Child Poverty and Social Inequalities in Africa: A Social Justice Perspective

Introduction

This chapter draws part of its analysis and findings from the author’s previous broader study on educational inequalities in Africa. It is noted that while extreme poverty has fallen globally over the last 30 years, from about 40% to under 20%, most African countries have barely extricated themselves from the yoke of poverty. Sub-Saharan Africa still records over 40% of people living in abject poverty and most of these are children (World Bank, 2014). Sub-Saharan Africa continues to record higher levels of poverty; unchecked corruption, the higher incidence of disease, poor infrastructure, poor economic growth, fluctuating and unstable democracies that are prone to conflict and civil war (World Bank 2014; Moyo, 2010; Salih, 2001). These sad and unfavourable descriptions shared by most Africa countries are closely tied to various manifestations, but primarily child poverty and social inequalities. Over 600 million children live in Africa, with at least 40-50 per cent of children in most African countries living below the poverty line (World Bank, 2014). It is noted that in sub-Saharan Africa alone, 247 million children are deprived of their basic rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Key among such forms of deprivation include lack of access to water, food, healthcare, shelter, and education. From the 30 sub-Saharan countries, UNICEF estimates that two-thirds of children tend to suffer from two or more of the deprivations stated above (Garcia, 2015).

One of the major reasons for focusing on child poverty and social inequalities is because these are a social justice and human rights issue. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 Article 1, states that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ This means that those degraded by poverty tend to have less or no rights as citizens in their countries. They have less dignity and less equality and freedom. The United Nations Convention on the rights of the child provides for child protection from poverty (article 26). The Convention, which almost all African governments have ratified, considers children to be people under the age of 18. It is also often stated that children are the future of every nation and that a nation’s future strength and posterity can largely be measured and guaranteed with quality investment in its children. Part of the reason why Africa has perpetually faced the scourge of underdevelopment could be due to low levels of investment and lack of social security for her children (World Bank, 2014). Africa has 81 per 1000 under 5 mortality rates, which is seven times that of Europe (WHO, 2015). Most of these avoidable deaths are due to child poverty; inequalities and low-level investment on child welfare. Africa continues to have a disproportionate concentration of poverty among children compared to adults. The Status of Poverty Report showed that both rural and urban children were more likely to be poor than adults (World Bank 2014). There is, therefore, compelling rationale to seek to understand better the state of child poverty in Africa. It is noted that Africa may not turn a corner in its quest for success and economic development if there is no political will to uphold children’s rights and economic welfare. Poverty in Africa will mostly likely continue to rise unless the benefits of economic development reach its people through the establishment of social security and safety nets, especially for children.