Africa S Population Challenge

This book examines the promises as well as the challenges the demographic dividend brings to sub-Saharan Africa as fertility rates in the region fall and the labor force grows. It offers a detailed analysis of what conditions must be met in order for the region to take full economic advantage of ongoing population dynamics. As the book makes clear, the region will need to accelerate reforms to cope with its demographic transition, in particular the decline of fertility. The continent will need to foster human capital formation through renewed efforts in the areas of education, health and employment. This will entail a true vision and determination on the part of African leaders and their development partners. The book will help readers to gain solid knowledge of the demographic trends and provide insights into socioeconomic policies that eventually might lead sub-Saharan Africa into a successful future.

African Families in the Twenty-First Century explores the idea that the family is the basic unit of society and an enduring multifunctional institution in Africa. The functions and structures of African families, as well as the multiple roles played by Africa's women, are undergoing structural changes. The ways in which education, employment, and current economic conditions reshape these complex roles are immense. The challenges facing African families and their members-such as globalization, war, poverty, economic restructuring, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, harmful traditional practices, aging, and care and support of the elderly-have magnified due to a series of economic, social, political, religious, ecological, and other related factors. Author Aderanti Adepoju explores the vulnerability and resilience of African families in the face of these crises and challenges. He also looks at the opportunities facing African families in the new millennium. Because of the importance of African families to the development process, African Families in the Twenty-First Century is essential reading for planners, policy makers, activists, academics, and students.

La population demeure l'élément central des stratégies de développement. En effet, l'amélioration du bien-être de la population est l'objectif ultime desdites stratégies alors que celle-ci devrait demeurer l'acteur de cette amélioration tant dans la conception que dans la mise en pratique et l'évaluation des programmes de développement. Dès lors que l'on veut comprendre les défis auxquels les stratégies de développement doivent faire face en Afrique subsaharienne, il est impérieux d'analyser les contingences et les évolutions qui caractérisent la population. Les auteurs des contributions, réunies dans ce numéro de Dounia, proposent ainsi des éclairages analytiques sur la fécondité, l'éducation, la nutrition et les migrations en Afrique subsaharienne. Des politiques de développement sectoriel ou global pourraient s'en inspirer.

Poverty in Africa is largely the outcome of slow growth. With the region hosting 10 percent of the world's population but a staggering 30 percent of the world's poor, the challenges it faces are enormous but NOT insurmountable. The message of this book is clear - poverty-eradicating development in Africa is possible. In fact, there are indications that Africa is at a turning point, and there is growing momentum among front-runner economies in the region toward higher and sustained growth. This study challenges African countries and their development partners to consolidate and continue this momentum and to exploit the advantages of the continent as a latecomer, particularly in innovation and in drawing lessons from successful export-led growth experiences in Asia and Latin America. "Challenges of African Growth" identifies opportunities, constraints, and strategic choices that African countries face in their quest for achieving the growth necessary for poverty alleviation. More important, the study provides a broad menu of stategic options for ensuring not only that countries embark on a growth path, but also that the growth is shared and sustainable. The critical areas for action rest on four pillars: the investment climate; infrastructure; innovation for increasing productivity and competitiveness; and institutional capacity.