SCECSAL and SDGs

Copyright: IFLA

Libraries, library associations and information professionals play a central role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The member associations of the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL) have recognized this importance and have taken proactive steps to align their activities with both the national and global development agendas.

At the 2014 SCECSAL conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, a resolution was adopted to synchronize their efforts with the post-2015 strategies to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Eight years later, in 2022, SCECSAL members decided to link their library and information services activities to the SDGs and make them an integral part of the biennial SCECSAL country reports.

The SCECSAL conferences planned for 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030 will feature plenary sessions on libraries, information services and SDGs in the SCECSAL region. These sessions will include presentations and panel discussions and will provide a platform for sharing insights and experiences on how libraries and information services are actively contributing to sustainable development efforts in the region.

Through the resolutions adopted at the SCECSAL conferences and the initiatives implemented by member Associations, SCECSAL demonstrates its commitment to harnessing the power of libraries and information services to advance the SDGs and promote positive change in the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa region. Such concerted efforts underscore the critical role that library and information professionals play in shaping a sustainable future for all.