REPORT ON AFRICA

Research Topic: Productivity and Competitiveness, Consumer Demand and Demographics

Africa's collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil's or Russia's. While Africa's increased economic momentum is widely recognized, less known are its sources and likely staying power. Among the key findings:
• Africa's growth acceleration was widespread, with 27 of its 30 largest economies expanding more rapidly after 2000. All sectors contributed, including resources, finance, retail, agriculture, transportation and telecommunications. Natural resources directly accounted for just 24 percent of the continent's GDP growth from 2000 through 2008. Key to Africa's growth surge were improved political and macroeconomic stability and microeconomic reforms.
• Future economic growth will be supported by Africa's increasing ties to the global economy. Rising demand for commodities is driving buyers around the world to pay dearly for Africa's natural riches and to forge new types of partnerships with producers. And Africa is gaining greater access to international capital; total foreign capital flows into Africa rose from $15 billion in 2000 to a peak of $87 billion in 2007.
• Africa's economic growth is creating substantial new business opportunities that are often overlooked by global companies RMGI projects that at least four groups of industries-consumer-facing industries, agriculture, resources, and infrastructure-together could generate as much as $2.6 trillion in revenue annually by 2020, or $1 trillion more than today.
• Today the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than in any other developing region. Early entry into African economies provides opportunities to create markets, establish brands, shape industry structure, influence customer preferences, and establish long-term relationships. Business can help build the Africa of the future.
• The rise of the African urban consumer also will fuel long-term growth. Today, 40 percent of Africans live in urban areas, a portion close to China's and continuing to expand. The number of households with discretionary income is projected to rise by 50 percent over the next 10 years, reaching 128 million. By 2030, the continents' top 18 cities could have a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion.
To understand the growth opportunities and challenges of individual economies, MGI developed a framework that groups them in four broad clusters: diversified economies, oil exporters, transition economies, and pre-transition economies. Though imperfect, this framework can guide business leaders and investors developing strategies for the continent and policy makers working to sustain growth.
Read the executive summary (PDF - 1.76 MB)
Read the full report (PDF - 4.49 MB)

MUGUSU GRAVITY FLOW SCHEME KICKS-OFF AGAIN

Stakeholders from Mugusu sub county who included among others the chairperson LC111, Speaker to council, sub county chief, community development officer, District water officer and Rweco members(IWDP and RIC-NET) on 3rd June 2010 organized a joint monitoring visit to the source of Mugusu gravity flow scheme.

The purpose of this visit was to establish how far the work had reached, the size of the source, the quality of the water, the workmanship at the source and quality of the pipes bee used as the scheme kicks-off again.

This scheme was started in 2008 but was not completed due to delay in release of funds by UNICEF for the pipes and the rest of the hard ware.
During the visit to source the stakeholders observed the following:
1. The source was already blocked by sand, thus a need to overhaul it
2. One the pipe at the source was not bring in water.
3. Pipes in the hilly places were left on the open thus exposing them to landslides.
4. The Cementatation tank near the source was already leaking and needed support.
5. Connectors at the source needed repair.
6. The source attendant was not facilitated to over see the source.
7. Community members who were involved in the digging of the trench for the laying of the pipes still demand their payment.
8. Communities were not sensitized on hygiene and means of maintaining of the gravity flow scheme.

The team thus recommended the following:
1. Train two scheme attendants already identified and the sub county should allocate funds to facilitate these people.
2. Cementatation tank should be repaired since it was leaking.
3. The contractor should be advised to make payment for those who laid the pipes.
4. District engineer should make an assessment of how many tap stands that can be on this scheme before illegal connectors start connecting their homes.
5. Sub county leaders should sensitize the community on hygiene and maintenance of the scheme.
By Timothy Balikenga

Kisangi primarily school in Bugaaki sub county Kyenjojo district finally gets a new latrine constructed

“It has not been easy but finally we are there” these were the words of the chairperson school management committee for Kisangi primarily school during a dialogue meeting organized by IWDP in collaboration with RIC-NET to discuss the issues surrounding the construction of pit latrine by BAKa contractors at the school and which was later demolished on the recommendations of the District engineer due to complaints from the monitors and SMCs members that the workmanship and the materials were shoddy.

On 18th/05/2010 the community based monitors of Bugaki Sub County Kyenjojo District together with the school management observed that a pit latrine under construction at this primary was being constructed not according to the required standards.
The community based monitors and SMCs observed the following:
 Half baked and already used bricks were being used.(they looked like those got from dismantled building).
 Used pieces of wood planks were used in the construction of the slub.
 Small size iron bars were also being used.
 The contractor had started constructing the wall just two days after finishing the slub without giving it time to settle.
 Half and quarter bricks were given the first priority in the construction of the walls.
 The name of the contractor was not established because on 24th /05/2010 he wrote in the visitor’s book of the school as KA’GO construction and 26th/05/2010 the names changed to BAkA.
The above reasons forced the community based monitors together with school management to write to the chief executive officer Kyenjojo seeking for assistance from the technical staff of the district.

However on 25th /05/2010 the Assistant District Engineer by the names of Kyomuhendo Edson visited the school and made the following comments:
 The workmanship is good
 Good quality materials on the site.
 The contractor should progress with the work.

The above comments of the Assistant District Engineer did not make the community based monitors together with the school management members pleased; they thus called for more technical advice from other stakeholders.

On 26th /05/2010 the District speaker who is at the same time the area councilor together with the District Engineer among others visited the site. On seeing the work that was being done by the contractor, they recommended that a pit latrine being demolished and a new one be excavated and back filling of the old one be done.

The above issues prompted IWDP and RIC-NET to organize stakeholders meeting at the school. During the dialogue meeting the head teacher of the school and chairperson school management committee reported that they had no information about the construction of the pit latrine at the school but they only saw a lorry bringing the materials.
Recommendations from the stakeholder dialogue
 District should always send information concerning the projects to be implemented to the target beneficiaries for easy monitoring and ownership.
 SMCs and citizens should always take their roles serious and ensure that contractors do not start the work before they show to them documents concerning the work to be done.
 Parents of Kisangi should organize themselves and back fill the two pit latrines that collapsed three years back at the school.
More in the newsletter for the quarter
By Timothy Balikenga-focal person

RDC Kasese congratulates CSO in Kasese for organising a World Environment Day in Kasese

The RDC- Kasese has congratulated CSOs organizations for successfully organizing the world environment day celebration in kasese.He said civil society organizations should continue partnering with government in organizing such events.
He then called upon all the citizens to protect the environment by planting more trees and living harmoniously with the wild life animals.
speaking at the same function,the chairperson LCIII Nyakiyumbu sub county thanked the citizens for willingness to plant more and participating in the protection of animals that destroy crops.

The Civil society representative Mr.happy Francis informed the members that a baseline survey has been conducted to establish the value of crop damage to wild animals.He said this report revealed that farmers lose about 1.2 billions shilling per year due to wild animal damage of crops.