Africa is considered by most paleoanthropologists to be the oldest inhabited territory on earth, with the human species originating from the continent.Today, Africa contains 53 independent and sovereign countries, most of which still have the borders drawn during the era of European colonialism. Since colonialism, African states have frequently been hampered by instability, corruption, racism, violence, and authoritarianism. In the last few years, the plight of Africa received much attention. The topic is likely no news to the American public: the developed world, with its ever-increasing media coverage, is constantly exposed to the grim realities of sub-Saharan Africa, where half the population subsists on less than a dollar a day and the life expectancy is as low as 33 years. Some estimates put the poverty rate in all of Africa at nearly 45%. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Africa’s poorest countries have extreme poverty rates close to 90%. The World Bank calculates that GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa is a mere 3.5% and that growth would need to be 7% to cut poverty levels in half over the next decade. Most disturbingly, sub-Saharan Africa is the only region on earth where the number of people living in poverty has increased in the past 20 years. Why has Africa failed?What has been tried? And, most importantly, where do we go from here?
315 million people – one in two of people in Sub Saharan Africa survive on less than one dollar per day. (source: Africa 2015)
184 million people – 33% of the African population – suffer from malnutrition. (source: Africa 2015)
More than 40 percent of Africans do not even have the ability to obtain sufficient food on a day-today basis. (United Nations, Millennium Project)
64% in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
Less than 50% of Africa’s population has access to hospitals or doctors. (source: Africa 2015)
A woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth. This compares with a 1 in 3,700 risk for a woman from North America. (United Nations, Millennium Project)
Less than one person out of five has electricity. Out of 1.000 inhabitants 15 have a telephone line, and 8 out of 1.000 people have access to the Internet. (source: Africa 2015)
In 2000, 300 million Africans did not have access to safe water. (source: Africa 2015). 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
The average life expectancy in Africa is 41 years. (source: Africa 2015)
Every 30 seconds an African child dies of malaria—more than one million child deaths a year. (United Nations, Millennium Project)
Everyday HIV/AIDS kills 6,000 people and another 8,200 people are infected with this deadly virus. (United Nations, Millennium Project)
In Africa, home to 26 million HIV/AIDS victims, only 1% are receiving treatment. (source: UNICEF)
Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
African Children
200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children’s Charter)
Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. . This number is 25 times higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in the OECD countries. (source: Africa 2015)
Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank)
Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
This is the 21st century. However, for many people there seems no end in sight for the agony of Africa's suffering masses in some of the world's poorest countries. While the devastating facts in Africa are staggering, mere sympathy for Africa sets up a weak foundation for a lasting relationship between those in prosperous western countries and the masses in Africa. Fortunately, Africa is also a continent on the verge experiencing a dynamic renaissance.
Even in the middle of this catastrophic situation, a new Africa is emerging. Africa's leaders are aiming to harness the enormous potential and talents of their people and chart a course towards continental rejuvenation. Africa is a continent on the move, with leaders more open to defining and addressing the priority needs of their people -- and with more conscious and organized civil societies intent on making sure that happens.
This continent is clearly marked by incredible diversity - the magnificence and splendor of its deserts, savannahs and tropical rainforests as well as by the development of large modern cities. Africa is a assortment of countries with a multiplicity of cultures, traditions, peoples, languages and religions. So not surprisingly there is a divergence of thought on how to address the many challenges. To this end, Africans are increasingly determined to “shape their own destiny,” while welcoming partnership with the global community.
Faith and Community Organizations must join with the resilient spirit of the African people to transform the future of an entire generation, while keeping an eye on the difficulties that continue to trouble the continent. Faith and Community Organizations are creators of hope, but must continue to elevate public awareness about the issues of devastating diseases, universal poverty and hunger. The allure of Africa is in direct proportion to its vastness and potential must include efforts to fight complex and intricate problems.
Thompson Ayodele, founder and head of the Institute of Public Policy Analysis, observes that “From 1970 to 2000 Africa received about $400 billion in aid. Africa has got enough financial help from overseas.... If anyone really wants to help poor Africans out of the vicious circle of poverty we must promote free commerce, protect property rights, encourage openness to trade, allow markets to flourish and reduce government intervention in the economy.” It is important that Africans like Ayodele’s have their voices heard. In 2007, 20 million children are going to school for the first time in their lives. African economies are forecast to grow by an average of 5.8% in 2007, according to the latest edition of the Economic Report on Africa (ERA 2007), the annual flagship publication of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The report, titled “Accelerating Africa's Development through Diversification,” notes that African economies continued to sustain the growth momentum of previous years, recording an overall real GDP growth rate of 5.7% in 2006. 28 countries recorded higher economic growth rates in 2006 than 2005.
Across the continent there is hope for turning the tide, African churches, community groups and media outlets are acting as the detergent against corruption and holding their governments to account for their decisions and spending through transparency and accountability. To realize a peaceful, vibrant and developing Africa, the mission goes beyond providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food. We must also recognize the importance of education in ending the cycle of poverty and disease in Africa.
Thompson Ayodele is correct in his assumption we must promote free commerce, protect property rights, encourage openness to trade, allow markets to flourish and reduce government intervention in the economy. Commerce will allow us to accomplish much toward that objective. In addition, education is a critical investment in security. In general people who are reading books are not building bombs. We cannot educate the world, but we cannot police the world either. Like Rock musician Bono said: “It is madness for us to fight the war on terror with tanks and guns when we could fight it with medicine, free schooling and freedom of thought.”
Western Civilization has largely succeeded because of the strength of our ideas. For the first time in human history Africa is positioned to take advantage of our advances in science, technology and wealth to address the challenges facing humanity. Along with this unparalleled historic opportunity comes the responsibility to act. It is worth considering that making an impact in Africa, as well as addressing many of these interconnected issues is imperative for our own national security. Greater prosperity for ordinary Africans would also reduce threats posed by Islamic terrorism and pandemics such as AIDS, malaria, measles, TB or other new infectious diseases.
Our efforts in Africa will also be a test of our humanity, compassion and more importantly a test of our civilization. Faith and Community Based Organizations can help fill the vacuum of despair in Africa with a message of hope. For this reason EPPC Global Management endeavors to raise public awareness about the issues facing Africa including horrendous diseases, global hunger and poverty. EPPC is organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. We anticipate expanding efforts to fight such problems in developing countries to build a culture where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish. EPPC provides management expertise and other non-financial resources that are often not available to these organizations.
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