缅北禁地

26 October 2017 鈥� If Africa is to keep pace with an unprecedented demographic transition 鈥� Africa鈥檚 under-18 population will reach 750 million by 2030 鈥� scaled-up investment in health, education and women鈥檚 protection and empowerment will be needed or the continent will face a 鈥榖leak鈥� future, the United Nations Children鈥檚 Fund () reported Thursday.

鈥淚nvesting in health, protection, and education must become an听听for Africa between now and 2030,鈥� said Leila Pakkala, 缅北禁地Children Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

According to UNICEF鈥檚 report听, some 11 million education and health personnel will be needed to keep pace with the projected unprecedented population growth of children in Africa 鈥� an increase of 170 million children between now and 2030.

鈥淲e are at the most critical juncture for Africa鈥檚 children,鈥� Ms. Pakkala underscored. 鈥淕et it right, and we set the foundation for a demographic dividend, which could lift hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty, and contribute to enhanced prosperity, stability, and peace.鈥�

The report identifies three key issues for investment: health care, education and the protection and empowerment of women and girls. Concretely, to meet minimum international standards in health care and best practice targets in education, Africa will have to add 5.6 million new health workers and 5.8 million new teachers by 2030.

According to the report, almost half of the continent鈥檚 population is under 18 years old 鈥� and the majority of the population in around one-third of the 55 African Union member States is children. Current projections foresee the number of Africa鈥檚 children topping one billion by 2055.

鈥業magine the potential of one billion children鈥�

鈥淚magine the potential of one billion children,鈥� said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF鈥檚 Regional Director for West and Central Africa. 鈥淚f Africa steps up its investments in children and youth now, transforms its education systems and empowers women and girls to participate fully in community, workplace and political life, it will be able to reap faster, deeper and longer dividends from its demographic transition.鈥�

Conversely, if investments do not occur in Africa鈥檚 youth and children, the once-in-a-generation opportunity of a demographic dividend may be replaced by a demographic disaster, characterized by unemployment and instability.

UNICEF recommends three policy actions to create the socio-economic conditions for Africa鈥檚 coming generations.

The first is to improve health, social welfare, and protection services to meet international standards; or beyond, in countries close to attaining them.

Secondly, it recommends Africa's educational skills and vocational learning system be adapted through curricula reform and access to technology to meet the needs of a twenty-first century labour market.

The report also prescribes that Africa secures and ensures the right to protection from violence, exploitation, child marriage and abuse; removes barriers preventing women and girls from participating fully in community, workplace and political life; and enhances access to reproductive health services.

Credit: UNICEF