By Amin Kef Sesay
In a situation when the benefits of whatever little economic progress that is made is not widely shared and social mobility is impaired, it breaks down trust and civility in society and fosters the growth of crime, violence and disenfranchisement.
As such, now and well into the future, without very robust dynamic solutions sought to the overall problem of low economic productivity, widespread unemployment and growing poverty, whatever government we elect would find it hard to inspire trust and confidence in the citizens; especially the youths who increasingly feel left out and uncared for.
With a young population, mostly in their teens, 20s and 30s, and a highly economically stratified economic structure, since the war ended in 2000, the distribution of the benefits of economic development has been highly unequal.
In solving the mounting youth crisis, there is growing pressure on the system to create more dignified employment opportunities to keep the population employed. Yet the economy is beset with low investment, even though there is huge growth possibility in all the departments of agriculture and its allied employment field.
We cannot build a robust economy on the foundations of the old. As such, the revolution of the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors is integral to a new development reality.
Economic growth that benefits the masses is characterized by growth in living standards as the norm; not the exception as a way of tackling growing inequality and social divisions, ensuring legal recourses and protections against social injustices, guaranteeing of civic freedoms and widespread social mobility.
Thus, the government and its development partners need to craft new and very sensitive policies that incorporate technological advances, disruptions arising from climate shocks, geopolitical fragility and population transitions that will fundamentally transform the work and social landscape.
Government in this regard needs to ensure public systems’ sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency in order to continue to provide protection for large numbers of people – namely the human capital needs of a young and rapidly growing largely low-skilled labour force; tackle the prevalence of informal workers and enterprises that keep many in economic servitude; and institute social protection policies to drag the poor out of penury.
Given the country’s vast natural reserves, one would assume the wealth creation generated from extraction activities could be channelled into welfare initiatives. But the “resource curse”; has meant positive impacts on income but not on poverty reduction, as it benefited the non-poor rather than poor.
Thus, to create an agile and inclusive welfare state with youths the focus, the basic tenets come down to the provision of collective rights within the justice and legal infrastructure, and social protection systems.
When it comes to women’s tenure rights, even legal structures that recognize communal and collective land tenure systems may not be enough if they are not gender-sensitive.
To build such an inclusive and agile welfare state standing on very strong economic legs, policymakers need to look at rights and notions embedded within social relationships in society such as landowner and tenant, men and women, leader and citizen, employer and employee, doctor and patient, etc.
Not only does the importance of government arrangements have to be considered, but also the collective voice of stakeholders in terms of opportunity and accessibility must become an inclusive part of the country’s political make up.
Admitted, it would be difficult and complicated to achieve, but the viability and sustainability of a functional state lie in the valuable ecosystem services that equitable access to resources and opportunities can provide.
It is time we wake up to reality!
