Demographic Dividend In Africa, Prospects, Opportunities And Challenges :

Abstract

This paper gives an exploration of the prospects, opportunities and challenges of demographic dividend in Africa with Uganda as a case study. The objectives include; assessing the level of demographic dividend the African block has achieved. To identify the challenges lying ahead and the potential opportunities for Africa and Uganda in particular. The study designs used include exploratory, descriptive and causal. Although Africa is experiencing a drop in fertility rates, some countries are still ranked among the most fertile in the whole world, Uganda is a very good example in this regard. If this concept is to be achieved, the fertility rates must continue to plunge since older generations who are considered as non-productive have shorter life expectancies. The dividend is likely to vary across countries. Africa therefore may need to Invest more in human capital to harness the dividend. Uganda faces the same challenges as most African countries, with most prone areas being voice and accountability by public officials, health, market share in the global market, rule of law being far below the minimum required standard, governance effectiveness and above all human rights violation and corruption levels. Uganda’s dependence ratio is at 103, with fertility rate of 7 per woman in her life time as confirmed by United Nations.