Afro-descendants and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion, Structural Inequalities, and Challenges for Sustainable Development
1
René Rachou Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
This scoping review examined how Afro-descendant Populations (ADPs) have been considered in policies, programs, and actions related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the principle of “leaving no one behind” is central to the 2030 Agenda, significant challenges persist, including the lack of race- and ethnicity-disaggregated data, weak monitoring mechanisms, and the persistence of structural inequalities rooted in colonialism, slavery, and institutional racism.
METHODS:
The review followed the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, including academic publications and gray literature published between 2015 and 2025. Searches across eight databases identified 732 records, of which 38 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies addressed experiences and policy recommendations at global, regional, national, and local levels, with a predominance of research conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
RESULTS:
SDG 10 was the most frequently addressed, followed by SDGs 16, 3, 5 and 17. The mapped initiatives focused on expanding access to health care, social protection, and justice; promoting economic inclusion through education and entrepreneurship; and valuing territories and environmental practices, highlighting the role of Afro-descendant communities in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Local-level experiences proved more effective when they incorporated cultural practices, community participation, and intercultural approaches. Critical perspectives emphasized the relevance of non-Western epistemologies—such as Ubuntu and Buen Vivir—and reparatory justice strategies in guiding more equitable and context-sensitive policies.
CONCLUSIONS:
The absence of data disaggregated by race, gender, and territory constrains SDG monitoring and the formulation of effective policies, particularly for Black women, rural populations, and quilombola communities. While institutional advances and innovative initiatives led by the African diaspora exist, their implementation remains fragmented. Advancing the SDGs for ADPs requires strengthening antiracist policies, expanding social participation, ensuring territorial recognition, and adopting historical and cultural perspectives capable of fostering truly inclusive development.
This scoping review examined how Afro-descendant Populations (ADPs) have been considered in policies, programs, and actions related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the principle of “leaving no one behind” is central to the 2030 Agenda, significant challenges persist, including the lack of race- and ethnicity-disaggregated data, weak monitoring mechanisms, and the persistence of structural inequalities rooted in colonialism, slavery, and institutional racism.
METHODS:
The review followed the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, including academic publications and gray literature published between 2015 and 2025. Searches across eight databases identified 732 records, of which 38 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies addressed experiences and policy recommendations at global, regional, national, and local levels, with a predominance of research conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
RESULTS:
SDG 10 was the most frequently addressed, followed by SDGs 16, 3, 5 and 17. The mapped initiatives focused on expanding access to health care, social protection, and justice; promoting economic inclusion through education and entrepreneurship; and valuing territories and environmental practices, highlighting the role of Afro-descendant communities in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Local-level experiences proved more effective when they incorporated cultural practices, community participation, and intercultural approaches. Critical perspectives emphasized the relevance of non-Western epistemologies—such as Ubuntu and Buen Vivir—and reparatory justice strategies in guiding more equitable and context-sensitive policies.
CONCLUSIONS:
The absence of data disaggregated by race, gender, and territory constrains SDG monitoring and the formulation of effective policies, particularly for Black women, rural populations, and quilombola communities. While institutional advances and innovative initiatives led by the African diaspora exist, their implementation remains fragmented. Advancing the SDGs for ADPs requires strengthening antiracist policies, expanding social participation, ensuring territorial recognition, and adopting historical and cultural perspectives capable of fostering truly inclusive development.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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