3 ways this pandemic could spark a better future for Africa
One of the big topics of conversation for world leaders is the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on African countries.
Sustainable Development Goal 1 — No poverty — aims to end extreme poverty all around the world. One of the continents that is most affected by extreme poverty is Africa.
The sad reality is, even after the creation of the UN’s 2030 agenda, extreme poverty is still at 10% in Africa, overall. If that’s not shocking enough, even in the most optimistic scenario, by 2030 in Sub- Saharan Africa, poverty will remain alive.
This means that the number one target of the 2030 agenda SDG 1 — No Poverty, won’t be achieved by 2030. This is very concerning.
But, what does poverty mean for Africa and this pandemic?
We have talked about this time and time again, but money equals privilege. Money gives you access to safety and better healthcare conditions. Things that can save you.
Right now, the African Development Bank estimates that the continent will lose 35$ to 100$ billion dollars because of the fall in raw material prices. According to them, there’s a high chance that Africa’s inequality gap will worsen in the upcoming years.
This big loss of money translates to less power to invest in policies that aim to fix the continent’s social and structural problems that lead to big social gaps between people living in the African Countries.
So, how can there be a hope for a better future for Africa after this pandemic?
Well, unfortunately, I can’t come up with all the answers myself. Therefore, I do research. And, the World Economic Forum always has amazing answers to my questions.
So, here is a small list with 3 things that could spark a better future for Africa, according to the World Economic Forum, and that I highly support!
1. COVID-19 is forcing Governments to Invest in their Healthcare Systems
One of the biggest problems that most countries on the African continent suffer is the lack of a good and structured Healthcare System.
In 2001 there was a pledge, made by African leaders, to invest 15% of the countries’ budget in Healthcare. As of 2020, only five of them complied.
This pandemic came to show African Leaders how important it is for a country to invest and have a stable healthcare system.
Not only that but, as activist Farida Nabourema said, ‘’with the closing of the border the elite won’t be able to leave their countries to get medical treatment’’. This further reinforces the importance of a functioning Healthcare System and proves that not only the poor would benefit from it.
2. Creation of Social Protection Systems
If you don’t know what a Social Protection system is, it’s basically a set of laws and investment funds that aim to reduce extreme poverty and deprivation.
According to the International Labour Organization, due to the several different social and economic problems of most countries in Africa, it is incredibly hard to provide and implement adequate social protection systems.
Fortunately, amidst this pandemic, things are changing in some African countries that are starting to implement functional Social Protection Systems. The two most successful countries, so far, are Kenya and Equatorial Guinea that have put in order social protection services that will survive and outlast the COVID-19 threat.
The creation of these Social Protection Systems is a really big step for SDG 1 — No Poverty. One of the targets of this SDG is to implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all.
3. Industrial Revolution
One of the biggest struggles that most African countries are dealing with right now is the lack of medical and pharmaceutical supplies. This is happening because the continent depends almost 100% on imports.
People are now more aware of a really big problem, the continent’s lack of industrialization. This problem started a conversation about the need to invest in industrialization so the continent can transform its raw materials and add value to them.
This is also a big spet for SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. One of the targets of SDG 9 is the facilitation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries.
It might seem like a small step but identifying the problem is, more often than not, the key to solving it. So this is excellent news and gives us hope for a possible future industrial revolution in Africa.
These three things can really change the future of the African continent and have a huge impact on the development of the SDGs.
As we work towards better living conditions in these countries we also start to tackle social problems like gender inequality and education.
As we take action, we walk one step closer to a better and fairer world.
