Why is Africa (still) poor?

Professor Ruth Haug

Noragric/UMB

April 2013

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Why is Africa (still) poor? Historical

Cultural

Economic

Political

Violent Conflicts

Climate, Natural resources

Population increase

Social/Gender equity

Structural

Timing

Bad luck

Africa is not poor. Africa is just poorly managedArchitect Mumo Museva, Kenya

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Global Monitoring Reports 2012:(WB&IMF, 2012; UNDP/MDG, 2012)

--MDG 1 on poverty is met.No of people living in extreme poverty & poverty rates fell in every developing region—including Africa. In the developing regions, the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 a day* from 47 % (1990) to 24 % (2008). *In Africa: 386 million poor (47%) 2008.

--MDG 1 on hungerOnly 40 out of 90 countries are on track to reach the MDG 1 on hunger.

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The State of Food Insecurity in the World (FAO, 2012; UNDP 2012)

870 mill people are undernourished (in terms of dietary

energy supply) in the period 2010–12. 12.5 % of the global population, or one in eight people. Of these, 852 mill people live in developing countries.

More than one in four Africans - close to 218 million people - is undernourished

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 Africa can feed the worldThe president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Dr Kanayo Nwanze claims that, by focusing on farming, Africa has the potential to feed not only itself but the rest of the world (www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-

matters/2011/jul/27/africa-potential-to-feed-world)•

                                  

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Poverty and Food Insecurity

Underlying causes of food insecurity in Africa:

– Misguided policies

– Weak institutions

– Market failure (UNDP, 2012)

Structural causes and neglect of agro-investment in developing countries (Diouf, 2011)

There is no such thing as an

apolitical food problem. (Aamartya Sen)

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Securing availability and affordability of food in Tanzania (Haug & Hella 2013)

Poverty and food insecurity– Poverty 34% (37%)

– Food insecurity 34% (44%?)

Agricultural development– Low ag productivity

– 80% employed in farming

Food and agriculture policy– Mix state control and market liberalism

– Farmers pay the price of food security?

– Trust, predictability and accountability

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Food dilemmas framing future food policy (Haug, 2011)

Confusion around present/future food situation

Balancing the food prices

Global food policy failure – national actions

Political problem – technical solutions

”Food and Fredom” Democracy-the Arabic spring

The African agriculture disaster

Food relief and long term ag. Development

Agro-investment and land grabbing

Climate change “The Global Food Waste Scandal” (Tristram Stuart/Sofie

price)

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Making a difference

Re-imagine development:

Keep challenging our assumptions and theories of change about development (IDS Bulletin,

2011; John Lennon, 1971)

Uncertainty: Chaos and complexity

–“Crisis” needed to initiate action?

–Diverse responses needed 10