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In Africa, there has never been a better time to be alive.
The past two decades have seen steady improvements as a child born in Africa today has a better chance of living longer, avoiding extreme poverty, receiving a primary education and joining a growing economy. , than ever before.
Yet not all of the movement is in one direction. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact, plunging much of Africa into recession. While the continent’s long-term growth prospects remain positive, all too often the expansion is inconsistent, does not create jobs, and offers benefits that do not trickle down.
There are also inconsistencies in governance, the issue that is at the heart of progress. Without good governance – without transparent, trustworthy and democratic leadership – social and economic gains are wasted. A good year can quickly be followed by setbacks and setbacks. That said, the past decade has been a time of improvement overall. In 2019, just over 60% of the 1.3 billion Africans lived in a country where overall governance, as measured by the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, was better than in 2010.
Clearly, I am an optimist and there are good reasons to be optimistic. But we also have to be realistic.
While some economies in Europe and the United States are already recovering from the pandemic, with vaccination campaigns that have covered 60-70% of their adult populations, Africa is still waiting. Our leaders deserve to be congratulated for putting containment measures in place and limiting infections, but they have struggled to obtain vaccines. By early June of this year, only 32 million doses of vaccine had been distributed in Africa. The hoarding of vaccines by rich countries is an important part of the problem, but the crisis has also exposed the current chronic deficit in Africa’s own vaccine manufacturing capacity.
It is too early to count the full cost of the pandemic to the continent. But this year’s Ibrahim Forum report on COVID-19 in Africa stresses that it can only worsen inequalities and impose huge costs on governments ill-equipped to cope with the shock. The ripple effect will be a decrease in resources not only for health but also for areas such as education, training and investment, which can lead to frustration and anger, and an increased risk of unrest or conflict. .
In many African countries, children have missed months of education and social contact. At home with few resources, they suffered from hunger, missed check-ups and were at greater risk of violence and abuse. The impact on mental health and well-being is significant and the consequences lasting.
It is at times like these that governance takes center stage. The pandemic is an unprecedented test of leadership, to which many African leaders have pledged themselves. Some have acted more decisively than their peers in other parts of the world. But they cannot rest on their laurels. Each day brings new, more difficult decisions that will shape results for generations.
When it comes to public health, education, investment and even tax policy, leaders need to act smart at national, regional and continental levels. They must seize the opportunity to introduce policies that offer better protection to their populations as they pass through and exit the pandemic.
So how does Africa make this crisis a springboard for change? For me, creating opportunities for children and youth to thrive must be at the center of the answer. It requires a laser focus on education, training, investment and employment. These are not just warm words. All the evidence supports the case – successful companies invest in their youth, producing intergenerational lifelong benefits for health, education and the economy.
There must be investments, those that create jobs and build stronger societies. Investment is increasing in Africa – from governments, public and private companies, private equity funds and financial institutions – but it still tends to be short-term and hit hard by sudden changes in sentiment or sentiment. commodity prices.
There are, however, signs of a change. Major global economies recognize the value and importance of closer ties to the continent. They see markets like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana or Kenya, with tens or hundreds of millions of citizens, bright minds and vibrant ideas. They want to invest for the long term in infrastructure and industrial development, and also think about future consumers. This is essential for strengthening trade between Africa and the rest of the world, but we must also build on the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area and strengthen trade networks within the continent.
By 2030, one fifth of the world’s population will come from Africa. Every year, tens of millions of young people from our continent join the labor market. They need the skills and training that allow them to reach their potential. Young people are our continent’s greatest asset, but if we don’t create opportunities for them – to learn, to find work, to be productive – we risk losing them as they migrate to places who can give them what they are looking for.
The pandemic is a crisis for Africa as it is for the world. But like any challenge, it presents opportunities. With the right decision-making, the ground can be laid to strengthen education, investment, jobs and trade. Whether in the digital economy, the green transition, resources, energy or infrastructure, Africans have a role to play. We must seize this opportunity to build a better Africa.
By Mo Ibrahim
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