5 reasons to be optimistic about Africa

It is impossible not to have strong views when it comes to the debate on Africa’s rise: despite solid economic growth and progress in poverty alleviation, people’s views on the region’s outlook remain stubbornly polarised.

Let me state up front that I am cautiously optimistic that Africa is taking off. This year the World Economic Forum (WEF) is marking 25 years of change in Africa. Looking back, there is no denying that Africa has made remarkable progress over the past two decades. Here are five reasons why I am optimistic.

Development

One, the regional economy has grown steadily since 2001 and continues to do so at a rate of about 5 percent a year. Its macroeconomic environment is sound with low government debt, rising domestic resource mobilisation and reduced inflation rates.

By 2013, more than 23 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had per capita gross domestic product (GDP) greater than $1000 (R11 524). Infant and maternal mortality has reduced significantly and access to primary education has increased. According to the UN human development index, 15 countries have attained medium to very high human development.

Two, the consumer market is rising in tandem with its growing population. In 2008, McKinsey estimated that African consumers spent $860 billion on goods and services, which was 35 percent more than the $635bn that Indian consumers spent and just over the $821bn spent in Russia.

Three, the environment for doing business is improving. According to the World Bank, between 2013 and 2014, sub-Saharan Africa realised the largest number of business regulatory reforms, and five of the top ten countries that improved the most were from sub-Saharan Africa.

Four, access to financial services is rising, thanks to the adoption of technology and innovation. For example, Equity Bank in Kenya reaches more than 8 million customers through its combination of an extensive network of physical bank branches and mobile financial services.

Five, Africa is closing its gender gap. According to the WEF’s global gender gap index 2014, Rwanda now ranks among the top 10 most gender equal societies in the world in terms of economic and political participation. Burundi and South Africa rank 17th and 18th respectively.

Now for the note of caution. Africa is made up of 54 countries and, while on average they have done well, individually some have fared better than others.

Even within countries there are differences in the performances across rural and urban areas, sectors and populations. In the global context, the continent is subject to forces beyond its direct control, such as the recent plunge in global oil prices that has been a blessing for majority oil-importing countries and a curse to minority oil-exporting countries.

The past six months have also demonstrated unequivocally that the continent is vulnerable to shocks and, more disturbing, that a crisis in a single country can adversely affect the investment climate for the whole of Africa.

Road Map

At the WEF on Africa in June, we will be calling on our regional and global leaders to rethink Africa’s road map to prosperity in the 21st century with respect to three contexts.

First, Africa is challenged to better mobilise, efficiently use and safeguard its various resources in order to meet the enormous demands that it faces. For example, over the past five years, about 30 percent of global oil and gas discoveries were in sub-Saharan Africa, yet only one-third of Africans have access to electricity. Africa has 60 percent of the world’s arable land, and yet is a net importer of food – importing food worth $35bn a year.

And every year, although 10 million to 12 million young people join the labour force, nine in 10 rural and urban workers are employed in the informal sector.

Second, Africa is challenged to accelerate the competitiveness, productivity and efficiency of its various markets.

The continent’s current population of about 1 billion people is projected to double over the next 25 years, yet trade between African countries, at less than 15 percent, remains the lowest in the world. Africa is mainly exporting natural resources to the rest of the world, yet its share of global trade is about 3.3 percent.

Unique Environment

Thirdly, Africa is challenged to be more creative in developing solutions that are suited to its unique environment. At the end of 2013, there were 3.4 billion unique cellphone subscribers – just below half the global population – yet only 20 percent of African families have access to banks. South Africa hosts the largest radio telescope in the world, the Square Kilometre Array, yet only 5 percent of students in sub-Saharan Africa complete tertiary education.

Standing at this crossroads, Africans need to build on their rich cultural heritage to inform the difficult and complex intergenerational decisions that they face.

The array of opportunities is mind-boggling. For instance, should Africa’s leaders invest more in “flying donkeys” building on the drone technology, in underground subways, in high-speed trains, in modernising maritime services, in rural roads or in virtual technology?

Let me end with the tale of the hyena that started off the day hunting for an antelope, on the way stumbled upon a warthog and chased after it, then got distracted by a rabbit and ended the day staring at a rabbit hole.

This article is published in collaboration with Business Report. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Elsie Kanza is the senior director and the head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.

Image: A woman picks tea leaves at a plantation in Nandi Hills, in Kenya’s highlands region west of capital Nairobi, November 5, 2014. REUTERS.