Had some free time today and did 6
6- Population in Africa is rising at a rapid rate and with expanding prosperity. Discuss the opportunities and challenges this brings to the continent from a sustainability point of view.
The greatest benefit to the rising population in Africa is that there are a lot of young, working-age people that can create economic opportunities. Much like populous China, the growing number of people has the potential of becoming a huge asset for economic growth in the continent. However, the rapid increase in population also has its negative sides. The African Development Bank estimates that more than 10 million new jobs must be created each year to absorb the number of young people entering the workface, which is not an easy task for many poor African countries. Another aspect is education. Almost a third of children in sub-Saharan Africa don’t attend school, and on average just 4 % of the population completes university. A lot of African countries also struggle to feed its population. A rapidly growing population will put an even bigger pressure on these already fragile economies. To tackle this issue African politicians must invest heavily in infrastructure and public services such as water and electricity to serve a rapidly urbanizing citizenry. Africa must also think anew when it comes to sustainable agriculture so that it can feed its growing population.
