Why Africa matters to the UK

Africa has some of the world’s fastest growing economies, and receives exports from the UK worth more than those sent to China and India combined. African countries and the African Union are increasingly dynamic diplomatic forces on the international stage, and many are our partners in the Commonwealth.

Africa is a region of opportunity and promise where we have many historic friends and new partners. At the same time, Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the worst indicators for health, food security and education in the world. The horn of Africa has been the location of the first famine of the 21st Century, and a source of terrorist attacks and kidnappings which undermine regional stability and affect the wider international community. We are one of the largest international aid donors to Africa. 

A continent of enormous diversity

As the second largest and second most populous of the seven continents, by 2050, it is predicted that it will be home to almost twenty five percent of the world’s population (this is compared to Europe’s ten percent). There is enormous diversity on the continent. While some countries remain beset by poverty and instability, others are thriving and playing a major role in international diplomacy for example as members of the UN Security Council, by hosting major international conferences and by providing peacekeepers via the African Union.

There are many reasons why Africa matters to Britain. Here are some of the major areas of focus for the British government right now.

UK Aid is making a difference and helping to save lives

We are the third largest donor to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa and there are lots of ways that UK aid is making a difference and helping to save lives: Last year, the Foreign Secretary outlined in his video blog why the Horn of Africa matters to the UK and our engagement in the region has continued.

British support has already helped triple the number of people receiving food each month and had a major role in reducing cases of measles by almost half. So far, British aid has:

• Fed more than 2.5 million people, including nearly 500,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers who are receiving supplementary nutritional packages
• Vaccinated 1.3 million people against measles
• Provided 400,000 doses of anti-malarial medication in Somalia
• Provided 1.2 million people with clean water and sanitation equipment such as latrines
• Given 400,000 people seeds and fertiliser or animal health interventions, thereby reducing their reliance on emergency aid

More information on UK Aid

The London Conference on Somalia - Building international momentum to tackle problems which affect us all

On 23 February senior representatives from over 40 governments and many multi-lateral organisations will come together in London. As the Foreign Secretary stated in his video blog last year, “Britain will be giving a lot of attention to Somalia and bringing greater stability there over the coming years.” The Conference will be an opportunity to build momentum amongst the international community to step-up its efforts to tackle both the root causes and effects of the problems in the country.

More information on the conference

Africa offers great opportunity

Africa has huge potential for economic growth and there is a lot of opportunity, particularly if countries are able to develop their infrastructure and governmental institutions. The UK’s annual exports to Africa are around £15 billion, that’s worth more than exports to China and India combined. And here are just a few of the other reasons why Britain has an eye on economic opportunities in Africa:

• IMF forecasts suggest that seven African countries will be in the top ten fastest-growing economies during the period 2011-2015. These are: Ethiopia 8.1%; Mozambique 7.7%; Tanzania 7.2%; Congo 7%; Ghana 7%; Zambia 6.9%; Nigeria 6.8%.
• During the next five years the average African economy is likely to outpace its Asian counterpart. Africa’s economy will grow at an average annual rate of 7% over the next 20 years, slightly faster than China’s.
• In the past decade, sub-Saharan Africa was the third fastest growing region in the world, after China and India.
• 13 African countries already have a higher GDP per capita than China, and 22 countries have a GDP per capita higher than India.
• By 2040, Africa will have a bigger working age population than any other continent.

More information on the opportunities for trade with Africa