Economic development through reform of public sector management in Africa - Introduction
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Written by Akli Hadid
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Monday, 06 August 2007
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 The world has to know that Africa has implemented several projects to improve its economic and social situation as a full member of the world economy. But, Africa has to reform its economy and state role and functions. Those reforms pertain to public sector management as a central feature of economic policy reform. In a series of 7 articles Akli Hadid will tackle the different issues to assess the importance of the reform of public sector management in Africa as a relevant path to achieve and accelerate development on the continent.
Introduction: why analyze Africa’s case?
Africa’s economic situation is far behind that of other continents. Economic indicators speak for themselves. In terms of GDP, Africa as a whole ranks after a small country like the Netherlands. If we measure Africa’s GDP by Purchasing Power Parity, Africa ranks after Russia. The continent accounts for only 2% of world trade with 14% of the world population. If we compare it with other continents, the European Union and the US combined account for 12% of the world’s population but represent 40% of world trade and 60% of the world’s GDP. China accounts for 6% of world trade and 16% of the world population. The United Nations combined member states GDP PPP per capita, is 8,604 US dollars while Africa’s GDP PPP per capita is 2,406 US Dollars. According to the United Nations Human Development report, out of 54 African nations, 25 ranked lowest, that is a little less that half the countries. Therefore if a world economic crisis erupts, Africa would be even worse off. On the other hand, it is recognized that the world needs Africa. It comprises 70% of the world’s strategic minerals, including gold and aluminum. Therefore the world economy would suffer if Africa’s plight would continue. Africa’s case is worth analyzing also because Africa emerged to independence in the late 1950s after suffering during centuries of the slave trade and colonial occupation and exploitation. This has left a heavy legacy of poverty and illiteracy. In addition, inadequate policies followed in the post-independence era have contributed to the fact that Africa remained the poorest continent, which the recent process of globalization at the international level has marginalized even more. Therefore, it is important to assess the importance of the reform of public sector management in Africa as a relevant path to achieve and accelerate development on the continent. In so doing, it is necessary to bear in mind the special circumstances of the continent, for the historical reasons we have recalled above, which make the challenge of reform a very difficult one requiring not only the mobilization of African governments, civil society and people, but also adequate support and cooperation on the part of developed countries and international organizations. The world has to know that Africa has implemented several projects to improve its economic and social situation as a full member of the world economy. Over the past twenty years, there has also been vast movements of democratization, improvement of the quality of governance and progress towards sustainable development. It is therefore interesting to see a continent that, despite major discrepancies between rich and poor nations within it, Africa is emerging to become one of the most attractive markets in the world. China is obviously aware of Africa’s potential as it started to invest in Africa like no other country, despite all the hardships and uncertainties. Indeed, in 2005, there were 820 Chinese companies in Africa. China has become Africa’s second largest trading partner with 39.7 billion US Dollars in 2005. This year, foreign direct investment in Africa went up by 65%. That is an indicator that more and more countries want to trade and invest in Africa. But as we will see, Africa has to reform its economy and state role and functions in order to secure a friendly climate for investors and trade. Those reforms pertain to public sector management as a central feature of economic policy reform. Though some twenty years ago, Africa started reforming its public management sector, several impediments halted or delayed the reforms. At times, reforms were not carried out properly. It is not due to lack of enthusiasm or endeavor, but rather due to lack of efficiency, lack of accountability, ineffective management practices and corruption, and to a large extent, lack of institutional and human capacities. We will tackle all these issues while proceeding to an overview of African politics and economy, then we will study the challenges facing African development. In a third section, we will have a brief look at the initiatives taken for economic development in Africa. In a fourth part we will see the challenges that African governance faces, then in a fifth part we will discuss barriers to public sector reforms, then we will have a look at public sector reforms in the past twenty years. Lastly, we will look at the prospects of public sector management reform before attempting, in the concluding section, to emphasize the main findings of the preceding sections. Akli Hadid Seoul (South Korea)
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Non ce n'est pas une affiche de campagne en Turquie, mais bien celle du parti socialiste autrichien (SPÖ) pour les élections d'octobre prochain à Vienne. Après les affiches de campagne de Strache qui plaide pour le " pur sang viennois" c'est la course au populisme?
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La deuxième rencontre du cycle
“LA DEMOCRATIE EN DANGER”,
consacrée à la Justice en Europe
Le lundi 13 septembre
de 19h30 à 22h00
Salons de l’Aveyron
17 Rue de l'Aubrac
75012 Paris
 A l’heure où les discours et les mesures sécuritaires et judiciaires se durcissent dans nombreux pays européens, où l’on sait les atteintes aux droits les plus élémentaires et aux principes fondamentaux des simples citoyens, quels traitements sont réservés à ceux qui tiennent les pouvoirs politiques, financiers, économiques entre leurs mains? Une conférence-débat organisée dans le cadre du cycle La démocratie en danger par Les Amis de Beppe Grillo à Paris et le NewropMag.
Intervenants: les députés européens Luigi De Magistris, Sonia Alfano et Rosario Crocetta ; Harald Greib, vice-président de Newropeans en charge des affaires des institutions européennes ; Eric Alt, magistrat, membre de l’association MEDEL (magistrats européens pour la démocratie et les libertés) et de l’association Anticor, et Corinne Lepage, députée européenne et ex Ministre de l’environnement, engagée dans la lutte contre la corruption politique et financière.
Parmi les sujets de discussion:
- L'infiltration des organisations criminelles et le vide législatif relatif en Europe
- Les récentes dépénalisations des crimes financiers et économiques en Italie, en France et leur traitement au sein des institutions européennes
- Présomption d'innocence ou de culpabilité? L'exemple de la “loi bâillon” sur les écoutes téléphoniques qui viole les recommandations de l’OSCE concernant l’emploi de sources et de matériels nécessaires aux investigations journalistiques au service de la démocratie.
Contacts:
Micaela Bracciaferri, Coordinatrice “Les Amis de Beppe Grillo à Paris »
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