It's hard to come by well-informed people for this topic, but you seem like you know what you're talking Africa’s growth has been robust (averaging 5-6 percent GDP growth a year). To sustain growth, African countries will need to address the challenges of structural transformation, employment, physical and human capital deficits, all of which have their roots in governance. In Africa, ICU beds and personnel trained in critical care are limited to tertiary hospitals, as assessed in the Republic of The Gambia; therefore, mortality associated with COVID-19 is likely to exceed the reported case fatality rate of 2.3%. I'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. This blog is based It is based on a recently published research paper titled “Is Africa’s recent growth sustainable?” at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI), - Follow Wolfgang Fengler on Twitter @wolfgangfengler. Only one person got it right and almost everyone is surprised to hear the result: Africa today is home to 22 MICs (23 if South Sudan is included)! Data and research help us understand these challenges and set priorities, share knowledge of what works, and measure progress. ----------------------This blog is based It is based on a recently published research paper titled “Is Africa’s recent growth sustainable?” at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI),- Follow Shanta Devarajan on Twitter @shanta_WB- Follow Wolfgang Fengler on Twitter @wolfgangfengler, Lead Economist in Trade and Competitiveness, Senior Director, DEC and Acting World Bank Group Chief Economist. So why isn't DRC among Africa's MICs? This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. Africa’s more advanced economies can be grouped into four, not mutually exclusive, categories, of between six to eight countries: First are mature MICs which include Botswana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, and Swaziland, with some 60 million people. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. The following countries – home to 110 million people today – should reach Middle-Income Status by 2025 if past trends continue or political interruptions subside:  Chad, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. These countries, which are home to about 260 million people, are rich in natural resources, mainly oil. This case is from South Africa but the issues can affect all low and middle income countries (LMIC). But there are obvious gaps in the investment strategy of the WB if they really base their funding on the GNI or per capita income etc. Very interesting indeed. In Sub-Saharan Africa, countries with a gross domestic income (GDI) per capita of between $1,026 and $12,475 in 2015 and were classified as middle-income countries. Upper-middle-income countries might face government problems such as corruption. One way to track Africa’s progress is by charting the number of countries that have achieved “middle income status”. "the seller on the streets, the rural smallholders must feel that change into their daily lives "'. This average, however, masks wide differences. I found your blog using msn. The lower-middle-income nations have GNI per capita of $1,026 to $4,035. Decent Work in Middle-Income Countries in Africa – A Framework for ILO Engagement vii . the country has everything it needs to be an economic power. Otherwise we will be creating a social gap/fracture between the middle class and the poor population for the up coming years, which might end up in social tensions like what is happening currently in South Africa! This shows how leadership and policies matter a lot! Fengler, thanks for your article. This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. MICs also represent about one-third of global GDP and are major engines of global growth. What about other countries? Second, even if aid is growing its share of African economies and budgets is shrinking. Reaching MIC status is not a goal in itself. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. Following this global overview, the contribution of Sonia Ilie and Pauline Rose emphasises the enormity of the access challenge in many low-income contexts, by looking across a broad sample of countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Middle-income countries are also essential to global economic growth. The upper-middle-income group has per capita incomes between $4,038 and $12,475. Portuguese professionals are looking for opportunities in Angola. While continuing to face major development challenges, most of the new MICs benefitted from improved economic policies and Africa’s broader growth momentum. Middle income countries are a diverse group by size, population and income level, and are home to 5 of the world’s 7 billion people and 73% of the world’s poor people. One way to track Africa’s progress is by charting the number of countries that have achieved “Middle Income status”. The South Africa sectoral cases highlight the relevance of the Digital Platform Dynamics framework in governing and capturing opportunities from digital platforms in processes of digital industrial development. The case occurred in a Tertiary academic hospital. I think you need to look at new discoveries at EAst Africa, gas, oil. We face big challenges to help the world’s poorest people and ensure that everyone sees benefits from economic growth. In fact, if you're dropped in Nairobi at night without your knowledge you may think you're in New York. MICs also represent about one-third of global GDP and are major engines of global growth. These are Angola, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa who have a GDI of at least $4,036. In addition to diamonds, gold, and copper, DRC has coltan on which most of ICT depends. To sustain growth, African countries will need to address the challenges of structural transformation, employment, physical and human capital deficits, all of which have their roots in governance. Arise, Congolese! Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, is not among them (or for that matter is any other EAC member). A developing country (or a low and middle income country (LMIC), less developed country, less economically developed country (LEDC), or underdeveloped country) is a country with a less developed industrial base and a low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. This is a very well written article. Middle Income Countries are a diverse group by size, population and income level, and are home to 75% of the world’s population and 62% of the world’s poor. Go to Lagos, same thing, extremely rich few and poor majority... DRC is also referred to as "a geological scandal." Growth in MICs, according to the World Bank, has positive ripple effects on other countries such as international trade, reduction of border conflicts, sustainable energy development, and food and water security. In order to grow at current rates, Africa needed to get a few –albeit very important– things right, such as sound macro-management and political stability. Thanks. Only about 13 countries will remain low-income, most of them fragile states. Gabon, at over $10,000 per capita income, has one of the lowest immunization rates in Africa. 1. Second, despite this good news, many development challenges remain as large as ever, especially many oil-rich countries have failed to improve services and reduce poverty. But there are two important changes in the aid architecture: First, the growth in aid flows in increasingly due to new players which is also increasing fragmentation. Interesting blog post. In a continent where over 70% of the countries fall under the low-income category, Cape Verde’s “breakthrough” can not go unnoticed. Third are new MICs which include Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Lesotho, Mauritania, Sao Tome & Principe, and Senegal. Unlike in some rich countries, public debt levels in most of Africa are sustainable. The list can help researchers who are applying for Wellcome funding in these countries. Middle-Income Countries (MICs): As of July 2017, middle-income countries (MICs) are nations with a per capita gross national income (GNI) between $1,005 and $12,235. 1 Table of Contents 1. Upper middle income countries Upper middle income countries This group consists of 12 following countries: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Brazil, China, Gabon, Libya, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia. Debout Congolais! This is not an irrational fad. You are right that if natural resources in East Africa and along the coast up to Somalia become commercially viable and are exported on scale then these countries would join the MIC bandwagon even faster. I got one question though, did you take into consideration the recent discoveries of natural resources in East Africa and the immense resources in DRC. To be sure, even at $1,000 per capita, many of these countries still have high levels of poverty and poor human development indicators. The much-needed HIV treatment especially among children will now be available in low and middle-income countries, thanks to a landmark agreement between Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). See how fast Angola has moved after the war ended. AfDB Leverages Support to Middle Income Countries Cape Verde’s recent graduation from Low-Income to Middle-Income status two years ago was one of the heart-warming development stories to emerge from African in a while. Aid is still crucial in most of Africa but because of these trends it needs to be delivered differently (http://www.brookings.edu/research/books/2010/deliveringaiddifferently). Africa has mature economies, such as Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa; it is also home to fragile and conflict-affected countries that are still struggling with entrenched poverty, such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Guinea-Bissau. DRC needs patriotic and competent leadership. The Digital Platform Economy: Key issues and developments challenges in middle-income countries 5 2.1 Data and Digital Platforms5 2.2 … Has it had or will it have much of an impact on aid, starting with that from the World Bank? This study aimed to review all published research on mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in lower middle - income countries of the Afro-Asian region. Due to the specific challenge of this topic, in addition to the minimum number of participants set out in the General Annexes, proposals submitted to SC1-HCC-09-2020 shall include at least one partner from low or lower middle income countries in Africa. These are Africa’s better-off economies, located in Southern Africa or small-island states and come most naturally to mind when thinking about Africa’s Middle-Income countries. And finally why does everybody always write off Somali despite it's location? The problem in Africa is mainly inequality. thanks for your valuable point. I have no doubt that by the year 2040 most African countries will be middle income and we will have the largest work force of any continent, and the youngest. Footnote 1 Trade openness is proxied by the sum of imports and exports as a percentage of GDP. Finally, low-income countries have GNI per capita of $1,025 per less. Angola, Congo (Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Sudan. But if Africans and African policymakers could correct the macroeconomic policy failures of the past, they should, aided by a young population and the technological revolution that is sweeping the continent, be able to overcome the remaining government failures to experience sustained growth and poverty reduction in the future. in terms of sustainable job creation for the youth and poverty eradication especially in rural areas. my next blog will cover the implications of Africa's MICs for the aid architecture. Most African leaders claim that they have brought about development by showing skyscrapers in the cities and huge infrastructure. In the World Bank’s definition, you become a middle-income country (or “MIC”) when you cross the US$1,000 GDP per capita threshold. Forth are Africa’s next MICs. But their growth rates are actually lower, especially in South Africa, Africa’s largest economy. To learn more about cookies, click here. Why do Congolese people allow themselves to be ruled by rebels and plutocrats? The Bank Group’s MTS emphasizes deeper engagement with middle-income countries (MICs), by positioning the institution as their preferred development partner. Wolfgang. Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, is not among them (or for that matter is any other EAC member). Even though stability and the use of sound macro-economic policies are inevitable to reach the MIC's level... there is a need for African governments to adress issues such as: youth employment, reforms of the education system( by developing the vocational training for e.g) and the most important promoting and supporting the private sector to create more jobs and encourage innovation. We included surveys for countries classified as low income or middle income on the basis of their Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile: low SDI, low-middle SDI, or middle SDI. Tanzania, Uganda Mozambique before you conclude, Thanks for this interesting blog post! How many MICs are there among Sub-Saharan Africa’s 48 economies? The choice of these countries is based on data availability over a relatively longer period. Lower middle - income countries of Africa and Asia have accommodated a large portion of the world’s population, where mental health research has been under-prioritized. I have been to many of these African countries, both remote areas and urban...What ails the continent is inequality. The world’s Middle Income Countries (MICs), which are defined as having a per capita gross national income of US$1,026 to $12,475 (2011) are a diverse group by size, population, and income level. This blog is very interesting. Topics: Interview. The much-needed HIV treatment especially among children will now be available in low and middle-income countries, thanks to a landmark agreement between Unitaid … The standard answer is “around five”. However, let me reemphasize our two main points (which we develop more deeply in the paper, www.ifri.org/downloads/devajaranetfengler.pdf): First, there are more countries in MIC status than most people thought possible some ten years ago. HIV-positive children in developing countries will have access to more appropriate and, above all, four times cheaper treatment. 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