Africa must eradicate poverty, build shared prosperity

AFRICA must be determined to eradicate poverty and build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the continent.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement is an ambitious trade pact to form the world’s largest free trade area by connecting almost 1,3 billion people across 54 African countries.

The African Union’s emphasis on accelerating human capital development on the continent is certainly not misplaced.

Human capital development is a determined effort to grow the knowledge, skills and capabilities of all the citizens in society.

These efforts have a potential to bring about wider societal benefits through social and economic development, leading to increased productivity both in the private and public sector.

Africa Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework with seven aspirations, each with its own set of goals which, if achieved, will move Africa closer to attaining its vision of a prosperous Africa by the year 2063.

The seven aspirations reflect the desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youths are realised and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

It is a well-established fact that poorly nourished societies struggle to build human capital, whereas human capital development thrives in well-nourished societies.

Food security is, therefore, essential to Africa’s human capital development and securing the resultant benefits of social and economic growth and development.

Food security in Africa must be prioritised.

Africa must stand in solidarity with one another in building social protection mechanisms, accelerating human social and economic development. Further Afrika