Africa consists of 54 states with an average GDP of only $4 Billion and an average GDP per capita of $1,809, which is $8,491 less than the world average, $10,300. The continent of Africa also holds most of the top 10 poorest countries in the world and has a population of just under 1 billion, and is expected to hit the $1.5 Billion mark by 2035, which is more than the population of China($1.4 bil) or India($1.33 bil).
By 2030, Africa is supposed to have the largest population of young people globally, which should mark the beginning of growth in Africa but will not unless the status quo ceases to exist.
Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, the chief executive officer of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), said:
"This growing youth population, most of which has access to modern and rapid communications systems, and requires instant results, could impact adversely on the African countries if social inequality and the current systems of government are not revised. Inclusive policies are an absolute prerequisite for political stability."
Most of these stats are the direct result of unnumbered civil wars and the ongoing fights for independence. They are now, synthesized by the horrors of modern-day politics and globalization- namely unemployment, urbanization, terrorism, organized crime, water scarcity, climate change, food crisis and of course, the global financial crisis. Our generation's metaphors now include Sierra Leone, Blood Diamonds, Rwanda, DRC, East Timor, South Sudan, Ethnic Cleansing, Child Soldiers, Boko Haram, most of which owe their origin to Africa.
But why is this one of the most critical global issues?
It is because of the large population of young individuals, who will become the largest population of young vagabonds if not provided with a better life and employment standards.
These youngsters are desperate and angry and looking for someone to blame for their condition, which is everyone who turned a blind eye to them or is responsible for their state in the first place.
According to Kannan Lakmeeharan, Qaizer Manji, Ronald Nyairo, and Harald Poeltner of McKinsey & Company
"Closing this infrastructure gap matters greatly for the continent's economic development, for the quality of life of its people, and for the growth of its business sector."
The African economy cannot develop itself and depends on the international community, which has often taken note of the crisis yet failed to create a long-term foreign policy for Africa. Unlike the Middle East, Africa receives international humanitarian and financial aid from time to time but loses the global focus in the long term. The only way to tackle Africa's problem is by mitigating poverty in the African countries and expanding pan-African infrastructure.
Africa has almost no share of the world trade with no exports but, more importantly, due to lack of internal transport infrastructure, has no internal trading among its own countries.
According to multiple sources, the most constructive way to solve this problem is by planning long term financial investment into Africa's infrastructure by the G20 countries in association with the African Development Bank and the World Bank. Investments must be made into Africa's agricultural, transportation, and energy infrastructure immediately through FDI's, Multinational Corporations, and targeted microfinance plans by business owners in developed countries to help startups in developing African nations. NGOs should help build infrastructure in Africa, with an immediate agenda to build transport infrastructure. The bottom line to this conversion is that Africa needs more infrastructure to grow beautiful, both externally and spiritually.
(cover image courtesy: fairplanet.org)
Comments