Data of Africa

Facts by data

Average age in 2022 :
 18.8 in Africa
 30.1 in the rest of the world
 42.4 in Europe
UN. Source: Statista (2022)

Threat

Diseases and devastating epidemics persist :
 Ebola
 HIV/AIDS
 Malaria
 Tuberculosis
 Meningitis

An increase in non-communicable diseases :
 Cardiovascular
 Cancers

African economies are not diversified
Very strong dependence on natural resources : 50-93%
Only four countries have an economic diversification index higher than the world average
1. South Africa
2. Egypt
3. Morocco
4. Tunisia

Source: United Nations African Development Report (2022)

Threats and challenges for development

Economic challenges :

 The stability of countries is obligatory (no development without stability)
 Only a fifth of Africans work in a wage economy.
 Significant informal sector (must be included in the formal sector)
 80% of the African economy is agrarian (need for industry)
 Infrastructure (roads, schools & universities, hospitals, etc.)
 Access to electricity and drinking water...)
 Translate growth into poverty reduction and improved well-being of the population
 Demographic control
 Change: from the extractive economy to a transformative economy
 The economy must be oriented towards local needs
 Regional and continental integration

Two major priorities :

1. Investing in its Youth (Education/Science) and its Infrastructure
2. Improve its Governance
10 scientific challenges for development
1. New resilient agriculture (combining AI, biotechnology and agriculture)
2. Food industry
3. Fertilizers (South-South collaboration)
4. Health Sciences
5. Water-energy-agriculture link
6. Water management and desalination combined with solar energy
7. Industry (Chemistry, Metallurgy, Mechanics, Electrical, IT, etc.)
8. Health economics (Medicine...)
9. Transforming the extractive economy into value-added products
10. Need for an African strategy for IT, AI, cybersecurity and defense
ASRIC : Must be given the necessary means to fully play its role as lever and engine to stimulate STI and STEM in Africa

Some perspectives

1. African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
2. Great Green Wall Initiative
3. African Union's Agenda 2063
4. Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI)
5. African Development Bank’s High 5 Agenda
6. Blue Economy
7. African Pharmaceutical Industry Development
8. African Union's Peace and Security Architecture

Example from Morocco

Morocco has no gas, no gasoline and only few natural resources. But it is thanks to the United Nations African Development Report (2023) :

 1st automobile manufacturer in Africa (Morocco World News, 2023)
 1st aeronautical hub in Africa
 1st Producer of fertilizers and phosphoric acid in Africa
 1st high-speed train in Africa, highways
 1st Cargo Port in Africa (Tangier-Med, Nador, Dakhla...)
 1st producer and exporter of fishery products in Africa
 1st world exporter of sardines (50% of world production)
 1st-2nd Financial Market (Stock Market)
 1st and largest concentrated solar power plant in the world
 1st African investor in West Africa and 2nd in all of Africa
 1st African country vaccinated against Covid-19 (January 2021)
 1st digital payment company on the continent (HPS: 3rd worldwide)
 1st ICT technologies in Africa (Monkey Insider Report 2023)
 1st Internet connectivity in Africa (Statista 2023)
 Access to electricity (≈100%) and water
 1st generalized health care and social insurance system in Africa (ongoing)
 2nd tourist country in Africa after Egypt
 2nd Destination for African students in Africa after South Africa
 2nd life expectancy in Africa
 2nd airline in Africa after Ethiopian Airlines (in 2023)
 4th, 5th and 10th bank in Africa after South Africa, Present in 25 African countries
 6th Telecom company in Africa (Maroc Telecom)
 5-10th Moroccan insurance companies

In addition : Large Moroccan companies in: Electricity, construction, agri-food, agriculture, electronics, textiles, professional training, dams, highways, electronics, design & crafts, disicybertech, etc.
Nigeria-Morocco pipeline

Conclusion

• Africans must believe in their abilities and rely on themselves
  
• Investing in HR (Youth)
  
• Investing in infrastructure, education and research-innovation
  
• Technological sovereignty (vaccines, drugs, medical devices, food safety, AI, water, energy, industry & new technologies, etc.)
  
• Shifting to a transformative economy
  
• Intra-African geopolitical and economic integration (coordinated efforts in the areas of economy, geopolitics, diplomacy and defense).
  
• Diversify international partnerships, but watch out for predators
  
• Better governance and inclusive development (Women, youth, remote areas) and distribution of wealth