The Politics of Development in Africa

1. HIGHER MODERN STUDIES The Politics of Development in Africa

2. Politics of Development in Africa - Unit outline • This unit can be split into three • Conditions in Africa – Health and healthcare issues • Access to education/food/safe water • Links between health and education • Economic/Political/Social factors affecting development • In what ways have organisations helped in promoting the development of Africa • The African Governments • The African Union • The European Union • Non Governmental Organisations • The UK • The United Nations • Note – South Africa will not be studied in this unit. Do not use it in examples!

3. 1. What and Where is the Developing World? • ‘Developing World’ is a term used to describe countries where people have low standards of living because poverty and hunger are widespread and where civil unrest and war frequently occur. • Many developing world countries suffer from hunger and malnutrition - although not all people in developing countries are poor. Whereis the Developing World?

4. Factors used to measure the development of a country Infant Mortality – Number of babies who die before their first Birthday Life expectancy Primary school enrolment Adult Literacy levels – Adults who can read and write GDP – Gross Domestic Product – Money a country makes per year Access to safe water

5. Facts about Africa • Africa is the second biggest continent in the world. • It comprises 53 countries covering 20% of the land area of the world and has 12% of the world population. • The countries vary in terms of size, population, wealth, resources. • Group Task • Name as many African countries as you can in 3 minutes

6. Virtually all of Africa was colonised by European countries in the 19th century. • Most of these countries remained colonised until the 1960s when many became independent • Since independence many of these countries have been marked with severe poverty/corrupt and authoritarian governments and political and economic instability.

7. What Common Features Do African Countries Share? • Although not every African country will have all of the features outlined below, many will have some of them……………….. • Poor roads and communications • Education poor by Western standards • Civil war or war with neighbouring countries common • Low average income per head • Many work on the land • Unemployment is high • Medical care is poor • Large debt burden

8. Infant Mortality Per 1000 births Life expectancy Country Population UK Mozambique Ethiopia Sudan Ghana 60 m 19m 69m 34m 20m 5 104 110 63 67 79 42 48 57 59

9. Conditions in African Countries • Africa is the poorest continent in the world • 70% of its population live on less than $2 a day • 10 million children die every day from preventable diseases • Acute respiratory infections • Diarrhoea • Measles • Malaria • Malnutrition • In some countries 1/5 die before their first birthday.

10. Politics of Development in Africa • Lesson Aims • I will learn • Some of the conditions within African countries • Reasons for food shortages.

11. Food Shortages According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation there are more than 850 million people every day who cannot get enough food to meet their minimum energy needs. Sub Sahara Africa has the highest proportion of under nourished people. Malnutrition is one of the prime causes of low birth babies and poor growth. Malnutrition linked to the main child killers Measles/Diarrhoea/malaria/pneumonia

12. How does Malnutrition effect the development of a country? • Economy • Loss of productivity • Adults who have nutritional disorders unable to work efficiently or at all • People get sick =less workers=less products to sell • Education • Children get sick cannot attend school • Children are undernourished and are unable to function/learn properly • Healthcare • Cost of caring for those who are suffering malnutrition

13. Group Task Mind map outlining the causes of Food Shortages in Africa Corrupt Government Natural disasters environment Role of women Causes of food shortages Free Trade Water scarcity HIV/Aids Conflict/war Disease

14. Reasons for food shortages • Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have predicted that the world should be able to produce more than enough food for everyone in the planet so why are there food shortages? • Conflict • Crops/footstock/livestock and farm equipment are destroyed • Displacement of people - People are forced to flee their homes and move to neighbouring towns/countries

15. Water Scarcity • Availability to water and wells is already a problem for many communities in Africa. • 884 million people worldwide have no access to safe water. Many of these people live in African countries. • It is thought that this problem will increase as development and population increases. • Water is need to grow crops

16. Natural Disasters Drought – Some countries go years without rain and cannot grow crops. Somalia and other countries in the horn of Africa have suffered severe drought in recent years Floods – 2007 Ethiopia and Sudan badly hit Cyclones – In Feb. 2008 145000 people left homeless after a cyclone hit Madagascar. Many crops and farms were destroyed

17. Free Trade • Many farmers are encouraged to grow cash crops (cotton/coffee/tea) to sell to the rest of the world. • Therefore basic food to sell to local people is not grown. • Basic food is imported from rich countries at costly prices.

18. Position of women • Women play a crucial role in agriculture • Certain customs and laws in some African countries exclude women from the right to own or inherit land. • In some countries if a woman divorces her husband or if he dies she is not entitled to the land. • Women produce most of the food for local consumption (men tend to produce cash crops). • In some African communities 80% of food sold at market is produced by women. However, women are less likely to be educated and therefore may not use the best farming methods. • Women are less likely to get loans/grants for improving farming methods • Females receive only 5% of all agriculture extension services

19. Disease and illness HIV/Aids One of the biggest problems facing Africa Approximately 45 million people living with HIV/Aids Over 70% of adults living with Aids live in African countries Over 80% of all children with Aids live in African countries People die young Workers are lost Loss of skills and knowledge about farming and agriculture Less food is produced Situation of more dependents but less producers of food

20. Environmental factors More and more land is being used for growing crops which is leading to deforestation Natural water supplies from the soil are taken away and due to lack of education land is not maintained properly. This can lead to desertification (drying up of land and soil).

21. Corrupt government Does not distribute food evenly

22. Poor Farming Methods Over cropping – planting too much = lots of poor quality crops Overgrazing Poor water management (poor irrigation)

23. Homework Essay – 02/03/09 “Food shortages in African countries are mainly due to poor weather conditions.” Discuss • Critically examine the reasons for food shortages in African countries.

24. Problems with Healthcare • Lesson aims • I will learn • What health problems exist in Africa • The various reasons for these problems

25. Healthcare Problems Health and healthcare are essential features of a developed country. Without a healthy workforce, it is not possible for the economy to function properly. • Not enough healthy people to work • Too many ill people draining the resources • Too many people spending time caring for the sick

26. Health and Development. • In order for a country to develop it must have a healthy workforce. • UK average life expectancy is 79 years but in Zimbabwe it is as low as 34 years in some regions (the lowest in the world). • The infant mortality rate in the UK is 5 but in Ethiopia it is 110. • 10 million children die every day from preventable diseases • Acute respiratory infections • Diarrhoea • Measles • Malaria • Malnutrition • In some countries 1/5 of all children die before their first birthday.

27. Malaria Spread through mosquito bites It is estimated that 1 million children die every year from Malaria. Every 30secs an African child dies of Malaria Approximately 90% of all malaria deaths in are in Africa WHO malaria Diarrhoea Causes dehydration and malnutrition According to the WHO Diarrhoea accounts for 5% of deaths worldwide and as much 8.5% in Africa.

28. Why is ill health such a problem in Africa? Lack of comprehensive healthcare - little or no free healthcare 800 children die every day because parents cannot pay for medical treatment Very few doctors and nurses – In 2004 there were more doctors from Ghana working in New Jersey and New York than in the whole of Ghana itself. Debt – money is spent repaying debt instead of investing in the healthcare system Lack of education – Hygiene and cleanliness Malnutrition Hygiene and cleanliness

29. Lack of clean water and sanitation Dirty water causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid. Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe Aug-Dec 2008. 12, 545 cases of cholera. In rural areas the only sources of water are lakes and rivers. In urban areas the water may be piped but very little in the way of sanitation. Sewage is often left untreated and therefore the water gets polluted. Only 50% of Africa has access to clean water and sanitation

30. Ethiopia - 69% have no toilet facilities at all. Only 25% have access to protected clean tap water.

31. Water projects One of the UN ‘s millennium Development Goals (MDG) is to reduce by half the number of people who do have access to clean water. UN development report 2006 suggested that it would be 2040 before sub Sahara Africa reaches the MDG

32. Lesson Aims We will learn • How aids affects the development of a country. • The educational problems within many African countries.

33. Problem of HIV/Aids • Kills 6000 people every day in Africa • 70% of all adults and 80% of all children living with Aids live in Africa. • 25 million people are living with the disease • Half of all those with HIV become infected before they are 25 • In Botswana (worlds 2nd highest incidence of Aids) 37% of the population are infected and life expectancy is 39 years • In Zimbabwe 24.6% of the population have HIV/Aids. • ¼ of all those aged 25-40 (working age) are infected

34. Effects of HIV/Aids Treatment costs the government money – less money to spend on other public services In some countries 50% of all beds are used by AIDS sufferers People get sick and cannot work – Poverty – (Majority of Africans with HIV/Aids are 15-49 years) Doctors/teachers/nurses/skilled workers are lost

35. Why is HIV/Aids out of control in Africa? • Failure of the governments to respond to the problem. • Weak healthcare system – virus goes undetected and untreated • Lack of education – people do not know they have the disease, how it is spread or how to prevent it. • Social status of women and culture – • In many cultures and tribes it is normal for men to have several wives and mistresses. Women are viewed as inferior and less important than men. • It is also common and accepted for men to use prostitutes. • Less values on fidelity • sexual promiscuity is common. • Some religions do not believe in the use of contraception.

36. What come be done to reduce and prevent HIV/Aids? Education Distribution of contraception Drugs (to protect unborn children being infected) Anti retroviral drugs (AVRs) – helps prevent HIV turning to Aids MDG 6 – Combat HIV/Aids/Malaria and other diseases Some countries have seen an improvement in recent years

37. Botswana 85% of Aids sufferers now have AVR drugs. More nurses and doctors

38. Uganda – number living with Aids has dropped from 15% to under 5%. Senegal Less than 2% of the population have Aids Sex education workers Preach about fidelity and abstinence Allow the promotion of contraception

39. How can healthcare problems be reduced? Clean water Education Low cost treatments, eg vitamins, vaccinations and mosquito nets. The Commission for Africa states that an extra one million health workers need to be trained in the next 10 years. More doctors. Conditions and pay needs to be improved to attract health workers and doctors. Fight against Aids – governments need to take bold steps on cultural factors and power relationships between men and women

40. Homework for next Tuesday Read pages 10 - 12

41. Education Problems • Lesson Aims • I will learn • The importance of Education to the development of a country • 2. The problems that exist in Education in African countries

42. Education • Education is seen as a way out of poverty • Education is an important factor in the development of a country • Improves food production • Improves healthcare • Improves the economy • No education = no doctors/teachers/engineers/ scientists/skilled workers eg electricians. • Nearly half of all Africans cannot read or write.

43. Education • UK primary school enrolment 100% • Somalia primary school enrolment can be as low as 22% • Ethiopia 45 % • Tanzania 82% Gender imbalances –Females are less likely to be educated – 2 thirds of the worlds 875 million illiterate adults are women A good education is regarded as the best way out of poverty.

44. Primary Schooling UN - Millennium development Goal 2 - Achieve Universal Primary Education (by 2015) At present approximately 40 million children in Africa do not attend primary school. Over 50% of all countries in Africa will not meet this MDG. Secondary education Sub Sahara Africa – 20% of children are in secondary education In 10 countries it is below 8%

45. Higher education Universities lack the resources only those who can afford to pay the fees can go to university. In Ethiopia only 3% of the population go on to higher education. Urban/Rural Inequalities Schools tend to be located in urban areas and therefore children living in the towns have easier access. Ethiopia – Rural – 20% of the population can read and write Urban 74% of the population can read and write

46. Gender imbalance • Two thirds of all illiterate adults in Africa are female. • Reasons why women are less likely to go to school • Carers • Housework • Role in food production • Collect water • Arranged marriages • Early marriages • In many cultures and tribes women are viewed to be inferior to men

47. Improving education especially among women would have a positive affect on various social and economic problems. Educated women would be more productive at home and better paid in the workplace. Educated women are more likely to remain unmarried for longer and have fewer children. When they do have children their children are more likely to survive and will be better nourished and better educated. Every extra year a girl spends at school could reduce child mortality by 10%

48. Conditions of African schools There are not enough schools Overcrowding (as much as 70 pupils per class) Lack of resources (textbooks, pens/pencils) Lack of properly trained teachers eg. In Malawi and Namibia less than 60% of the teachers have completed teacher training courses. The pay and working conditions for teachers is poor and therefore it is not a desired profession.

49. HIV/AIDS is likely to claim the lives of 10 per cent of teachers within the coming five years, and 20 per cent of school-age children will be AIDS orphans. A minimum of three million more teachers are needed in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the goal of universal primary education by 2015.

50. Somalia Education and formal learning opportunities are limited. Quality and access to primary education is very limited. Most schools are concentrated in urban areas and fees usually come from parents and communities. 1,172 schools and 285,574 children enrolled (19%) – one of the lowest enrolment rates in the world. Girls - low enrolment and high drop out rate. Only 37% of all pupils in primary schools are girls. Only 13% of all teachers are female.