The reduction of poverty in Africa is the subject of a report released by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) today. The report reflects the proceedings of a two-day workshop attended by representatives of 22 African science academies that was held in November last year. 

The challenges faced by Africa due to extreme poverty were investigated at the 12th Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA). 

Deliberated at the workshop was poverty eradication which has been identified as the first Sustainable Development Goal and which remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Globally, more than 800 million people are lacking access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation.  

Although economic growth in countries such as China and India has contributed to the alleviation of poverty, progress has been slow in regions such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The latter accounts for 80 per cent of people living in extreme poverty. Women are also more likely to be subjected to poverty than men due to unequal access to paid work, education and property. Africa faces the additional threats of climate change, conflict and food insecurity.  

The two-day scientific conference focused on the sub-themes:

• Gender and Poverty

• Food Security & Agriculture

• Water, Energy & Poverty

• Social Determinants of Health

Click here to access the report.