Commemorating Africa Day this year has been unique and transformative in several ways. The prominent theme, “Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa,” underscores a critical shift in focus. Africa Day celebrations have traditionally centered on peace, security, and economic development. However, this year, there is a significant emphasis on disaster preparedness and climate-resilient infrastructure.
This focus aligns with the Agenda 2063 mantra, “The Africa We Want,” though some prefer “The Africa We Need.” Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure is crucial for Africa, with education playing a vital role in fostering a community resilient to climate change. Such investments are essential in mitigating the increasing impacts of natural disasters on key infrastructure, including roads, schools, homes, bridges, water systems, sewers, electrical grids, railways, and telecommunications. The theme of this year’s celebration is deeply rooted in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (quality education), complemented by SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and the ever-popular SDG 13 (climate action).
The theme does not imply that Africa is uneducated but emphasizes that resilient and sustainable education is an ongoing, lifelong process, fit for the 21st century. This education is not merely event-based but judged by its quality, transformative, and inclusive nature. Achieving SDG 4 is pivotal as it enables the attainment of many other sustainable development goals. Recently, natural disasters have significantly impacted quality education and well-being, stalling infrastructural and economic development and leaving Africa behind in the global pecking order.
Natural disasters are central to African governments’ planning trajectories. The frequency of these disasters is increasing, leading to large-scale losses and damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. While the continent experiences more frequent disasters, the knowledge, expertise, and resources to combat them are lagging. Therefore, Africa needs to build resilient education systems that are inclusive and capable of addressing disasters, protecting, and upgrading its aging or substandard infrastructure.
Regions like the Horn of Africa and East Africa have long faced disasters such as flooding, drought, and locust invasions. Recently, Southern Africa, including Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, has also been severely affected. These countries suffer heavy losses annually due to disasters. Southern Africa is currently grappling with an El Nino-induced drought, exacerbating an already dire situation. West Africa and North Africa are not spared either, with Libya experiencing unprecedented floods. These disasters lead to enormous losses and damages, which economically strained African countries struggle to finance. This makes it challenging for disaster-impacted countries to recover and bounce back due to weaker economies often bolstered by propaganda for image control.
It is imperative for the continent to build climate-resilient infrastructure, designed to climate-proof cities and alleviate vulnerabilities. This requires a focus on sustainable disaster risk reduction education and preparedness, using context-specific tools and expertise. Africa’s infrastructure is generally weak, substandard, and aging, necessitating remodeling, upgrading, and rehabilitation. Efficient road networks are scarce, with some regions being inaccessible due to poor roads or lack of bridges. Telecommunication networks in many African countries are inadequate, hindering connectivity and business efficiency. Waterborne diseases are rampant due to poor and contaminated water infrastructure. The continent also suffers from energy poverty due to erratic power generation and a failure to transition to renewable energy. Thus, ongoing training in disaster response, early warning messages, and emergency preparedness is crucial.
The Sub-Saharan region must invest seriously in resilient and sustainable education to counter new waves of disasters if it aims to achieve the gains outlined in Agenda 2063. Improving data management systems through enhanced information technology is vital. Technology transfer has been weak in Africa’s quest to improve its communication infrastructure and knowledge about disaster mitigation. The continent’s research output is significantly lower than other continents. According to Serdeczny (2021), developed countries conduct about 70% of research on loss and damage, while developing countries account for about 30%. Africa’s research footprint within this threshold is nearly 2%.
The language used to communicate information on climate change needs to be decolonized to appeal to the needs of developing countries. Global disaster risk reduction and management practices are informed by the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Sendai Framework, but these frameworks lack clarity on loss and damage.
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s (1970-2019) Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate, and Water Extremes, Africa recorded 1,695 disasters, resulting in the loss of 71,747 lives and economic losses amounting to $5 billion. The continent accounted for about 15% of global extreme weather events and water-related disasters, resulting in about 35% of associated casualties and at least 1% of global economic losses.
African countries need to improve their research outputs to understand better how information systems can be used in disaster risk management. Governments must utilize experts in disaster risk management for sustainable quality education and informed participation. This is crucial because those unskilled in disaster management often feel overwhelmed by complex data and technology, leading to substandard solutions. Increasing the working knowledge of science and technology is essential for improving the quality of life and mitigating the continuous deaths and destruction caused by natural disasters.
While it is important to celebrate Africa’s success stories, the continent still lags in infrastructural development, resilience building, research, and innovation compared to the rest of the world. To achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063 and build “The Africa We Want,” the continent must seriously transform and build resilience.
Source: Newsday
