Opinion: How Malawi Fed Its Own People – Following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi earlier this month, many of his countrymen “seem to have declared good riddance,” yet it is important to remember the legacy of his agriculture-led boom in Malawi that “pointed a way for Africa to overcome its chronic hunger, food insecurity, and periodic extreme famines.” Mutharika’s government subsidized smallholder famers to buy fertilizer and seed in order to replenish the soil nutrients and achieve a livable crop, despite resistance from many donors, and succeeded in doubling production within one harvest season. (NYTimes, Jeffrey D. Sachs)
World Bank-IMF spring meeting to hone in on cost-effective safety nets – At the World Bank-IMF spring meeting on April 21, cost-effective safety nets will be one of the primary items of discussion, as safety nets “can transform people’s lives and provide a foundation for inclusive growth without busting budgets.” New data from the World Bank shows that 80% of the world’s poorest countries lack effective safety net coverage, and that a “lack of pre- and post-natal care for mothers and children has led to 2.8 million newborn deaths in the first week of their lives.” (Devex, Jenny Lei Ravelo)
Africa’s demographics: dividend or disaster? – Africa’s demographic profile, with a population expected to double to almost 2 billion over the next 40 years, “could make it a dream for retailers if spending power continues to rise — or an unfolding disaster for everyone if the labor market fails to absorb its swelling ranks of young people.” Some worry that rising youth unemployment, poverty, and income scarcity could lead to resentment against elites and potential social unrest. (Reuters, Ed Stoddard)
Water Scarcity May Add to Instability in Africa, Kufuor Says – John Kufuor, the head of the World Bank’s Sanitation and Water for All partnership, warns that “the worsening problem of water scarcity may contribute to political instability in sub-Saharan Africa.” He explains that competition for access to water will fuel instability in regions that “are important to U.S. national security” and that “nations will be more likely to use water as a bargaining chip in international negotiations.”
Nigerian Foundation Promotes Private Sector’s Role in Development – At the annual conference of the Global Philanthropy Forum in DC this week, Dr. Wiebe Boer, the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation wants to “emphasize the importance of . . . “Africapitalism,” which he defines as the private sector’s commitment to the economic transformation of Africa through investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth.” (VOA, Ricci Shryock)
