More than Just Lines on a Map: Best Practices for U.S Bike Routes
"Why is Africa (still) Poor?" by Ruth Haug (Professor, Development, UMB)
2. 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
managed
Architect 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 hunger
Only 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 world
The 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
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Notas del editor
H: slavery, colonial times. Cultural: Extended family not individual drive. Economic: external/internal: corruption taxes, bad agreements, marked access. Political: structural adjustment (external), IMF, internal: bad governance. Population: 2 billion in 2050