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Poverty, Inequality and Social Development in Africa

Poverty is comparable to, but distinguishable from, inequality; the latter focuses on

the entire allocation of well-being, while the former is only associated with the bottom end of

the apportionment (people living below impoverishment line). Economic inequality is

frequently found in connection with other structural disparities experienced by marginalized

people. The disparity is categorized and identified through factors such as sexuality,

impairment, nationality, or race. This paper will discuss the three subjects of poverty,

inequality, and social development in Africa and time deliberate on their causes and impacts.

Poverty in Africa

There are numerous causes of high poverty on the African continent, some of which

are inextricably linked. The following are some of the leading causes of impoverishment in

this region that are instigating misery to millions of people.

Population increase

Despite multiple information and intervention initiatives, the number of inhabitants in

this part of the world is rising rapidly while at the same time food production is declining at

an alarming rate (Odusola, 2017). Developmental achievement and economic expansion

cannot maintain with this trend, and as a result, an increasing number of people live in

squalor.

Conflict and Economic Turmoil

Consequently, the majority of the world's wars are fought in poor regions, such as

conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Mali, Somalia, and Nigeria (Odusola,

2017). The result of this is impoverishment of the populations involved, which is caused by

economic and social instability brought about by these wars. Subsequently, agricultural

production generally comes to a halt in crisis-affected areas. Thus, since this is the backbone

of the African economy, the consequences are severe. Furthermore, many citizens either flee,
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are forcefully displaced, or are reliant heavily on external assistance. As a consequence of

these conflicts, poverty in Africa is rising.

Change in Climate

For a long period, adverse change in climate has also been wreaking havoc on the

African continent in recent decades, causing severe flooding and droughts that have led in

crop failures (Odusola, 2017). As a result, this area is experiencing frequent hunger problems

and famine with East Africa and the Sahel being badly affected (Odusola, 2017). The

destruction to property, land and infrastructure leaves the populations vulnerable to drought

and hunger.

Diseases

In Africa, sicknesses, including AIDS, malaria, and Ebola, are also a concern and an

outcome of impoverishment. Illnesses spread rapidly and cannot be handled in many areas

due to a lack of education and insufficient health care facilities and programs (Odusola,

2017). The demographics’ average lifespan is declining, while the number of orphans is

expanding. Labor shortages are especially noticeable in agriculture, resulting in lower food

security.

Inappropriate Agricultural infrastructure

Moreover, from roadways, water sources, irrigation systems, warehouses, farm

equipment - agricultural development lacks infrastructure and competence in many African

countries. That is why the private sector is critical in combating poverty. Wealthy nations

have also developed oppressive trading frameworks by insulating their markets with costly

agricultural levies and massively subsidizing their product manufacturing (Thebe, 2017). As

a result, food production on the African continent is slowed, allowing it to suffer from the

start. Due to their regulations, wealthy nations from the West other prosperous countries

contribute to Africa's deprivation.

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Inequality in Africa

Disparities in Africa vary by country, but the most obvious difference is the forces

that influence them. Inequality can be caused by a lack of land access, resources, unequal tax

systems, increased susceptibility to undesirable international markets, massive corruption,

and dynastic distribution of public resources (Carr-Hill, 2017). Whatever a nation's particular

heritage and conditions, several interventions, such as boosting profitability among local

producers and maintaining women's access to land, have proved particularly successful in

addressing disparities throughout the region. Other measures include overturning bias in

services and economic prospects, supporting labor-intensive industrial sectors, establishing

minimum wages. Lastly is the bolstering capacities to prevent the rich from tax evasion,

implementing solid programs and policies, and putting and averting all forms of

discrimination (Carr-Hill, 2017). Even though gender disparities exist in all nations, they are

earnest in Africa, and seem to be usually overestimated in most traditional metrics.

How Poverty and Inequality Affect Social Development

In Africa, the eventual level of unevenness affects the efficiency of development to

reduce poverty because more efficient use of capital and assets offers the underprivileged

fewer means and prospects to generate wealth. Moreover, inequality harms economic growth

by limiting educational opportunities for children from low-income families, reducing

socialization, and impeding creative thinking (Roelen, 2017). It also has an impact on how

people perceive those around them and their sense of happiness.

Moreover, people in poor countries are less inclined to trust one another or participate

in social or civic activities. This occurrence results in lack of economic mobility due to little

or no commitment or participation in developmental activities. Furthermore, poverty has a

detrimental effect on the well-being, social, mental, and intellectual ability, behavior, and

academic performance of African children (Roelen, 2017). Destitution has imposed

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tremendous pressure on families in most countries in, occasioning to parental, psychological

well-being, relationship disputes, economic hardships, and drug misuse (Roelen, 2017). All

of these factors have combined to create a barrier to social advancement on the African

continent.

Conclusion

African countries must first attempt to change their leadership style; issues of

misappropriation, bias in different economic sectors, and poor management of projects must

be tackled effectively. Otherwise, if left unresolved, these issues will remain unfixed

irrespective of how much aid Africa collects from the West. Nevertheless, for poverty in

Africa to be successfully managed, authorities and populations should take the first initiative

by establishing corruption-free progressive governments headed by competent, qualified,

eligible, broadminded leaders elected through the fair election process.

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References

Carr-Hill, R. (2017). Improving population and poverty estimates with citizen surveys:

Evidence from East Africa. World Development, 93, 249-259.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.12.017

Odusola, A. (2017). Fiscal space, poverty and inequality in Africa. African Development

Review, 29(S1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12229

Roelen, K. (2017). Monetary and multidimensional child poverty: A contradiction in

terms? Development and Change, 48(3), 502-533. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12306

Thebe, V. (2017). Cultivating an agrarian middle class? Land reform, poverty reduction and

social stratification in Southern Africa. Africa Review, 9(2), 186-204.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09744053.2017.1339399