CHAPTER TWELVE: Development in Africa and the Middle East

Explore

World Bank--Africa
This page, which is a part of the World Bank's official Web site, contains information about African development and the projects that the World Bank is pursuing in the sub-Saharan region.

Click on "Data and statistics," and then obtain the most recent values for per capita GNI. Which countries have the lowest per capita income?


Now pull up the map that contains the rates of literacy among young women and then the HIV prevalence rates. To what extent do the maps correlate with the GNI map? Do you think that a causal connection exists between these phenomena?


USAID--Africa
This site contains information about USAID's work in sub-Saharan Africa. USAID is an independent government agency that provides assistance to impoverished regions of the world.

Under "Country and Regional Programs," click on the link for Senegal. Read through USAID's goals and policies for Senegal. How is USAID trying to foster development in this country?


Now read through the same information for Nigeria, South Africa, and Somalia. What are some common themes among the four countries? What are some policies that are unique to one particular state?


United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
This Web site contains information about the work of ESCWA, a UN organization working to promote development in the Middle East.

Under "Programmes," click on "Statistics." From there, find the document called "MDG Report 2007." Look for the table for regional poverty on page 6. Have poverty levels improved or worsened for Northern Africa and Western Asia (the Middle East) from 1990 to 2000?


Now find the gender-equality statistics on page 12. How have things changed for women in the labor market in Northern Africa and the Western Asia?