Africa gets poverty clock

At its 60th anniversary celebrations this week in Addis Ababa, the Economic Commission for Africa launched the Africa Poverty Clock.

The clock is a customized version of the world poverty clock developed by World Data Lab, and aimed at monitoring progress against extreme poverty, an aspiration of the United Nations’ first Sustainable Development Goal - SDG1. 

Speaking at the launch, ECA Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, said that many African countries have achieved remarkable progress over the last six decades.

“We’ve seen African economies labelled as some of the fastest growing in the world. Africa today is an Africa that has risen and one whose economic autonomy is underway, moving from political independence to economic independence.”

She, however, indicated that African countries rank as some of the worst economic and social indicators. Inequality and poverty remain persistently high, with over 400 million people living in extreme poverty. Africa is home to 70% of the world’s most poor people and current projections show that all countries of the region are off track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030.

“There’s a need for bigger and bolder actions to accelerate the pace of sustainable economic growth and development. We need better insights, knowledge and innovative partnerships,” she added.

The launch took place in the presence of Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonen, Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Kwesy Quartey and Ambassador Elsadig Omer Abdalla, Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d’Affaires, Republic of Sudan. 

Members of the diplomatic Ccrps and key representatives from partner institutions, think tanks, civil society organizations, university and high school students and the private sector were in attendance.