Economy and Development Summary
Prepared by Mercy WambuiIn response to the contributions by some of the panelists participants felt that having participated in numerous post-Rio meetings and other international consultations on development issues, it was pointed out enough theorizing and debating the issues that plague the continent has been done at numerous post-Rio meetings as well as international consultations on development. Africa needs to go beyond theorizing and debating the issues that plague the continent. There is a need to gear the current discourse toward programs of Action and policies go beyond resolutions to the commitment of material and intellectual resources for the eradication of poverty Africa. A closer self-search geared toward ensuring the values, and principles that we stand for as individuals is needed. These values and principles should form the basis for a vision for development and growth.
Further on less analysis and more action, and in light of a growing complex global economic system, it was proposed that addressing Africa's developmental challenges require a 'systems-evolutionary' /systems science approach. Neither a 'reductionist simplification' nor a 'holistic summation' would enable us to understand the dynamic complexity of the global socio-economic transformation.
Africa is not poor and sufficient data exists to show that Africa has the capacity to produce enough to satisfy it's needs such as shelter, clothing and nutrition.
In advocating the role of the informal sector toward greater economic development, examples from Asian economies were cited. It was noted that the success seen in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Vietnam points toward the priorities that are based on rural development and distribution of land ownership as industrialization could not absorb the population in the non-agricultural industries. Overall efficiency of the economy as well as a culture and environment that nurture local entrepreneurial activity for which policies play a supportive role have been key in ensuring economic development.
Experiences involved the exercise of good governance, strong state and interventionist industrial policy. Weaker governments in Africa would need to address these components as well.
Strong priority was given to the creation of human capital, in terms of education and training. Asian private and public sectors is buttressed by a commitment toward universal education and high quality education contributes to the strong performance of the private and public sectors in East Asia.
The need for reorienting the Lagos Plan of Action (which articulates self-reliance and self-sustenance) from a political document to a more bottom up orientation that is responsive to local realities in the region is imperative. On the Lagos Plan of Action (LPA)
On Capacity building, the major elements reacted to by participants are education and training. Although education is important, the kind of education that is required is one that shifts from a colonial orientation to one that is more home-grown and is responsive to local needs and realities. Research and training needs to be more application-oriented, and should gear itself to the more productive fields of training. It should also be dynamically linked to indigenous knowledge systems and production practices.
The economic history of several African countries suggests that periods of strong economic performances coincide with those when the leadershhip of the country was committed and supported by a public sector capable of designing and implementing sound policies (leadership as in the government and the other components of the civil society, with each playing its role).
Virtual education systems (including the World Bank AVU) could be made more efficient provided that they are constructed around education and training that is more responsive to local realities.
On Science and Technology
Capacity in the field of science and technology is crucial for development. S & T becomes the key for development as the world economy moves more and more to the knowledge-based economy. Science and technology should not be perceived within the limited scope of massive large-scale industrial production, as it has been the case in Africa. The future is geared towards more flexible, modular and small scale industries due to their socio-economic and socio-ecological benefits.
Africa has indigenous processing technologies that may provide the basis for the development of such technologies. The development and upgrading of indigenous processing technologies may provide a source of sustainable livelihood for millions of people in the region thereby addressing the issue of poverty. Utilization of existing capacities is the ultimate factor that determines the effectiveness of any capacity building process. Undercapacity utilization is one of the major factors that drive the brain-drain process in which Africa looses 30-40 % of its highly skilled professionals every year. In this context, enhancing capacity utilization should be given equal (may be even more) importance with the effort of filling existing and evolving capacity gaps.
On historical injustices, the ensuing discussion noted the need to go beyond acknowledging injustices to determining where Africa's self interests lie and steer the world appropriately by establishing stronger economic blocs, more transparent and productivity driven forms of affirmative action within Africa's internal policies. There was agreement on the fact that neither the West nor any one country has the autonomy to assume responsibility for developing and adequate macroeconomic framework. Africa has that responsibility and needs to determine an adequate framework for herself - a framework that is sensitive to international realities and opinions and which can get the buy-in from the rest of the World. It was proposed that International financiers could buy into adjustment programmes designed for Africa, by Africans. It is also unhelpful to complain about IMF imposed policies without coming up with suitable alternatives.
Other proposals for the way forward toward include the need for good governance, education, technology in a combined fashion. The Internet would help create a more informed and active population and could provide solutions to education.
The need to make clearer links between the ways in which the majority live and the national/international policy framework which limits choices about how to live was pointed out. Examples were offered on activities by community based organizations in Tanzania that have made great strides in addressing their own sustainable livelihoods.
Some Pointers and Resources Suggested
Work done by Fr. Nzamujo of Songhai in Benin since the early 80's on Education (for more information contact Participant Willem Smuts)
CIVICUS Meeting on Civil Society and Eradication of Poverty in Africa (for more information contact Participant Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga (UNCHS-HABITAT)
OSCAL/UNCHS(Habitat) meeting on Promoting Value-added activities in the informal sector in Africa (Contact Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga (UNCHS-HABITAT)
Community-based Initiatives toward addressing sustainable livelihoods (L. Muthoni Wanyeki)
Africa Policy Information Center
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