Egypt takes part in launching ‘Perception of Poverty in Africa’ for 2020

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by Dr. Sherifa Sharif, Executive Director of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, has actively participated in the launch of the "Perception of Poverty in Africa" ​​for the year 2020.

Dr. Sherif said in her speech, on behalf of Planning Minister Hala El-Said, that according to the report and the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020, there are millions of Africans suffering from hunger, lack of electricity, and insecurity.

Sherif added that more than 600 million Africans face electricity problems by lighting their homes with kerosene and candles, noting that more than 60% of young people were unemployed in 2019, while 60% of children are more affected, adding that according to the report, the issue is not limited to high levels of poverty. Among the younger groups, the severity of poverty is even more acute, following that young Africans today more than ever before need a government that provides solutions that enhance livelihoods and focuses on enhancing opportunities and wealth for its citizens.

Sherif added that today, as Africans, it is necessary to look at the challenges facing development internally and not focus on the prosperity of each country alone, noting that fighting poverty is a challenge facing the entire African continent.

Sherif affirmed the belief of the Egyptian state that the integration of Africa is what makes it able to withstand, which creates the basis for a flourishing resistance, adding that the regional integration of Africa creates more wealth for its citizens. She stressed the need for the union of all countries of the continent to achieve this goal.

Over recent decades, African countries have tried to confront the problems facing the continent one by one, Sherif said, explaining that fortunately this policy has changed, but there is still a long way to go when it comes to addressing poverty in developing countries whose people live on less than $2 a day.

Sherif added that in countries that do not have a large proportion of their population, consumption will be greatly restricted, noting that with limited consumption, the demand will become limited for goods and services, which will lead to the private sector's aversion to production, and this means that limited labor demand leads to severe unemployment, which leads to great poverty.

Sherif stressed that creating wealth is the real challenge for Africa to achieve a higher rate of consumption, which contributes to creating an incentive for the private sector to produce and employ. This could be a reality on the ground through a regionally integrated Africa, noting that poverty challenges should be addressed collectively side by side with the development community to promote solutions that create wealth and begin to eradicate poverty.

Sherif reviewed Egypt's experience in fighting poverty according to the latest statistics, where the percentage of youth in Egypt represents 65%, noting that for the first time in 20 years, the poverty rate in Egypt has decreased to 29.7% compared to 32.5% in 2017/2018, with a 16% increase in per capita income. She stressed that this is the result of the process of accelerating development through Egypt's Vision 2030 and the Egyptian Economic and Social Reform Program.

The program included social protection network packages, including Takaful and Karama, Dignified Life, and Survival Boats, in addition to proactive packages to support the informal sector during the pandemic period, explaining that all these details are mentioned in the report of the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Sherif added that despite the growth in the GDP of some African countries, the real GDP per capita is low, since although some African countries are rich, the individuals are poor, which explains that wealth in that country is concentrated in a limited number without meeting the needs of many, noting that inequality in Africa is a challenge that must be faced.