​​Collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships between the public and private sector, academic institutions and civil society is the only way to create solutions for the challenges facing the African continent.

This was the take-home message from both Prof Wim de Villiers, Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in South Africa, at the opening of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).

ACUNS is a global association of institutions and individuals who are active in the work and study of multilateral relations, international organisations and global cooperation. The individual and institutional members include scholars, international civil servants, civil society representatives, government officials and other interested individuals and stakeholders.

Prof De Villiers welcomed a group of 175 delegates from 60 different countries at ACUNS' annual meeting, the first of its kind held on African soil. The meeting, hosted by SU, takes place from 19 to 21 June under the theme The United Nations and Africa: Progress towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prof De Villiers said that although Africa has seen encouraging economic growth so far this millennium, translating this into broad-based human development remains a significant challenge. “The SDGs of the United Nations (UN) are meant to address most, if not all, of these challenges by setting specific targets."

And higher education has a key role to play in pursuing the SDGs by contributing to society through research addressing developmental needs. “Stellenbosch University is striving to become Africa's leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society.

“This Vision 2040 of ours – adopted last year – was developed taking into account not only South Africa's National Development Plan, but also the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nation's SDGs," Prof De Villiers added.

Tying into SDG Goal 17, which emphasises the importance of strong global partnerships and cooperation, De Villiers affirmed SU's commitment to being a networked university. “Stellenbosch University already has 120 collaborative partnerships in 30 African countries, and specific bilateral agreements with 26 fellow African higher education institutions. These form part of our well established, far-reaching, multi-layered networks of international partners."

In her address, Bekele-Thomas said that the SDG17's strong focus on partnerships is not merely an item on a list, but “is at the heart of creating transformative change and realising the future that we want". She continued to say that partnerships with universities are important in order to bring African scholars into the body of thought so that they can take centre stage in reflecting on the plurality of human development.

ACUNS chairperson, Prof Roger Coate, echoed this sentiment and expressed his gratitude towards the  National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa for a grant enabling SU's Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA) to bring 40 delegates from across the continent to the meeting, thereby ensuring that views of African scholars and practitioners are heard.

Bekele-Thomas went on to highlight the importance of partnerships with communities, following a people-centred approach, giving people access to quality services, and citizens taking responsibility for their own development. “Realising the SDGs is not the business of the government, it is everybody's business. Each and every one must take ownership of it."

The meeting continues today (20 June 2019) with a keynote address by Prof Thuli Madonsela, the Law Faculty Trust Chair for Social Justice at SU's Law Faculty. 

• The full programme is available here.