Africa
Africa-Where is it Going?
Located to the south of Europe and southwest of Asia, connected to Asia through the Sinai Peninsula in northeastern Egypt Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, both in landmass and population having just about 22% of the earth’s total land area, 6% of the earth’s total surface and about 1.256 billion people. Additionally, it is the world’s continent with the hottest, second driest, and shortest coastlines. It is also home to the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara desert, the second largest freshwater lake the Lake Victoria, and the longest river the river Nile. It is, however, plagued by poverty, underdevelopment, and inequalities. Africa is the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent, with the average poor person being estimated to live on just $ 0.70 a day in sub-Saharan Africa. It is also estimated that more than 25 million people have HIV, and above 17 million mortalities have been reported. In addition to this, the WHO reports that of all the malaria cases in the world, 90% occur in Africa (World Health Organization 2018).
Notwithstanding the challenges and inequalities, Africa is still a remarkable continent that is particularly unique of the seven continents. Its richness in cultural heritage and diversity, treasures of natural resources, magnificent touristic attraction centers, and some of the most convoluted political systems are things to behold. The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) in 2010 described the potential and progress of African economies as “lions on the move.” The MGI (2016) notes that the long term powerful positive trends likely to sustain Africa’s growth are: (1) young population with a growing labor force, which is a highly valuable asset in an aging world. It is expected that Africa is to have the world’s largest working-age population of 1.1 billion by the year 2034; (2) continued urbanization, which comes with much more of the economic benefit with estimations indicate that productivity in cities is three times as high as in rural areas. Additionally, more Africans will live in cities which will lead to rapid growth in consumption by households and businesses with projections of Africa’s consumers spending up to $2 trillion by 2025; and (3) rapidly accelerating technological advancement that unlocks the growth and catapults the limitations and costs of physical infrastructure in important areas of economic life.
In addition to this, Africa’s diverse culture makes is indeed a vital factor to be taken into consideration when contemplating action in development. Having a vast continent with a huge diversity of cultural norms and practices, Africa’s great variations among its regions, countries, and ethnic groups and this needs to be recognized and used to change its attitude towards work, interpersonal trust, time, youth, and women.
Sustainable Development Goals in Africa
The continent is driving towards a measurable development path design with specific objectives and guidelines. Every country with the region is structuring an economic system that will ensure the formation of a united economic front to enhance economic development in the content. Aligning to the Millennium Development Goals 9MDGs, state corporates, together with local and international organizations, are structuring development measures in the implementation of the development goals. According to MDS outcome, the development goals include:
- Eradication of poverty rates that are lagging behind the development goals
- Upgrading the education system to achieve Universal Primary Education
- Promotion of gender equality and women empowerment
- Improvement in health services and health education
- Combating HIV-AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases that are crippling the health system
- Environmental sustainability and resource management
Development Trends from the Global Perspective
From a global perspective, Africa is making tremendous transformations that are key to realizing its development goals. A report from the African Development Bank reveals that there is a consistent economic improvement between the year 2012 to 2019. The World Bank’s report also reveals drastic development trends in various African states such as Ethiopia and Rwanda, who show a 7-8% growth in 2018 (Ajakaiye, & Page, 2019).
Beall (2014) notes that a significant shift with regard to trade operations is being experienced in different African states across the African-Asian boarders. This, according to him, marks a strategic development roadmap since China, among other Asian countries, are critical prospects enhancing importation and exportations across the border. Also, inter-regional union ties between state segmentation are proving to be significant to the development of the continent. The establishment of Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western blocks has foster cross border trade and development activities, boosting the economic state of the region and continent at large. The economic fronts are driven by strategic governance policies with respect to international frontiers whose aim is to transform the face of Africa.
Challenges Affecting Africa’s Growth
The development trends in the region are being impacted by various factors that derail its sustainability and growth. The dynamics patterns experienced in political, social, and economic development governance depict the downturn of the development goals. However, the economic patterns on the global platform also contributed immensely to slow growth. According to the World Bank, there is a significant reduction in global growth by 2.9% in the year 2019. The slower downturn has a critical impact on developing countries, especially in African and Asia.
There is a public outcry on global economic governance, which is weakening the trade systems on the global market. African governance strategies are the weakest point, with most states struggling with social, cultural, and political issues. Diversity in poor governance I marred with corruption, ethnic and legal issues affecting the upward growth.
The regional and bilateral trade deals are dragging the progress of strategic development plans put in place by different countries across the continent. For instance, educational programs in most of the African countries reflect insistence in productivity patterns. Industrialization and agricultural sectors are way below average. All this is due to poor management, infrastructural incapacitation, and lack of resource structure to ensure they upgrade the development scale.
Conclusion
Africa is heading to greatness. Globalization is a critical indicator of the horizontal growth trends across the continent. The America and Asian influence on the growth plan of Africa provides a substantive connection between the economies. HIV/AID management is a critical indicator of the development capacities the region is upscaling. Economically, there is a recognizable development trend, and as Ramutsindela, & Mickler, (2019) mentions, African will where it ought to be in the coming ten years or so.
References
Ajakaiye, O., & Page, J. (2019). Industrialisation and economic transformation in Africa: Introduction and overview. Journal of African Economies, 21(suppl_2), ii3-ii18.
Beall, J. (2014). Globalization and social exclusion in cities: framing the debate with lessons from Africa and Asia. Environment and urbanization, 14(1), 41-51.
MGI (McKinsey Global Institute). (2017). Reinventing construction: A route to higher productivity.
Ramutsindela, M., & Mickler, D. (Eds.). (2019). Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals. Springer.
World Health Organization (2018): African Development Goals: Sustainable growth patterns. WHO Reports