Government's role is to create an environment, infrastructure and socio-political stability that promote development, reform and growth in their countries. They do need help and support. The challenges of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly debt burdens, population growth, under employment, poverty and disease, would confound any government operating in the best of circumstances. What Africa needs, and what the African Growth and Opportunity Act passed by the House of Representatives last year begins to offer, is a partnership. Let me briefly describe how the members of that partnership, working together through various stages of development, can raise standards of living in Africa.
People living in poverty have little margin for error in feeding themselves.
Crop fluctuations or other natural disasters create risks of severe hunger. Those risks usually can be overcome through trade or relief efforts. What can compound shortages and imperil relief from imports is civil strife. When civil order fails, risks of famine increase and assistance efforts are imperiled. Consequently, maintaining civil order and building political legitimacy are critical responsibilities of governments and the institutions that seek to help them.