As we have seen poverty is the biggest challenge facing Africa. Even so, two major countries China and India have effectively lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in the last 10 to 30 years. According to “The Borgen Project” China has risen from being categorized as a developing country in the 1970s and 1980s to become a World Power and the world’s biggest manufacturing hub. The Chinese model has been to Open its Economy for Trade. To diversify the marketplace, improve agricultural practices and implement education reforms. And all of these they have undertaken simultaneously. This model has proven effective as the poverty level dropped from 88% in 1978 to 1.85% in 2018, with an astounding 850 million people reported to have been lifted out of poverty within that time frame.
I believe that Africa can learn from China’s ongoing war against poverty? I think that the can do attitude of the Chinese Government gave birth to the tremendous success it has experienced over the last few years. The Chinese Government in 1970s believed that they could do it and successive administrations have carried on the effort and improved on the model. Africa can effectively reduce poverty in the next few years if takes a more aggressive approach by leveraging on technology and investing in human resources like China is doing.
So in the end, for Africa to lift millions out of poverty it needs to concentrate on investing in people and ending corruption and all forms of inefficiency in order to build its infrastructure and also prevent ethnic conflicts and rivalries. Finally the ability to build productive relationships and partnerships with successful foreign partners will lock in the gains of investing in people.
