How can we help Africa?

How can we help Africa?

Africa has always been perceived to be the continent where a majority of population lives under the poverty line as defined by the UN. The simplest definition that UN offers for the poverty line is people who earn less than a US Dollar a day and survive on it. Africa is like a blotch on humankind for reasons that have never been defined and we need to garner a collective effort to bring up the economy and make for better life conditions in the continent.

All through the years we have seen collective aid garnered by G8 and other gatherings helping Africa come out of its poverty and better the living conditions. The following could be a few alternatives to achieve the objective – How can we help Africa?

1. G8 has decided to double the Africa aid. However, with the question hanging on the fact “how much of such aid actually reaches the needy?” it is best to think in terms of reducing such aid or phasing it out completely. In fact some Ugandan and Kenyan newspapers have reported that most of such aid goes to the bureaucratic institutions and not to the deservedly needy.
2. Classified debt relief: To cut losses and start afresh, the government used debt relief as an aid to improve African living conditions. However, not much prudence is being used in this realm by powers that are resulting in setting a precedent where debt relief comes for an exchange.
3. Free Trade: Live 8 organizers have come up with free trade as a good measure to make Africa self sufficient in the coming years. This however can only be bought upon by World Trade Organization when they meet next to negate the agricultural subsidies offered by developing nations and foster a free trade with Africa, so that the continent of poor countries can get on its feet with confidence in the near future.
4. Microfinance: Encouraging microfinance that can reach the grassroots and develop the economies from the bottom to top strategy would be good to empower the needy and build a sturdy continent.
5. Corruption: Cutting down on corrupt regimes and dictatorial African states would be good step forward to make sure that Africa grows unbound and confident.

Although there are many other ideas to make sure that the African continent grows in stature, the above are only beginning arguments to ponder and think about in our quest – “How can we help Africa?”