The Council on Foreign Relations just published an insightful report on Africa: “More than Humanitarianism: A Strategic U.S. Approach Toward Africa”, the result of an independent task force chaired by Christine Todd Whitman and Anthony Lake. The report (available in PDF or hard copy) reminds us that 2005 was the year for Africa, although we missed the point. “The point that was missing,” the report states, “amid the music, the communiques and the commitments - is that Africa is becoming steadily more central to the United States and to the rest of the world in ways that transcend humanitarian interests.” Africa is increasingly strategic to the U.S. - and the rest of the world - as a source of energy (in the next decade, Africa could provide as much oil to the U.S. as the Middle East). China sees the value of Africa and is making significant investment in the continent, and the rest of the world should pay attention. Africa, increasingly connected to the world, can teach a lot about the spread - and, hopefully, control - of HIV/AIDS so that Asia and Russia can learn from its lessons. The continent is a base for terrorism and a concern in terms of social stability, both of which affect the rest of the world in ways like never before. One response is to invest in growth, in the power of entrepreneurs. This is touched upon with a good example of the work of TechnoServe, and we could use even more examples of what works. There are not only strategic national security issues at hand for the U.S. but real investment opportunities and good news from the continent.
Providing job opportunities, increasing skills and productivity, incomes, livelihoods, education, technology…. All of these are important for Africa and the slight possibility of seeing any type of convergence between developing and OECD countries. I am not convinced that national security interests, including health issues such as HIV/AIDS is enough incentive for future investment in sub-Saharan Africa. All of the positive variables mentioned above will come about much too slowly if proper incentive structures don’t exist for much needed private investment. Certainly, the for profit private sector must see this part of the world as a worthwhile venture in order for there to be a viable alternative to the poverty traps that remain embedded there. When incentives don’t exist for the brightest minds to remain at home but to instead find new locations where skills and salaries match their expectations, it is difficult to remain upbeat about many places. But we must not look at all of this as a insurmountable obstacle. Instead, why not think, ‘what an opportunity for our generation’. By this I mean my generation.. The XY generation who are ignored because we don’t (yet)have the luscious salaries and power of the boomers or the yuppies. While the yuppies have blazened a new path, a new approach but we need to pave it. We have the ingenuity because of our educational endowment and can’t wait to unleash and invest in innovative ways to make sure everyone in this small little world of ours can sleep at night and not worry about food, water, (lack of or too much) rains, malaria, getting the ’skinny disease’ or earning a respectable income and having dignity. The externalities of our innovations are boundless and we must listen to people most affected by poverty and work together to realize there are practical solutions to everyday problems. Give us time. We are here.
Reply to Steve Brown