Sustainability science for meeting Africa’s challenges

Abstract

Africa is currently experiencing striking antitheses. Despite long-term efforts to alleviate poverty, poverty still remain endemic and multi-dimensional in several of its regions (UNDP 2014). Africa is, in fact, blessed with abundant natural resources that could assist its development (UNECA 2011, 2013). However, in reality, these resources are not always evenly distributed among the different segments of society (UNECA 2011), or can have tremendous negative environmental impacts if mismanaged (Evans et al. 2013).