More About Our Work in Africa
Africa is the world’s fastest growing continent—rich in resources and home to seven of the ten most rapidly developing economies. Since 2000, and largely due to the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), African countries have seen a 500 percent increase in exports, totaling more than $53.8 billion in revenue, a 30 percent increase in real income per capita, and the creation of more than 300,000 jobs. In spite of these improvements, two-thirds of the population relies on agriculture for income, and these farmers often lack access to good seed and fertilizer, and to profitable markets. Meanwhile, health outcomes have improved dramatically; the incidence of HIV has been reduced by 25 percent between 2001 and 2011.
The Clinton Foundation currently operates programs to strengthen health systems and local economies across Africa. Our aim is to work with these countries to reach their full potential and continue progress, by improving economic opportunity for individuals, families, and communities; by strengthening health systems; and by making cities and forests more sustainable. In Malawi and Tanzania, for example, the Clinton Development Initiative is providing smallholder farmers with the resources to which they previously lacked access; which has led to increased yields and higher profits. In Tanzania and Kenya, the Clinton Climate Initiative is improving forest management and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. And in nearly all of our focus countries, the Clinton Health Access Initiative is contributing enormously to the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection; CHAI’s testing and treatment programs have been instrumental in reducing transmission of the disease from mother to child.