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1 FORUM: General Assembly 3 ISSUE: Measures to Eliminate Poverty in Africa Through Development STUDENT OFFICER: Alison Koh Yuen Wan POSITION: Head Chair of Committee Introduction The alleviation of poverty in Africa is one of the world s longest standing unresolved issues. Africa remains the continent with the highest incidence of poverty and underdeveloped countries in the world today 1. Majority of African nations are plagued with profound social, economical and developmental issues such as starvation, lacking education, sanitation as well as the inability to afford treatment for various crippling diseases such as HIV. This is largely due to the inability of the flimsy economies of such African nations to cater to its large population, resulting in thinly spread resources in the form of meager incomes. Many economists and globalization specialists argue that this has to do with the unfortunately exclusive geographical location of Africa, putting majority of its nations out of the international trade route and hence excluding them from this profitable economic process. Additionally, the substantial amount of tied aid it has accepted has increased its international debt and allowed its creditors political leverage in its countries. This has often resulted in the failure of such African nations to nationalize and develop its own resources to sustain the needs of its people as opportunities and revenue are directed outside the country. Such African nations are also plagued by high corruption rates and aid leakage, rendering developmental efforts and policies largely ineffective. The majority of the African people remain deprived of basic necessities and opportunities, caged in by a vicious poverty cycle. The international community cannot ignore and postpone the Lowest HDI: Tanzania, Nigeria (0.467, 0.470) Pooerest nations: Malawi, Somalia (world 191 and 190)

2 resolution of these issues any longer as increasing inflation rates and the worsening global economy further intensifies them. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger remains the first Millennium Development Goal world leaders have pledged to uphold. Despite numerous promises made by various G-8 member nations- agreeing to double aid to Africa by 2010 at the 2005 G- 8 Gleneagles summit, no concrete plan of action has yet been surfaced. There was no increase in the official developmental assistance pledged to African states, no evidence of net debt cancellation 2, and no clear, tangible commitment to this goal. Effectively, the international community at large has failed to implement any sort of concrete action plan. The recent financial crisis has brought down numerous economic giants such as the United States, sending the world reeling as these giants struggle to stay above water, saddled in debt from numerous corporate bail-outs. With the United States hitting its debt ceiling and a full, global economic recovery still out of reach, nations are becoming increasingly less financially able. Furthermore, the United States has remained the main political leader of the G-8 countries as well as the main provider of developmental aid to African nations that require it. As such, the provision of aid to African nations has been resigned to a back seat as nations must first deal with their own economic concerns and national interests. The world leaders need to be recommitted to their promises of developmental aid granted to African nations in a manner that is both sustainable in the long term and feasible in the short run. In the face of a floundering world economy, it will be difficult to secure developmental aid to African nations as world leaders cannot ignore their commitments to devoting resources in their own national interest first. World leaders must first ensure the economic security of their own country before forking out a sum to aid another. A framework should seek to tailor the extent of a country s contribution according to its present ability to provide aid. Instead of providing direct monetary and developmental aid at the risk of aid leakage due to corruption, long-term alternatives such as the provision of education should also be explored. These allow for social mobility and leveling motivating development and reducing the vast income inequalities present in majority of the African nations at Debt cancellation actually declined by 2% from 2005 to 2006

3 present as well as increasing the standard of living of the people. The merits of promoting development in alleviating poverty is widely recognized by numerous field experts and the United Nations itself- hence one should approach the issue mainly with this goal in mind. Key Terms Poverty: as the total absence of opportunities, accompanied by high levels of undernourishment, hunger, illiteracy, lack of education, physical and mental ailments, emotional and social instability, unhappiness, sorrow and hopelessness for the future. Poverty is also characterized by a chronic shortage of economic, social and political participation, relegating individuals to exclusion as social beings, preventing access to the benefits of economic and social development and thereby limiting their cultural development. (United Nations Definition) 3 Africa: All African territories 4. The forum will be focusing on those that have a higher degree of national poverty than their counterparts, determined by Human Developmental Index (HDI) as well as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Development: Economic, social, cultural, political. A pattern of social and structural economic transformation (i.e. development) which optimises the economic and other societal benefits available in the present without jeopardising the likely potential for similar benefits in the future. Forum may choose to focus on a few essential aspects, namely economic and social. The consideration of the notion of sustainable development 5 is compulsory. Perspective of the UN 3 From 4 All African states: 5 Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come

4 The United Nations (UN) fundamentally seeks to achieve an agreement amongst a majority of its member states to pass a resolution, a legal, binding document detailing a course of action to be taken by the international community. The UN has recognized the gravity and urgency surrounding the issue of the alleviation of poverty, establishing various forums and commissions under its auspices to target this issue. These include the International Conference for Financing Development, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The issue of the resolution of poverty has remained ever-present on its agenda and its official conferences. The UN maintains strongly that promoting development is the key to poverty resolution. The resources of the UN have been, in recent times, has been allocated towards the resolution of various political and military conflicts 6. Countries are also financially limited due to the unfavorable situation in international markets at present. As such, the issue of resolving poverty has been postponed in current conferences. Though this is so, the UN has continued to maintain the issue of resolving poverty as a major concern, recommitting slowly to the MDGs and preserving this as an item on its agenda. The current challenge is thus reconciling the individual national interests and priorities of each member state and the need for the provision of aid to promote development and poverty reduction in African nations. Major Parties Involved The African Union The African Union was formed in 2002 to protect the security of the region. It coordinates and manages all the foreign politics of various African states, acting as a collaborative and unifying body. As such, it is a representation of the perspectives and stance of a majority 7 of African nations on various issues. It seeks to combat poverty, increase development and eradicate corruption. It has shown signs of being supportive 6 Recent Libyan conflict 7 Guinea and Niger are suspended members and Morroco has withdrawn from the Union

5 and receptive towards developmental aid and efforts made for the alleviation of poverty in its member states, such as the 2004 African Union Extra-ordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation. The alleviation of poverty has also remained an unchanging presence on its immediate agenda. The Union has continued to cooperate steadily with the UN itself. African nations have also remained largely receptive to international and UN commissioned initiatives to provide education and small-time business loans to act as a social leveler and pull those in poverty out of it. Some African nations such as Kenya and South Africa have also reviewed their educational policies and systems, seeking to cater to a wider group of people living in rural areas in the interest of promoting development. As such, The African Union and its members can be viewed as being highly positive, cooperative and supportive of efforts made to reduce poverty in its territories. The United States of America The United States of America has recognized the importance and need to alleviate poverty in African nations and has actively participated and led conferences to discuss possible solutions such as the previously mentioned G-8 Gleneagles Summit. Substantial promises have been made to African nations as to the alleviation of poverty through the provision of developmental aid and some of them have been fulfilled. These include the tripling of aid to African nations made by the Bush administration in 2006 as well as the maintenance of the USAID 8 agenda 9 to provide foreign assistance to African nations. The United States has maintained close political relations with African nations and has continued to supply aid to them in the interest of development. However, it is currently limited due to its own unfavorable financial circumstance, and thus is increasingly less able to dole out large amounts of aid. This circumstance has also caused it to reduce the priority of aid provision as it is first required to cope with the crippling effects on its national economy. As such, the United States has reduced pressure, priority and urgency with regards to inspiring the international community to provide developmental aid and resources to African nations. 8 Organization which conveys aid from America to various international communities 9 Africa remains the primary focus of the President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

6 China China has pledged and made consistent efforts toward the alleviation of poverty in African nations through the provision of developmental aid, in both monetary and resource form. President Hu Jintao and the Chinese administration have recognized the importance of economic development in the alleviation of poverty and has pledged to encourage Chinese investors to invest in Africa (through the provision of a $5 billion developmental fund), cancel debts, increase scholarships for Africans, grant preferential customs treatment and hence establish greater trade and economic zones in the region. China has also pledged to send youth workers, specialists and doctors into the stricken continent. From 2000 to 2009, China-African trade has risen by nearly 500%. A sequence of loans, development projects in health, agriculture and education have been proposed and steadily implemented by the Chinese people. Though affected by the current global financial crisis, China has continued to maintain and keep its promises to the continent by providing developmental aid. The wide spectrum of its types of aid has substantially benefitted various African nations. France France has maintained continuously consistent and generous commitment towards reducing poverty in Africa. In 2004, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) deemed France the most generous G7 (at the time) country in terms of the provision of aid and developmental assistance 10. Its rise in official developmental assistance- with more than half going to fulfilling the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty in Africa since 2004 to out USD $9 Billion has been commended in the international community. The French have recognized the importance of fair and democratic globalization in increasing trade, economic growth, development and poverty reduction. As such, it has sought to integrate African nations into the international trade economy by pursuing reforms and economic policies that allow such developing nations to export goods in which it has a comparative advantage. It was a major force 10 In terms of ODA/GNI ratio

7 behind the European Union plan to establish fairer trading conditions for cotton producing African nations. Though plagued by the troubles of a floundering European and Western economy, the French have continued to pursue numerous plans in the interest of reforming, increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of French aid to developing countries. UK The United Kingdom has taken the lead in tackling global poverty through the provision of developmental aid and has received similar commendation from the OECD as well as the international community. It is currently viewed as a model of good practice. The United Kingdom s Department For International Development (DFID) manages the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund (PRF), a 39 million grant facility to supply developmental aid and the similar to reduce global poverty. DFID has sought to promote development in countries stricken by poverty through promoting international trade, diplomacy, climate policy, business investments (and other economic activity within the nation itself) and the provision of traditional developmental aid. DFID s strong management, ensured through regular reviews and audits by the UK government in collaboration with the OECD, its purpose, committed and heavily performance-driven organizational structure has ensured the efficiency and effectiveness of its aid program. Norway Norway has received high commendations from OECD for its impressive track record in maintaining efforts to combat poverty through the provision of developmental aid. Its work in anti-corruption and the promotion of corporate ethical guidelines in business practices has also received international and UN approval. Norway remains a major contributor to humanitarian efforts as well. The Norwegian government continuously works toward harmonizing donor practices and aligning its poverty reduction program to the individual needs of each country. Norway was the first country to offer 100% debt forgiveness in the favor of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), in the interest of removing this substantial obstacle to economic and social development. It is currently the world s 9 th largest donor in aid volume- a

8 majority of which focuses on the fight against poverty with priority going to long term initiatives like education, health, HIV, and initiatives including water, energy, health and agriculture. The Norwegian model is vastly considered exemplary and its humanitarian policies are widely propagated among other UN member states committed to poverty reduction. Sub-Saharan African receives 48% of the Norwegian aid volume. South Africa South Africa has pursued poverty reduction on the basis of numerous internationally agreed framework such as the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs and the International Development Goals. It has sought more inclusive globalization through participation in the international community, be it in multilateral relations with other countries or trade-wise. To reduce inequality and allow the poorer echelons of its population to afford greater opportunities such as a higher level of education, the South African government has maintained various forms of social aids, subsidies and supplements through the Policy Co-ordination and Advisory Service unit within the presidency. This has resulted in a rise in income among the poorest of the population since South Africans living on the minimum wage level of R462 per month has decreased from 58% in 2000 to 48% in Since the leadership of Nelson Mandela, the former president of the nation widely considered to have been the catalyst for South Africa s successful poverty reduction, African nations have come a long way. Africa s literacy rate for female youths (aged 15 24) is currently at a substantial high of 98%, a vastly significant benchmark in the increase in opportunities and empowerment for its population, including its females. As such, South Africa remains a greatly exemplary model in the effectiveness of proper poverty reduction strategies in a nation plagued by the same geographical considerations and difficulties as the rest of its counterparts in the continent. Belgium Belgium has remained one of the largest, most substantial contributors to various UN initiatives in combating poverty through the provision of aid. This includes aid contribution to the support of various humanitarian causes initiated by the United

9 Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 11 and the UN Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) 12. In December 2009 Belgium declared a 10.6 million euro contribution to the WFP, bringing its total contributions for that year to a record high of 26 million euro. It has supported efforts to provide urgent food assistance to drought-affected regions in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Kenya and Sudan, as well as aid those affected by the high, greatly inflated food prices in Ethiopia. Belgium has also managed to allow the fund-short UNHAS to maintain operations to deliver aid workers, medicine, water, nutrition and other commodities through the provision of aid. Though its economy at present suffers from the sinking European economy, it has maintained its aid efforts and promises to the world. Timeline of Events OECD, WFP established 22 November UNDP established to promote development in the interest of ameliorating poverty and helping people build a better life UN recommits to alleviating poverty by recognizing the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 8 September Following a 3 day Millennium summit of world leaders, the UN General Assembly adopted the Millennium Declaration which indicates commitments to fulfilling the set MDGs by the year African Union formed G-8 Gleneagles Summit 11 An agency under the auspices of the UN committed to coordinating and promoting efforts in fighting global hunger. Currently the world s largest organization for this particular purpose. 12 Operated by the WFP s Aviation Unit acting for the humanitarian community at large to transport aid workers and essential resources to the hardest-to-reach, most exclusive areas in the world such as those devastated by conflict and natural disasters.

10 November China s President Hu Jintao announces plan to double aid to Africa by December UN General Assembly passes resolution A/60/492 on the eradication of poverty and other developmental issues, recommitting member states efforts in eradicating poverty September UN High Level Event on the MDGs September Review conference at the UN headquarters regarding the MDGs, global action plan to achieve MDGs by 2015 adopted Possible Solutions 1. Education: Education is widely viewed as a social leveler and a form of empowerment to the poor. As greater credentials usually warrant an increase in job status and income stability, it can help break the poverty cycle and provide social mobility to those currently trapped within it. As the world is becoming increasingly industrialized, mechanized and evolving further into the digital age, manual labour and related skills have become more obsolete while literacy is viewed with greater utility. Thus, education holds increasing determining power in the ability of one to secure a stable job. 2. Developmental Aid: The provision of developmental aid is the most direct, traditional way African nations have been helped in reducing poverty. What should be improved on today is not the amount of the aid, but the reduction of corruption and other forms of aid leakage that has rendered such developmental aid less efficient. Delegates should also attempt to consider determining a framework to decide how much each country should provide according to its current economic status. 3. Health & Sanitation: Due to a lack of proper resources such as clean drinking water and accessible health facilities, the African people are plagued by numerous diseases they are unable to treat due to a lack of resources. By

11 providing the proper water purification and sanitation facilities, the UN can significantly minimize the incidence of such unfortunate events and greatly increase the quality of life of such disadvantaged individuals. 4. Inclusive Globalization: Due to the unfortunately exclusive geographical location of the African continent (out of the international trade routes), it has been largely excluded from international trade initiatives and the globalization movement. By actively promoting and making allowances for African traders, the UN is able to allow them to reap the massive economic benefits world trade has brought to the rest of the world, increasing incomes and economic resources. This will promote development which will in turn alleviate poverty. Also, increasing diplomatic involvement and bilateral relations with various African nations will also allow for a greater cohesion in donor efforts and the needs of the country itself, benefitting the aid effort in general. 5. Debt Forgiveness: The copious amounts of debt developing African nations are saddled with compromises and restricts their potential for development and subsequent poverty alleviation. By agreeing to debt reduction and forgiveness, the UN is able to remove this obstacle and increase the potential and ability of such nations to develop. 6. Promoting Economic Development (at a basic level): Delegates may wish to consider the utilization of means such as micro-financing, employed most efficiently by the India-based Grameen Bank. The Bank provides small loans with minimal to no interest to impoverished individuals for the establishment of businesses and a sustainable means of lifestyle. This, at a very basic, headon level, deals with the issue of stagnant economic progress, aiding development and the alleviation of poverty in general. Bibliography " Contributions by UN related organization." Norway - Mission to the UN. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug <

12 " DFID - OECD commends UK efforts to reduce poverty." DFID - UK Department for International Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Belgium makes a record 26 million euro contribution to UN World Food Programme - Newsroom - Homepage - Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation." Buitenlandse Zaken, Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < 2010_os/january/ni_190110_record_contribution_wfp.jsp>. Booker, Salih. "Africa Policy Outlook 2006 FPIF." Foreign Policy In Focus International Affairs, Peace, Justice, and Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Bush seeks to double aid to Africa - World news - Africa - msnbc.com." msnbc.com - Breaking news, science and tech news, world news, US news, local news- msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "China to Double Aid to Africa - Worldpress.org." Worldpress.org - World News From World Newspapers. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Economist's View: Jeffrey Sachs: The Millennium Development Goals: Broken Promises." Economist's View. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < t_1.html>. Fletcher, Michael A.. "Bush Has Quietly Tripled Aid to Africa." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Globalization: The Solution to Global Poverty - The Daily Beast." The Daily Beast. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Interaction Assesses US Contribution to the MDGs End Poverty 2015." End

13 Poverty 2015 We are the generation that can end poverty. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "Solutions to World Poverty." World Poverty. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < "UNICEF - South Africa - Statistics." UNICEF - UNICEF Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug < ]