Atlas of Africa: New Perspectives on the Continent

This innovative Atlas of Africa, by the Agence Française de Développement, offers comprehensive insights into contemporary Africa through the use of full-colour maps, charts, graphics and text which demonstrate and explain Africa’s growing importance in the world and its demographic, economic, social and environmental transformation, while also outlining the challenges that the continent faces. The three sections, offering new perspectives on the continent, comprise: Taking Full Measure of Africa – examining the major economic, demographic, social and political transformations that Africa has undergone in a short space of time. A Multifaceted Continent with Shared Challenges – looking at the major intraregional economic, demographic, environmental and social dynamics that are currently shaping the continent. Africa Inventing Itself and Taking up the Key Challenges of Tomorrow – an overview of the challenges that Africa is currently facing and will need to face in the future, including the environment and climate change, social cohesion and demographic issues, economic development and governance. Full-colour maps, charts and graphics cover such wide-ranging topics as economic development, urbanization, education, the rule of law, gender, the blue economy, regional organizations, energy and culture, to form a volume which offers a wide-ranging overview in graphic form of Africa in the world today, of interest to all those studying, working in or with Africa, and those with a general interest in the continent.

Table of Contents:
Preface 6 ALL OF AFRICA For a new vision of a continent on the move 8 PREAMBLE Africa takes on Covid-19 TAKING FULL MEASURE OF AFRICA 12 Africa upturning demographic equilibria around the world 14 Longer life expectancy and a gradual reduction of fertility rates 16 Africa home to the world’s youth: an opportunity to be seized 18 Child and maternal health and under-nutrition: gaining the upper hand 20 Contagious and tropical diseases: Africa exposed but headed in the right direction 22 Africa’s efforts in schooling its children 24 Water and sanitation: the key to improving health and environmental conditions 26 Africa on the path to electrical connection 28 When the success of mobile telephones facilitates banking inclusion 30 African economic growth despite instability 32 Africa’s asset: the internal market 34 A changing economy tracing its own development path 36 Closer economic ties with all the world’s countries 38 Africa, the new travel destination 40 Africa being courted in diplomacy and culture 42 Political liberalization in Africa 44 Less lethal conflicts, more complex violence 46 The gradual improvement in economic and public governance A MULTIFACETED CONTINENT WITH SHARED CHALLENGES 50 African giants and small economies: how to read the African economy 52 The geography of wealth in Africa 54 Considerable natural resources: who for? what for? 56 Extreme poverty concentrated on the continent 58 Fragility and development: two interconnected challenges 60 Inequalities: a situation of contrasts 62 Urbanization, a strong trend in settlement in Africa 64 Simultaneous densification of cities and countryside 66 Rural and landlocked zones: the main factors in unequal access to basic services 68 Economic integration progressing in Africa 70 Growth in intra-African trade as a driver of diversification 72 Emergence of a pan-African financial system 74 Intra-continental migration: human ties between African spaces 76 Human mobility taking shape on the continent 78 Creative industries, the face of an emerging cultural industry 80 Africa, a blue continent 82 The Saharan-Sahelian space 84 African forests under pressure AFRICA INVENTING ITSELF AND TAKING UP THE KEY CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW 88 A continent more exposed to climate change 90 The impacts of climate change 92 African biodiversity under pressure 94 Skills acquisition and enhancement: the education challenge in Africa 96 Employment in all its forms, a key to the prosperity of the continent 98 Issues of women’s status in Africa 100 Obesity and chronic diseases: new health challenges 102 High expectations for the rule of law and freedom of expression 104 Inventive civil society in Africa 106 Sport as a vector of economic and social development 108 Solar energy in Africa: reconciling sustainability and economic opportunity 110 Towards more inclusive African cities 112 Extending access to internet to accelerate the digital revolution 114 Building the capacity for action of the public sector 116 The potential of the public development banks in Africa 118 Towards more bank financing for the private sector 120 Reinventing external financial support for Africa 122 Agriculture the African way 124 Industrialization: drawing benefit from value chains 126 What role for digital innovation in Africa?

About the Author :
Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a public financial institution, funds, supports and accelerates the transition towards a fairer and more sustainable world. Its teams, focusing on climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban development, health and governance, carry out projects in France’s overseas departments and territories and in a further 115 countries.