United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Topic A: Protecting and Ensuring the Success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA)
After four years, African leaders have of fifty-five nations have agreed on launching a continental free trade zone. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), if successful, would create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc which will help the continent reach its economic potential by boosting intra-regional trade.The significance of the AfCFTA cannot be overstated: It will be the world’s largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2017, only 17% of the continent’s exports accounted for intra-regional trade (compared to 59% in Asia and 69% in Europe). The AfCTA will hopefully open African-owned companies new opportunities in larger markets, which will create room for economic growth. However, the positive outlooks will only be attained if the following challenges are faced. Some of the challenges of the AfCTA include: harmful working conditions, disregarding the environment, theft of ideas and concepts, and an increase in competition pressure as foreign companies have the advantage of producing at a low cost. The major challenge that may hinder the AfCTA’s success is the large income disparity between the African economies as they vary in development. Over 50% of the continent’s GDP belongs to South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria while the six sovereign islands only contribute to 1%. This may allow some nations to benefit more than others. Developed manufacturers in certain countries, such as South Africa, would easily expand as they are open to a new export destination. While less developed countries, would struggle to do so with their weak foundation. Another major issue faced is the lack of ratification. Ratification is the act of signing a treaty and making it valid. Countries such as Nigeria and Zambia have signed on to the treaty without acting on it. Overall, this played a role in the efficiency of the trade agreement as it will restrict other countries from developing. Delegates must work together to close the inequality between the nations and overcome the challenges to ensure growth in the continent.
"The life of a child kept out of school is a tragedy of unfulfilled potential and lost opportunity."
Despite adopting the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the right to education is still being violated in the region. Nearly two million children are not in classrooms due to violence and insecurity. In many African states, a wave of threats towards students, teachers, and schools has emerged. It is time for the governments to shift their focus onto the protecting the level of education and providing the resources needed to ensure every child is able to learn. If the challenges in the region are left untouched, a whole young generation will never reach their full potential. When education is under attack, teaching students in a safe environment becomes impossible. By being out of school, children are exposed to dangers. Male students face a high-risk of being recruited in an armed militia group. As for the female students, they risk gender-based violence and child marriages which may lead to pregnancies that would threaten their lives. In other areas, violence isn't the key factor for the lack of education. In fact, it is the condition the schools are found in. Overcrowded classroom tend to be a prevalent condition across the African continent. Countries such as Chad ranging all the way up to 67 pupils per class. It causes the classroom to be an ineffective place to learn in. Another issue is the limited amount of teachers available. Almost two million teachers will have to be hired to keep up with the demand in the region and replace leaving teachers. While the teachers available are not trained well. Additionally, schools do not have access to basic necessities such as clean toilets or electricity. Toilets are usually a pit in the ground, which leads to the spread of disease. The sanitation crisis has made schools an unsuitable place for children to study in, and more specifically women. The challenges above have discouraged youth from learning, which has negatively affected them. Delegates of this council must formulate resolutions that will sustain the right to education in the region.