A FEEEDS BlogSpot
US-Africa Relationship: Its Elements &
Why It is Important
Gannon University
Erie, Pennsylvania, Wednesday October
29, 2014
The New Global Community
It is said that every decade or so our world creates a new
global order – as generations shift, leaderships transform, visions change, and
creativity and innovation force us all to live our lives better, longer,
differently and certainly with more challenges. Today’s global landscape is
much, much different than it was 10 years ago, 5 years ago, or even earlier
this year.
If you are following the international news today you can see
how much the world has changed just this year with the surge of the Islamic
State, the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, and the continuing conflicts in
Syria, and Libya.
We are living in extraordinary times as world challenges are
increasingly more daunting, but equally so are the enormous opportunities to
make a positive difference, and further expand positive US relations at a time
when a segment of the world views our superpower status as a negative, or a clash
of civilizations -- contrary to their socio-political perceptions or extremism.
Unfortunately in the last few years some of these issues have manifested themselves
into horrible acts of terrorism.
However, there are new partners and friends, political and
economic, out there for the U.S. to further engage with during these turbulent
times and beyond. I would also argue that Africa is one of those world regions. I believe the U.S. leadership is now focusing
more on the region in a way that it has never done before – comprehensively and
strategically – as was evident this summer by the first-ever U.S. Africa Summit August 4-6. 2014, hosted by a U.S. President, sitting
or otherwise. So why is Africa important, you might ask, particularly in the
global landscape I just highlighted for you?
Who are the New Emerging African Leader
Nations?
So let’ start with answering these questions – why is this
region important, and what does this region mean for and to the United States
as a strategic political, economic, or cultural partner. In other words: What are the important elements of a US-Africa
relationship?
If we look at the three themes from the historic US-Africa Summit this summer, I believe you
will see why the Africa Region is vital to the U.S. now and over the coming
years
The themes were:
-- Investing in Africa’s future;
-- Peace and Regional Stability; and,
--
Governing for the Next Generation
Africa’s population today is reportedly 1.1 billion and it is on course to reach 2.4 billion people by 2050.
Its current average yearly growth rate is 2.45
per cent, which might remain constant or even grow higher over the next
decades, increasing that 2.4 billion number.
The most significant figure, within the population numbers I
just cited, is the youth figure (ages 10-30), representing about 50 percent of the region’s population now, and will cross
over that 50 per cent mark in the next two decades.
These stats will move Africa from the second most populated region in the world to the largest.
However, most will remain below the poverty level if current development
doesn’t triple since the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) will not be met
by most countries next year.
Here
are the reasons I see that make the points I just described and the type of
relationship that the U.S. forges with the Continent over the next decade --
increasingly important.
I am arguing that demographics and geographics are strategic
issues for the United States as it looks forward in the 21st Century for:
- New Allies,
- Partners on political and economic policy, culturally; and
especially in,
- International arenas such as the United Nations, World Trade
Organization, Organization of Islamic States, African Union, G-77, Arab League,
etc.;
- Africa is the now the new frontier for these policies, business,
emerging markets opportunities, and counter terrorism partnerships.
The above elements are all wrap-up, in my view, in
the two strategic points of demographics and geographics as they impact
today's geo-political relationships and outcomes on:
Economic disparity and population breakdowns
by age and gender to;
World resource locations (where is the oil, where
are the minerals, jobs, lack of jobs,
land and water resources etc.); and,
Religious differences or groups that might impact
world views, encourage conflicts, affect perceptions of an action or statement, particularly by the U.S. Government.
In essence what are the human, regional, or country
cultural differences about which we need to be aware and better understand. All of these elements fall under my demographic and
geographic umbrella of issues as they affect geo-political and economic relationships,
and world views which can be very different from our own. Therefore, since I
want to leave the global leaders at Gannon University something to think about
-- you as future leaders will have to take these elements into account. And, certainly
many others.
NEXT STEPS?
So what are the next steps?
How do we address the elements highlighted above, build on the US-Africa
Summit that I mentioned, add new elements, particularly the role of the African
Diaspora (1.6 million, U.S. Census 2014 figure
for African-born immigrants), in helping to ensure we have a positive relationship with the
Continent, particularly since half of the region’s large population will be
under the age of 30 – prime education; prime wage-earning years; prime years
to be influenced as partners.
Keep in mind my introductory comments as to the current
challenges the U.S. has today with some in this age group in certain parts of
the world (and
even lately within the United States with the young
girls from Colorado, and others from Alabama, Minnesota, North
Carolina, United Kingdom and other places being attracted to join groups like
the Islamic
State, Somalia’s Al
Shabaab, or terrorists groups such as AQIM or AQAP).
We have to begin to address further why this age group, in some
parts of the world, is feeling disenfranchised enough to be attracted to these terrorists
groups which also see the U.S. system, its benefits, and our way of life as enemies to how they see the world or their communities.
Given that Africa will be the largest populated region in the world,
with the largest group of people from ages 10-30 years of age for the foreseeable future, we have to find ways to
change this.
So I want to give you some additional context as to the challenges
and positives we can build on:
Challenges:
--
75 million – current number of young Africans looking for work now, out of
the 1.2 billion working age population world-wide looking for work;
--
10 million – number of young Africans of working age added yearly to the
75 million already seeking jobs/employment according to the African Union
(Political Body of African States);
--
547 million – number of Africans living without electricity and energy;
--
$1.25 – average amount many Africans live on per day, with no hopes
to change this, and few opportunities to improve the quality of life for their
families, have access to education, clean water, and face the challenges of
poverty every single day;
--
3 per cent – number of African adults with credit cards; only a
quarter of African Adults have accounts at a formal financial institution;
-- I
would be remiss if I didn’t mentioned Ebola for the West Africa Region as thus
far the virus has cost the economies of the 3 countries involved more than $807
million to date, and taken the lives of 4,000 people.[ii]
-- 9-10 - number of countries FEEEDS Initiative counts with terrorism challenges.
The Positives:
Today
many Africans see the U.S. in a positive light particularly 15 of the key economic or political powerhouses such as Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania,
Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Mozambique, and many others; But we will need to work harder to keep their interest;
--
7 out of the 10 fastest growing economics in the world are in Africa (although
these economic gains are yet to reach the masses, however, the lives and prospects of
some are changing because of these improvements, and producing a
growing middle class).Trickle down economics must come into play more to change the lives of the masses;
--
90 million people in the middle (or consuming) class,
largest number the region has ever had, up by 31 million in last 10 years;
--
650 million – represents the number of mobile
phones in Africa of which Nigeria has 100 million. (NB: World Bank notes six billion mobiles world-wide of
which 5 billion are in the developing world, combining Asia, Africa, and Latin America);
-- Last
but not least, the region has collectively a $50 billion[iii] dollar economy – making it one of the largest
potential markets for U.S. goods, services, investment, trade, and business
relationships.
I have pointed out these positives and challenges because, as the global landscape continues to change rapidly, we need to not only build on existing friendships, but also ensure that the next generation of young Africans sees the U.S. as a friend and a partner even when and if we differ on policy points.
So what can the U.S. do to help further build this
relationship, this partnership that I am talking about so we have friends that
we know, and that know us, in this large population, including expanding our
part in their emerging market growth, and assisting those in the Sahel Region
in the counter terrorism fight?
So What Can the US Do?
I believe we can help on:
-- Poverty Solutions - combating poverty and its elements (hunger, food security, education, particularly for at-risk groups such as women, girls, youth, the disabled, and elderly);
-- Use Information Technology to develop
“work around solutions” to social and political challenges -- using the 650
million mobile phones, and other appropriate technology, on the Continent to do
so, particularly as regards to financial literacy (see Operation HOPE), and empowerment;
-- Assist with climate smart food
security solutions, and developing climate smart energy answers to bring
electricity and energy to the many Africans without it today;
-- Help with the housing deficit (if you
are poor you are also likely not to have good shelters or shelter at all);
-- Work with governments to continue to
improve transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and the capacity of government
institutions to respond and support the needs of its people;
-- Be creative on education (include
vocational, add more entrepreneurial, SME training); and,
-- Help expand the number of Small and Medium
Size Enterprises (SMEs) as this will grow the Continent’s middle class
from its current 313 million. We
all have heard that the 280 million SMEs in the US help make up our middle
class and are the backbone of our society; for Africa that role would be no
different.[iv]
As we in the United States
lean forward, or look ahead far enough at these demographics and the array of
geo-political issues they might present for us, we need to ensure that Africa
continues to move up on our list of key places to be fully engaged at all
levels (politically,
economically, and even more importantly culturally). Thus, we need to:
Think about building more relations based on partnerships; and;
- Think about the strategic long term with these emerging African nations,
its leaders, and its people.
So How Do We Engage Differently?
We
must engage differently than we have in the past; we must listen more; understand the human cultural differences; and understand that each country may
have its path to solidifying its own democracy; keeping in mind this means they must protect
all human rights in the process. The question is how we assist, if asked to help,
while also taking care of some of the same issues right here at home.
We
can seek to share our values and principles without appearing heavy-handed, and
unconcerned about the plight that everyday people face with the searing
demographics I just mentioned.
I do believe that there are global human values that most people
hold dear: they want to be able to feed, clothes and house their families; live
with dignity and respect for human rights; have access to affordable health care,
and education for their children; earn a living wage through job creation or
through entrepreneurial expression; provide a voice for the voiceless; encourage
free press and good governance within recognized legal and transparent regulatory
frameworks; and, a have reduction/elimination in corruption.
Although the U.S. Government
has improved greatly over the last decade, with programs such as FEED the Future (Food Security), Power
Africa (Energy), PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS), MCC (Infrastructure), etc., (all my favorites) we need to continue
to move away from providing our tacit support for some governments who are not
doing the right thing in taking care of its people. In addition, as we encourage more peaceful,
transitions to change from closed to open societies, this may sometimes mean
a longer term processes without calling immediately for elections; we tend to think elections solve everything. Elections can only do that if the ground work is stable and strong; longer transitions (with the right democratic elements) may be needed to build a lasting enabling environment. The world is
interconnected and what happens elsewhere, I think many Americans now are
realizing, can and will eventually affect us.
In concluding,
To the Gannon University students
here this evening knowing that your intervening college years will provide you
with the building blocks to become global leaders, I hope in the midst of your
time here integrity, fairness, and respect are also the other take aways.
I, however, would like you to add to
your list the need for a better appreciation of human and country cultural
values (what I have been calling in my
lectures -- human cultural communication), and the demographics (many of which
I mentioned here tonight and during my week-long lectures) that would go with
them.
It is a complicated, tough global
environment, and players and challenges will constantly change. You will need to
understand and try to address these changes without losing the sense of who we
are as a nation.
We must fight enemies whenever and wherever we can, but not pick
fights unnecessarily. This includes
being tolerant of others who see the world differently as long as they do not
choose to do us harm, and are not committers of horrible human rights acts, and terrorism. We do not always have to agree but in the first order
seek ways to work together for the greater good.
President Eisenhower in the 1950s use to call this “thinking in time;” meaning[v]:
Thinking strategically about the times in which you live;
I would add to that today – to also
draw on lessons learned from history in the process. Think smart about the
global environment we are in as you will be part of the new global leadership.
So, Lead, Inspire, Reach Out, in shaping the new global landscape.
I will be counting on you, America’s students today, to do this for our future
and for our country’s tomorrow. Thank you.
Endnotes:
[i] 9/19/14 CCTV TV live newscast, Miriam
Kalma reporting)
[ii] CCTV 9/19/14 live TV newscast Africa Live Report
[iii] UN Week 2014, McKinsey Session on Nigeria, Remarks by
Director Richard Dobbs, New York Palace Hotel, N.Y.
[iv] U.S. Small Business Regional III Advocate
Official Speech, July 10, 2014, Gallup Headquarters, Washington, D.C. at the
FEEEDS-Gallup & Partners,US-Africa Summit Forum
[v] 2012
speech, Commandant Eisenhower Resources College, National Defense University,
Washington, D.C. on occasion of ICAF College name change
