UN urges investment in rural Africa

14 Feb 14
Development in Africa’s rural areas is crucial to the continent’s prosperity, the United Nations said this week as it called for increased investment in this field.

By Judith Ugwumadu | 14 February 2014

Development in Africa’s rural areas is crucial to the continent’s prosperity, the United Nations said this week as it called for increased investment in this field.

In a paper, the UN’s International Labour Organisation criticised governments, international lenders and policy advisers for undervaluing the need for major investment in rural development.

‘Boosting agriculture and building around it a strong rural economy is crucial for Africa,’ siad Gilbert Houngbo, the ILO’s deputy director-general for field operations and partnerships.

‘Done right, it would create millions of much-needed jobs, as well as wealth, inclusion, food security, crisis resilience, and social and political peace.’

The ILO said investment should start with basic physical and social infrastructure such as roads, energy, education and health facilities.

‘Investments should also target relevant skills development and entrepreneurship support, including through cooperatives and innovative financial mechanisms,’ Houngbo added.

Over 60% of people living in rural areas live in extreme poverty and many flee to cities where they usually ‘swell in the ranks of unemployed or the informal workforce,’ Houngbo pointed out.

He cited the Songhai Centres in Benin, West Africa, as a potential model that could be replicated.

These centres run productive enterprises in farming, processing, handicrafts, marketing, energy production, irrigation, repair, recycling and other services with strong emphasis on holistic approaches, self reliance, research and training.

Another good example is the Rwandan Telecentre Network, said the ILO. Its rural centres provide information technology services but also serve as delivery hubs where individuals, companies and government can advertise, sell, buy and exchange products and services from e-training to banking, insurance, taxation, healthcare, electricity and information.

 

Did you enjoy this article?

Related articles

Have your say

Newsletter

CIPFA latest

Most popular

Most commented

Events & webinars