reportoftheSecretary-GeneralonprogresstowardstheGoalshighlightsthealarminglackofprogressglobally.Apreliminaryassessmentof140targetsshowthatonlyaround12percentareontrack.Closetohalfofthetargetsareexperiencingonlymoderateprogressorareseverelyofftrack.Some30percentofthetargetshaveeitherseennomovementorregressedbelowthe2015baseline.3TheprogressofAfricatowardstheGoalshasbeenparticularlyuneven,withsignificantchallengestoachievementacrossvirtuallyallGoals.WhilesubstantiveprogresshasbeenmadetowardsGoal12,onresponsibleconsumptionandproduction,andGoal13,onclimateaction,theregionfacessignificantchallengesinachievingGoalsrelatedtohumanwelfare(e.g.Goals1to7and11,onpoverty,hunger,health,education,genderequality,waterandsanitation,energyandsustainablecities).

7.WhilerecentglobalcriseshaveseverelyaffectedtheprogressofAfricatowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,thecontinent’schallengesinachievingsustainabledevelopmentaredeep-rootedandpredaterecentevents.Ultimately,thepandemicandtheconflictinUkrainehaveservedtoexacerbatetheunderlyingchallengesinAfrica,exposingpre-existingvulnerabilitiesandgapsindevelopmenteffortswhileunderscoringtheimportanceofresilienceforbothpeaceandsustainabledevelopment.

3Advanceduneditedversionofthe2023reportoftheSecretary-Generalonprogresstowardsthe

sustainabledevelopmentgoals:towardsarescueplanforpeopleandplanet,para.4.Availableat

/sites/default/files/2023-04/SDG%20Progress%20Report%20Special%20Edition.pdf.

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ThepeaceandsecuritylandscapeinAfrica

8.Thetrendoftheincreasingnumberofarmedconflictincidents4andfatalitiesinAfricaregretfullypersistedaccordingtoexternalsources(seefigureII).

FigureII

VarianceinincidentsinAfricansubregionsin2022,bytype,comparedwith2021

Source:ArmedConflictLocationandEventDataProjectdatabase.

FigureIII

IncidentsandfatalitiesinAfricansubregions,2018–2022

Source:ArmedConflictLocationandEventDataProjectdatabase.

9.AccordingtodataoftheArmedConflictLocationandEventDataProject,thereportingperiodsawanincreaseinarmedconflictincidentsinthreeofthecontinent’sfivesubregions–East,SouthernandWestAfrica–whileCentralandNorthernAfricabothsawdeclines(seefigureIII).ConflictincidentsinWesternandCentralAfricacontinuedtobethedeadliest,withWesternAfricaexperiencinga23percentincreaseinfatalitiesin2022duetothedeterioratingsecuritysituationandrisingviolentextremism.

10.TheAfricancontinenthasexperiencedasignificantshiftinitspeaceandsecuritylandscapeinthepastdecadeasaresultofviolentextremism–partlysparkedbyexternalfactorssuchastheriseofDa’eshandAl-Qaidaaffiliatessince2010,as

4IntheArmedConflictLocationandEventDataProjectdatabase,incidentsareclassifiedintosixcategories:(a)battles;(b)explosions/remoteviolence;(c)protests;(d)riots;(e)strategic

developments;and(f)violenceagainstcivilians.

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wellastheproliferationofweaponsandarmedfightersintheregionfollowingtheoutbreakofconflictinLibyain2011andtheongoingpoliticaltransition.Whileglobaldeathsfromterrorismhavedecreasedbymorethanonethirdsince2015,Africahaswitnessedanotableincreaseinterroristattacks,inparticularinsub-SaharanAfrica,whereattackshavemorethandoubledaccordingtoUNDP.In2021,Africawastheonlyregionintheworldtoseeanincreasedimpactfromterroristactivities,withsub-SaharanAfricaaccountingfornearlyhalfofallterrorism-relateddeathsworldwidethatyear,andjustfourcountries,namelyBurkinaFaso,Mali,theNigerandSomalia,foroveronethirdofallterrorism-relateddeaths.Inaddition,theSahelregionalonehasexperiencedatenfoldincreaseindeathsfromterrorismsince2007.5

11.Overall,conflictandviolentextremismhavehadsignificanthumanitarianimplications,contributingtothemorethan7millionrefugeesthatremaineddisplacedattheendof2022insub-SaharanAfricaalone,anincreasefromthepreviousyear.6Thecontinentasawholehadover9millioninternaldisplacementscausedbyconflictandviolencelastyear.7IntheSahelalone,approximately31.8millionpeopleneededhumanitarianassistanceandprotectionin2022comparedwith28.7millionpeoplein2021,anincreaseof3.1million.

12.Therisingincidenceofconflictonthecontinent,includingviolentextremism,isnotonlyasecurityissuebutalsobothacauseandaconsequenceofcontinuingdevelopment,humanitarianandhumanrightschallenges.Theinterrelatedhumanitarianandhumanrightschallenges,aswellasconflict,havesignificantlyhinderedprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,withthegravestchallengesfrequentlyservingasthreatmultipliersacrossmultipleGoals.

ThequadruplenexusandthechallengesofAfricainachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals

13.The2023reportoftheSustainableDevelopmentSolutionsNetwork8providesaglobalrankingoftheprogressofcountriestowardstheachievementoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Inthereport,itissuggestedthatthelowest-performingcountrieswereprimarily“fragile”(asdefinedinthereport)andconflict-affectedStateswithhighlevelsofpovertyandrecurringconflict.Ofthe20lowest-rankedcountries,17wereAfrican.OfthefiveAfricancountriescomprisingthelowest-rankedperformers,allarelistedonthe2023listoffragileandconflict-affectedsituationscompiledbytheWorldBank.9

14.Inthiscontext,thecontinent’sachievementoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsrequiresthatAfricaanditsdevelopmentpartnerstakeanewapproachtoitslong-standingchallenges,inparticularinconflict-affectedandpost-conflictcountriesaswellasthoseaffectedbypoliticalfragility.Suchanapproachreliesoncoherence,coordinationandintegrationandoncapitalizingonsynergiesamongthefourpillarsthatarecollectivelyparamounttotheprogressofAfrica:peace,development,humanitarianactionandhumanrights.

15.This“quadruplenexus”approachservestorecognizethevitalroleofeachpillarinachievingsustainablepeaceanddevelopment,aswellastheneedtointernalizethe

5UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP),JourneytoExtremisminAfrica:PathwaystoRecruitmentandDisengagement(NewYork,2023),p.14.

6SeeOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees,GlobalTrendsinForcedDisplacement2022(Copenhagen,June2023).

7SeeInternalDisplacementMonitoringCentre,GlobalReportonInternalDisplacement2023(Geneva,2023).

8Availableat

.

9CentralAfricanRepublic,Chad,Somalia,SouthSudanandtheSudan.Seethe2023listoffragile

andconflict-affectedsituationsoftheWorldBank,availableat

/en/

doc/69b1d088e3c48ebe2cdf451e30284f04-0090082022/original/FCSList-FY23.pdf.

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nexuswhendesigninginterventions.Peaceandsecurityprovidestabilityfordevelopment,whileinclusiveandsustainabledevelopmenttacklesinequalitiesandcontributestolastingpeace.Effectivehumanitarianactionaddressescrises,preservingdignityinconflict-affectedareas,whileensuringhumanrightsforallisessentialforfulfillingthesocialcontractbetweencitizensandtheState.Thefourpillarsareinterconnectedandmutuallyreinforcing,withchallengesinanyoneareanegativelyaffectingtheothers.

16.TheexistenceofthequadruplenexuscanbeseenacrosseverypillaroftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,inparticularthefocusesofpeople-centredGoalsthattendtodriveorexacerbateviolentextremismandotherformsofconflictonthecontinentunlessremedied,suchaspoverty,hunger,poorhealthandlackofeducation.

Poverty

17.In2022,thegrossdomesticproduct(GDP)growthofAfricadroppedfrom4.8percentto3.8percent,withthesurgeinfoodandenergypricespushing15millionmoreAfricansintoextremepoverty.10ConflictplaysasignificantroleindrivingpovertyinAfrica,withconflict-affectedcountries,includingthoseplaguedbyviolentextremism,morelikelytoexperiencepoverty.11From2002to2016,thefourAfricancountrieswiththehighestintensityofterroristattacksandfatalities(Libya,Mali,NigeriaandSomalia)sawa17percentdeclineinGDPpercapita,whileotherAfricancountriesexperienceda47percentincrease,accordingtoUNDPandtheInstituteforEconomicsandPeace.12Duringthatperiod,conflict-affectedAfricannationswitnessedasubstantialdeclineinkeysectorssuchastourismanddecreasesinforeigndirectinvestment.Inaddition,agriculture,avitalemploymentsector,sufferedseveredisruptions.13Theagriculturalsectorexperiencedanearlythreefoldgreaterdeclineinfemaleemploymentthanmaleemployment,highlightingthedisproportionateimpactonwomen’slivelihoodsandlivingconditions.14Moreover,extremepovertyisincreasinglyconcentratedamongvulnerablegroupsdisplacedbyviolence,placingadditionaldevelopmentpressuresonhostcommunities.15

18.Povertyonthecontinentismultidimensional,withpoorhouseholdsinconflict-affectedcountriesfrequentlysufferingfrommultipledeprivations,includinglackofaccesstobasicservices,economicopportunitiesandresources,allofwhichdisproportionatelyaffectwomenandyoungpeople.Inseveralcountries,morethanonethirdofthepopulationsuffersfromsimultaneousdeprivationsineducation,basicinfrastructureandmonetarywelfare.16Suchconcurrentdeprivationsoftencreateabreedinggroundforinequality,socialtensionsandgrievances,fuellingconflict,humanitariancrisesandhumanrightsconcerns.

Foodinsecurityandmalnutrition

19.OrganizedviolenceandconflictremainedaprimarydriverofacutehungerinAfricaandotherregions,reflectingaglobaltrendinwhichconflictcontinuestoaffect

10SeeAfricanDevelopmentBank,AfricanEconomicOutlook2023(Abidjan,2023).

11SeePaulCorralandothers,FragilityandConflict:OntheFrontLinesoftheFightagainstPoverty(Washington,D.C.,WorldBank,2020).

12SeeInstituteforEconomicsandPeaceandUNDP,MeasuringtheEconomicImpactofViolentExtremismLeadingtoTerrorisminAfrica(AddisAbaba,UNDP,2020).

13Ibid.

14SeeUNDP,JourneytoExtremisminAfrica.

15WorldBank,PathwaysforPeace:InclusiveApproachestoPreventingViolentConflict

(WashingtonD.C.,2018).

16SeePaulCorralandothers,FragilityandConflict.

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thelargestshareofpeoplefacingacutefoodinsecurity.17Alongwithclimatechange,conflictisamajorcauseofglobalfoodinsecurity,particularlyaffectingthoseAfricancountriesthataremorepronetofoodinsecurityandmalnutrition(seefigureIV).Inrecentstudies,violentconflictishighlightedasasignificantdriveroffoodinsecurityinAfricasince2014,leadingtopopulationdisplacementanddisruptinglocalsupplychains.18Consequently,undernourishmentratesinconflict-affectedcountriesinAfricaareapproximatelydoublethoseinnon-conflictcountriesonthecontinent.Nutritionoutcomesarealsoseverelyaffected,withnearly80percentofstuntedchildrenunder5yearsofageresidinginconflict-riddencountries,andadifferenceinprevalenceof9percentagepointsbetweenconflictandnon-conflictcountries.19

FigureIV

Comparisonofprevalenceofmoderateorseverefoodinsecurity(percentage)

Source:GlobalSDGIndicatorsDatabase.

20.Inrecentyears,conflicthascontributedtofoodinsecurityinseveralAfricancountries,oftendamagingagriculture,displacingfarmers,destroyingagriculturalassets,disruptingmarketsandescalatingprices.Forexample,conflicthasledtoasignificantreductionincultivatedareasinsomecountries,withacommensuratereductioninfoodproduction.

21.Inthesamevein,foodinsecurityandmalnutritionoftenbecomeconflictmultipliersandvectorsforothergrievances,inparticularinconflictandpost-conflictsituations.Forexample,recurrentdroughtsandfoodinsecurityhaveplacedpressureontherelationshipbetweenmigrantsandhostcommunitiesinpartsofAfrica.Inaddition,foodinsecurityonthecontinentheightensthevulnerabilityofwomenandgirls,exposingthemtobothhungerandrightsviolations.Conflict,displacementand

17SeeWorldFoodProgramme(WFP)andFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnited

Nations(FAO),“Hungerhotspots:FAO?WFPearlywarningsonacutefoodinsecurity–October2022toJanuary2023outlook”(Rome,2022).

18SeeWestonAnderson,CharlesTaylorandSonaliMcDermid,“Violentconflictexacerbated

drought-relatedfoodinsecuritybetween2009and2019insub-SaharanAfrica”,NatureFood,vol.2,issue8(August2021).

19SeeSimonaBeltrami,“Noendtoworldhungerwithoutanendtoconflict–WFPwarns”,WorldFoodProgramme,21September2020;seealsoFAO,AfricaRegionalOverviewofFoodSecurityandNutrition2017(Accra,2018).

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violentextremismexacerbatetheissue,increasingintimatepartnerviolence,sexualviolence,harassment,exploitationandchildmarriage.20

Health

22.WhileconflictinAfricadirectlycausesdeathsandinjuriesfromviolence,theindirecthealthconsequencesofconflictareoftenmoresevere,includingasaresultofthedisplacementofpopulations,thebreakdownofhealthandsocialservices,thecollapseofessentialmedicalsupplychains,theexodusofhealth-careworkersandtheheightenedriskofdiseasetransmission,asidentifiedinseveralstudies.21

23.In2022,theSahelregionsawincreaseddeathandconflictincidents,greaterneedformedicalassistanceandincreasedattacksonhealth-careworkersandfacilities.Morethan33millionpeopleacrossBurkinaFaso,thefarnorthofCameroon,Chad,Mali,theNigerandnorth-eastNigerianeededlife-savinghealthassistancethatyear–afigurethathadincreasedbymorethan25percentduringthepreviousfiveyears.22Insomecountries,armedconflicthasreversedyearsofprogressonthestrengtheningofhealth-caresystems,withtheforceddisplacementofhealthworkersundermininghealthcapacities,weakeningtheresponsetooutbreaksofdiseasesandworseningthehumanitariansituation.

24.Atthesametime,weakhealth-caresystems,limitedaccesstoessentialservicesanddiseaseoutbreaksfrequentlyexacerbatesocialtensions.Insomecases,asaresultofprolongedconflict,distrustofexternalaidandhumanrightsdeficits,communitiesrespondedviolentlytohealth-caremeasurestakeninresponsetodiseaseoutbreaks.DuringtheEbolavirusdiseaseoutbreakin2018onthecontinent,forexample,theneglectofcommunitygrievancesinthemyopicallybiomedicalhealth-careinterventions,thelackofcommunityinvolvementintheplanningoftheinterventionsandtheeconomicimpactsoftheoutbreakultimatelyfuelledoppositionandtriggeredhundredsofactsofviolenceagainsthealth-careworkersandfacilities.

Education

25.Conflict,insecurityandtheresultinghumanitariancriseshaveseverelydisruptededucationsystemsonthecontinent.Between2020and2021,morethan2,000attacksonschoolsandeducationalinfrastructuresweredocumentedin14Africancountries.InthecentralSahel(namely,BurkinaFaso,MaliandtheNiger),armedconflictandthreatsofattackledtotheclosuresof7,000schools,whilemorethan30,000teacherswereunabletoteach.Researchclearlyshowsthatgirlsareparticularlyaffectedandarelesslikelytoreturnfollowingsuchschoolclosures,whileforciblydisplacedchildrenhave,onaveragefeweryearsofschoolingandalowerlikelihoodoftransitioningtosecondaryschool.23

26.WestAfricaandCentralAfrica,inparticular,haveseenasharpincreaseinconflict-relatedschoolclosures.Ofthe244millionchildrenandyoungpeoplebetween6and18yearsofagewhowereoutofschoolworldwidein2021,around25percentlivedinWestandCentralAfrica–morethandoubletheregion’sshareof

20UnitedNationsChildren’sFund,“Climatechangeandgenderbasedviolence:whatarethelinks?”,learningbrief,20March2021.

21See,forexample,C.J.L.Murrayandothers,“Armedconflictasapublichealthproblem”,

BritishMedicalJournal,vol.324,No.7(February2002).Availableat

/

files/armedph.pdf.

22SeeWorldHealthOrganization,“Emergencyappeal:humanitariancrisisintheSahel”,pamphlet,

10June2022.Availableat

/media/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/

sahel_appeal-june-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=85a4f661_1&download=true.

23SeeNicoleKearseandothers,ForesightAfrica:TopPrioritiesfortheContinentin2023(Washington,D.C.,BrookingsInstitutionPress,2023).

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theglobalpopulationofchildrenandyoungpeopleofthatagerange(12.05percent).24Bytheendofthe2021–22schoolyear,morethan12,400schoolshadbeenclosedineightcountriesoftheregionowingtodirectattacksbyarmedgroups,teacherorparentaldisplacement,orparentalfearofsendingchildrentoschool.25

27.Grievancesaroundaccesstoandqualityofeducationcanexacerbatetensions.Insomecases,theperceivedmarginalizationofgroupsspeakingdifferentlanguageshasspiralledintolocalizedviolenceand,ultimately,armedconflict.

Thenexusapproachtothe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment:movingfromrhetorictoaction

FigureV

Comparisonofconflict-affectedAfrica,therestofAfricaandtherestoftheworld

Source:GlobalSDGIndicatorsDatabase.

aTheconflict-affectedAfricacategorycomprisesalloftheAfricancountriesincludedinthe2023listoffragileandconflict-affectedsituationsoftheWorldBank.

28.ToachievetheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsinconflict-affectedandpost-conflictStatesofAfrica,whichfacesignificantGoaldeficits,greatereffortsareneeded.InarecentsurveyofUnitedNationscountryteamofficialsacross14conflict-affectedAfricancountries,officialsnotedthesignificantimpactofpeaceandsecuritychallengesonGoalprogress,withthemajorityofGoalsconsideredtohavebeenmoderatelyorstronglyaffected(seefigureVI).Inaddition,theAfricanDevelopmentBankfoundthatthe14AfricancountriescategorizedbytheWorldBankin2022asexperiencingmedium-andhigh-intensityconflict-affectedsituationshadatotalof80landborderswithotherAfricannations.Consequently,morethan1.43billionpeoplelivingonthecontinent,amountingto85percentofitspopulation,eitherresideinorsharelandborderswithconflict-affectedcountries,makingthemvulnerabletospillovereffects.26Therefore,thereisacriticalneedtointensifyeffortstowardsGoalattainmentinconflict-affectedandpost-conflictcountriesaswellascountries

24SeeEducationinEmergenciesWorkingGroup,“EducationUnderAttackinWestandCentralAfrica:2022Update”(Lagos,2022);seealsoUnitedNationsEducational,Scientificand

CulturalOrganization,“NewEstimationConfirmsOut-of-SchoolPopulationisGrowinginSub-SaharanAfrica”,factsheet,September2022.

25SeeEducationinEmergenciesWorkingGroup,“EducationUnderAttackinWestandCentralAfrica”.

26SeeAfricanDevel