What We’re Reading: World Economic Forum on Africa kicks off

May 5th, 2010 10:57 AM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

A look into Africa’s ability to reach its economic potential – With the World Economic Forum on Africa kicking off today, the BBC explores how the continent has managed the global economic crisis, maintaining that “things look rather brighter, though there is a shadow cast by the debt crisis in Europe.” According to the IMF, government finances were in better shape ahead of this downturn, but many still depend on international assistance from countries with tight budgets, which may prove problematic going forward. (Andrew Walker)

A girls summit to parallel the G20 summit – The Belinda Stronach Foundation is hosting a G20 summit of their own this summer, except instead of world leaders, they will be bringing in young women from all of the countries to talk about problems that plague girls in their homeland and ideas on how to solve them. With a goal of seeking “passionate, forward-thinking, solution oriented” participants, the Foundations president says “We want girls who possess leadership qualities, who can speak frankly of their lives and their challenges but also opportunities. This is a positive campaign.” (Leslie Scrivener)

Agriculture key to reducing global poverty and hunger – More than simply providing aid, wealthy nations need to ensure that the developing world is invested in agriculture, to better reduce global poverty and hunger, says the author of an op-ed for the Seattle Times. President Obama’s proposed $408 million as part of a multilateral fund to stimulate agricultural progress is a key first step – one, which will surely be met with opposition. However, “in a world with one billion suffering from hunger and extreme poverty, America must do its part.”

South Africa seeks new investments with emerging world powers – South Africa has targeted some of the world’s fastest growing economies, such as China, to reach a minimum target of 115 billion rand in foreign investment projects by 2013, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Tuesday. The country is increasingly looking at renewable power sources such as solar and winds to help alleviate chronic power shortages, as Africa’s largest economy emerges from its first recession in almost two decades.

Street children rehabilitation project launched in Kenya’s Rift Valley – A successful project to reduce the number of street children in urban towns has been launched in Kenya’s Rift Valley province. Sponsored by UNICEF, Barclays Bank and others, the program identifies children to join vocational training institutes, secondary and primary schools. After one year in the identified vocational training institutions, the street children will be provided with a start up kit to enable them start their own businesses as they continue searching for jobs. (Dennis Odunga)

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