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Show COMPACT MAKES RECOMlvlENDATIONS FOR AFRICA A blue ribbon commit~ formed by the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations and the Overseas Development Council has made recommendations entitled ..Compact for African Development.., for a U.S. committment to long-term support in exchange for a African committment to implement reforms and improve economic performance. In support of their recommendations the committee issued a report 'Which included the f ollo\.\Ting background facts: 1. No other region of the devloped or developing world finds itself in such a steep and steady decline as Africa. 2. Per capita food production in Africa is declining while population growth rates are soaring. 3- The Famine in Africa has led to a dramatic deterioration in the health of it's people, particularly the children and elderly. 4. More than twenty of the world's thirty-four poorest countries are located in Africa. 5. Africa is host to half of the world's estimated 10 million refugees. 6. Perhaps 60 percent of the people in Africa consume fewer calories each day than are thought to be necessary for normal life. 7. Roads, educational systems, communication networks, and buildings are deteriorating rapidly, and enormous resources are needed just to maintain and preserve these past investments. 8. Africa faces a critical shortage of profe-c..,sional, technicians and managers. 9. By the end of 1986, the payments required to cover the interest on Africa ·s debts i-+lill be equal to two-thirds of all the money the continent receives in aid, leaving very little for new development efforts. 10. Although women account for 70 percent of the food production in Africa, to date-, research has largely negled:.ed the food crops most commonly gro~ by African women; tubers, sorghum and millet.. \iv'hich provide the staple diet for more than half of Africa·s people and it has failed to develop technologies for simplifying food processing. Besides stating the grave weaknesses, the report on Africa included striking strengths, some of 'A71"1ich follow: * Ten years have been added t:> average lifespans during the past three decades. * Adult lit:e-racy has almost tripled, from 16 percent in 1960 to 43 percent in 1980. * Thousands of miles of new reads and railroads have been constructed. * A few countries, for example Mala-vvi, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast have made significant strides in agricultural development 'V-!hile others, including Botswana and Carneroon_.have sho'V\rn excellent financial rr1anagement., keeping irnports within limits imposed by export revenues. * African people have made great personal sacrifices . "Vvilling1y sr..ending large proportions of their minimal income to educate their children and often sharing v-that little they have with others "'+lt10 a.re rnore needy. continued on ptlge 13 Salt Lake Voter -12- September 19&6 |
