African Summit

Goal 9 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group is “to build resilient infrastructure, prompt sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.” Sustainable Industrialization “involves developing roads, buildings, energy and water infrastructure with due consideration to economic, social and environmental implication/s.” For Africa, sustainable industrialization is not only a pathway to development, but a necessary way to address youth unemployment, economic diversification, and resilience to climate change. African countries recovering from centuries of colonial exploitation, have faced challenges in their movements toward industrialization. In an attempt to become less dependent on foreign imports, many nations have moved to Import Substitution Industrialization during the mid 19th century. This approach attempts to promote domestic production of goods previously brought in through unbalanced trade agreements, but corruption and poor planning prevented these plans from succeeding. Environmental concerns, such as deforestation and water pollution, have grown in recent decades, increasing the need for sustainable development. It is critically important for African countries to sustainably industrialize in order to adequately address poverty, dependence on the foreign investments, and promote an increased quality of life across Africa, while also ensuring the protection of the environment.

Healthcare involves the practice of preserving and maintaining the well-being of individuals and communities through licensed professionals. Healthcare is a fundamental human right, necessary for long life expectancies and quality of life. Adequate health care systems have many requirements, such as human resources, which involves the training and oversight of doctors, nurses, and administrators. Other requirements include funding, either private or state sponsored, and accessibility for all citizens. Other important aspects of healthcare focus on the prevention of diseases , such as immunizations, clean water, and nutritious food. During Africa’s colonial era, the majority of healthcare systems were designed to help the colonial governments rather than the African populations. Overcoming these historical challenges is crucial for a healthy and prosperous future for Africa.

Political corruption is defined by the Museum of Political Corruption as “the misuse of power for personal gain” and includes “bribery, extortion, nepotism, sextortion, patronage, influence peddling, graft, and embezzlement.” Centralized colonial empires in the early-to mid 20th century have left behind fragile independent states who inherited authoritarian institutions, which tend to breed corruption. The colonial empires deliberately underdeveloped local political and civic institutions that help balance against centralized power in order to prevent rebellion. Without the safety net systems of modern democratic states, new leaders functioned similarly to empires, exchanging Africa’s valuable resources for personal gain, rather than the prosperity of the continent. Corruption is fueled through clientelism, where political leaders receive support by exchanging goods and services. Corruption threatens the rule of democracy, allowing for leaders to rule unchecked. The success of any programs aimed at helping Africa depends on the support of honest and democratic governments, making the fight against corruption a top priority for this committee.