U.N. report shows African economic growth is ‘strong’ but extreme poverty remains

By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NEW YORK, New York – The United Nations reported this week that African economies are forecast to grow 6.2% in 2008, after a strong 5.8% growth in 2007. The most recent edition of the Economic Report on Africa, a joint publication compiled by the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (“ECA”) and the African Union (“AU”) linked the growth to “robust global demand and high commodity prices.”  It also mentioned continued macroeconomic stability and management, a renewed commitment to economic reforms and increased debt relief as major growth factors. However, despite this promising report, the effects of the improvement have not improved the extreme poverty of the continent. “The growth failed to trickle down to the poor,” noted the report.

In recognizing the lack of impact on the continents poor, the report noted that the “struggle against extreme poverty and international support for systematic improvement lag behind.” Social development has not gained meaningful ground. Political instability has affected the economic positions of many, especially in West and Central Africa. Further, inefficient public infrastructure and unreliable energy supply at the national level, as well as poor transportation and energy integration at the regional level still pose major economic constraints, to individuals and countries alike.

The announcement this week came as the U.N. recognized the fiftieth anniversary of the ECA, whose mandate is to promote African socio-economic development by the year 2015. Marking the occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for accelerated efforts to reach international development goals designed to allow the country to flourish. The Secretary-General consistently referred to the internationally-agreed upon goals of sharply cutting poverty and other global ills, charging the ECA to step “up efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals throughout the continent.” He further noted that this could “make the 21^st Century the African century.” 

The Secretary General’s address was preceded last week by an address by Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro, wherein she called for accelerated action to achieve change for the world’s poor. In her speech at Columbia University’s State of the Planet Conference, the Deputy called for the international community to band together and view the impoverished as agents of change capable of achieving development targets. Among these goals, she specifically referred to the Millenium Development Goals for Africa, stating that “progress (stated as ‘halving property’) is uneven, with Africa lagging far behind in many of our grand promises.”  Migiro stated that she believed the tools to achieve these goals are in place in Africa, it is just a matter of “mobilizing domestic resources.” She also called for developed African countries to provide the support promised for the underdeveloped on an “adequate, sustained and predictable basis.”

“The facts on the ground in many poor countries are clear: with careful designed programs and sound policies, backed up by strong government leadership and support from the international community, real change can happen,” stated Migiro.

For more information, please see:

allAfrica.com – Ban Ki-Moon Envisions ‘African Century’ – If Development Goals Are Met – 31 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Economic Growth Still Strong But Development and Aid Lag – UN Report – 2 April 2008

allAfrica.com – Real Change for World’s Poor Requires Greater Efforts By All, Migiro Says – 27 March 2008

Reuters UK – Update 1 – Africa’s economies grew 5.8 pct in 2007 - UN – 1 April 2008