Knowledge Empowers Africa: The Benefits of Increased Investment in Education

Gehring, K., Irfan, M.T., McLennan, P., Moyer, J.D., Selebalo, H. and Torkelson, E. (2011). “Knowledge Empowers Africa: The Benefits of Increased Investment in Education.”

African Futures Brief No. 2. Institute for Security Studies and Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver. Pretoria, South Africa, and Denver, CO, USA.

This paper presents two scenarios for the continued advancement of education in Africa and explores their impacts on development. Rates of completion of primary education and of enrollment in secondary education are simulated for a Base Case and for a positive scenario with enhanced (aggressive but plausible) rates of participation. The modeled impacts of the two scenarios on reductions of childhood undernutrition, poverty, and state failure are compared. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis is included.