Congressional Program

CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM Africa’s Emergence: Challenges and Opportunities for the U.S. August 13-19, 2013 Vol. 28, No. 3 Dan Glickman Vice President, The Aspen Institute Executive Director, Congressional Program Washington, DC This project was made possible by grants from the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Copyright © 2013 by The Aspen Institute The Aspen Institute One Dupont Circle, NW Washington, DC 20036-1133 Published in the United States of America in 2013 by The Aspen Institute All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 0-89843-597-8 Pub #13/029 1954/CP/BK Table of Contents Rapporteur’s Summary .................................................................1 Connie Veillette Sub-Saharan Africa and U.S. Security......................................................9 Carol Lancaster Emerging Africa: The Economic and Political Transformation in Half of Sub-Saharan Africa ....... 17 Steven Radelet Food Security for Africa in the 21st Century: The Role of Science, Trade and Business .............23 Gebisa Ejeta Competition for Africa’s Natural Resources: Who Wins? .....................................29 Jennifer Cooke Democracy and Human Rights in Africa ..................................................33 Sarah Margon A Forklift in the Road: A Snapshot of Economic Choice and African Governance .................39 Mark Green Food Security: Implications for Africa and the World ........................................45 Gordon Conway Food Security: Implications for Africa and the World ........................................49 Khalid Bomba U.S. Health Engagement in Africa: A Decade of Remarkable Achievement. Now What?............55 Stephen Morrison Conference Participants................................................................67 Conference Agenda ...................................................................69 Rapporteur’s Summary Connie Veillette, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, The Lugar Center The Aspen Institute’s Congressional Program commercial interests in many of the continent’s convened a conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia growing economies; threats relating to health and to consider the topic of Africa’s Emergence: Challenges disease outbreaks; and security concerns relating and Opportunities for the United States. Meeting from to political instability, weak democratic institutions, August 13-19, 2013, 23 members of Congress and terrorist groups taking advantage of poorly engaged with 14 American and African scholars governed and ungoverned areas. The case of Mali on a number of issues affecting Sub-Saharan Africa was used to demonstrate how even countries that and U.S. security, economic and humanitarian seem firmly on track to develop both economically interests. Both the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and politically can be prone to threats from militant and the Ethiopian Foreign Minister addressed the groups. conference. Participants also traveled to the town of From Boko Haram in Nigeria to Al-Shabaab Ambo to visit Peace Corps sites and to the USAID- in Somalia and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb supported Ethiopian Commodity Exchange. (AQIM), the threats are real and have consequences The conference began with a general discus- for African governments and U.S. interests. Isolated sion on Africa’s strategic importance to the United incidents, such as the bombings of U.S. embas- States and its political and economic development. sies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, were offered As the week progressed, members were able to as examples of tangible threats but so too is the discuss a variety of topics including human rights political instability that often accompanies radical- and religious freedom, food security, health, and ized group activity. Militant groups find amenable China’s interest in the continent. Scholars noted environments in weak states in which governments that the United States could affect these issues are unable to provide security or basic services. The through its policies relating to foreign assistance, creation of a U.S. African Command, AFRICOM, trade, and private sector investments but that, ulti- in 2008 was meant to be a platform for military-to- military partnerships. There were differing opin- mately, advances in these areas must be embraced ions on the merits of AFRICOM operations with by African leaders. some lauding its focus on building African military capacity and responding to humanitarian crises U.S. Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa. During while others expressed concern with possible mis- the opening session, scholars noted that U.S. inter- sion creep into areas in which the Department of ests in Africa are diverse but related including: Defense does not have expertise. Still others were humanitarian concerns with poverty and hunger; troubled by U.S. military operations, particularly 1 the use of drones, as potentially counter-productive corruption so that businesses will be more willing to the goal of strengthening U.S.-Africa relations. to make the investments that are fundamental to Despite these security concerns, there was some economic growth. Another scholar countered that thought among members that U.S. policies toward governments need to provide a regulatory environ- the continent had been too security-driven rather ment that is conducive to business activity. As the than focusing on more humanitarian, develop- economy and individuals’ wealth grows, a rising ment or commercial concerns. One African scholar middle class will make demands on government proposed that the security lens can limit a deeper for deeper democratization, transparency, and understanding of African challenges and opportu- accountability. Some participants cited Ethiopia as nities. Most participants agreed that poverty and an expanding economy in a country with relatively inequality were the root causes, or at least signifi- few democratic credentials and some consideration cantly contributed to political instability. was given as to the implications of this type of development model. Many members expressed support for investments A Diverse and Emerging Continent. in higher education as a way to help African coun- Throughout the conference scholars emphasized tries build their capacity to develop. Innovations in that Africa is politically, economically, and cultur- scientific research, building faculties and university ally diverse and that U.S. policies need to reflect facilities, and more scientific collaboration among and recognize this diversity. While popular views of African and American scientists were offered as a the continent are of poverty, disease, and conflict, few areas for possible partnerships. Several mem- it should be noted that seven out of ten of the fast- bers expressed concern with U.S. immigration pol- est growing economies in the world are African. icy and the scarcity of F-1 student visas as a hurdle Seventeen emerging countries have consistently to expanded educational opportunities. been growing at about 5% each year. Most of these are also democratic, demonstrating a strong link between democracy and economic growth. Over Aid, Trade and Business. In considering the the last ten years, there have been significant number of African countries that have posted con- improvements in child mortality and HIV/AIDS sistently positive growth rates, one scholar noted prevalence rates. Democratic governments are the that about 17 have experienced a dramatic turn- norm even while their consolidation is still ongoing. around since the mid-1990s. All but 3 are democra- Technology, especially in the form of cell phone cies. He attributed the turnaround to: new leader- usage and internet access has exploded and presents ship, an explosion in the use of technology, the end new opportunities for economic growth and politi- of the Cold War, and debt relief. cal processes. He argued that much of their progress is due Many participants noted that a goal of U.S. primarily to African leadership but it has been policies should be to build the capacity of African helped by U.S. policies and programs, including governments and provide an enabling environ- debt relief, trade, and health and agriculture pro- ment for the private sector to fuel development. But grams. Debt relief was provided to 30 countries. there was considerable debate centered on whether The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief efforts should be public or led by the private sector. (PEPFAR) has reached nearly 7 million people. Speakers pointed to the need for good governance Malaria deaths are one third lower than just 9 years in the form of transparency, accountability, and ago. Immunizations have quadrupled since 1980. rule of law as well as government policies that Feed the Future, the U.S. food security initiative, support a thriving business environment. On the has reached 9 million households with agriculture governance front, participants discussed the role of and nutrition assistance. The African Growth and corruption as a significant hurdle to development. Opportunity Act (AGOA) has improved trade rela- One scholar argued that more attention needs to tions with a number of countries that qualify for its be paid to improving governance especially around benefits. 2 These successes prompted a number of scholars lack of electrical power, infrastructure, access to to assert the benefits of

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