CFR: Amid Conflict, Poverty Is the Reality for Most Malians – As the world’s attention is focused on the radical Islamists, dysfunctional government, and the French military intervention in Mali, it is easy to forget that “for most Malians, to stay alive is, in itself, often a struggle.” Infant mortality rates in Mali exceed 10 percent, life expectancy at birth is among the shortest in the world, and almost a quarter of the population faces severe food insecurity. The current conflict only worsens the situation, and the popular response is often to flee the region. Estimates show that the number of displaced persons could reach 700,000 in the near future. (John Campbell)
Huffington Post: Opinion: Obama’s Global Development Legacy – While President Obama has been a strong supporter of foreign aid throughout his first term, he has “yet to translate his support into an enduring legacy”. By the end of his first term, President Bush had established a new aid agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation; signed legislation to create PEPFAR; and begun increasing U.S. aid to Africa, “on track toward ultimately tripling it.” While Bush’s major development achievements continue to enjoy broad bipartisan support, President Obama’s development initiatives, including new efforts to combat global hunger and committing to greater aid transparency, “remain tenuous and could be reversed in the future.” (Jeremy Konyndyk)
All Africa: Editorial: Washington’s Slow Changing Attitude to Africa – China’s trade with Africa overtook US-Africa trade in 2009. As other emerging economies like Brazil, India and Turkey scale up trade and investment in Africa, “their focus is overwhelmingly on commerce, not security and aid.” While Europe and the US continue to account for the majority of foreign direct investment in Africa, that gap is narrowing. There is a great need for increased US investment in the economy and private sector in Africa, and the “goodwill enjoyed by President Obama across the continent represents a unique opportunity for the US to position itself as a leading commercial partner.”
Devex: ‘The worst appears to be over’ – According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, food insecurity may prove to be the biggest obstacle to the developing world’s long-term economic growth. Developing countries that are especially prone to food price shocks and shortages should pursue “long-term structural reforms that ensure their citizens have enough food to eat,” such as improving local productivity, storage and transportation infrastructure, reducing spoilage and facilitating access to foreign markets. (Eliza Villarino)
VOA: Malawi Aims to Rid Cities of Street Children – Malawi’s government has embarked on a nationwide effort to rid the major cities and towns of street children. Government authorities explain that this initiative is part of the “Home for Every Child” campaign launched last July which seeks to ensure that every child has a home and attends school. The Malawi Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment indicates that over 60% of Malawians live below the poverty line of $2 a day, and 22% of those qualify as ultra-poor, living on 10 cents a day or less. Such poverty often forces children into the street to supplement their families’ incomes. (Lameck Masina)
