Search

Background: We investigated effect modification by menopausal status and sex on the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D), and whether a diagnosis of NAFLD improves risk prediction for incident T2D. Methods: In total, 242,436 adults without diabetes (111,991 premenopausal women; 6,464 postmenopausal women; 123,981 men) were included. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for incident diabetes according to NAFLD status assessed by hepatic ultrasound. The incremental predictive role of NAFLD for incident T2D was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement. Findings: A total of 8,382 participants developed T2D (crude incidence rate/10 3 person-years: 3.0 premenopausal women; 10.2 postmenopausal women; 9.2 men) during median follow-up of 5.7 years. NAFLD was positively associated with incident T2D in all groups. After adjustment for potential confounders, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for incident T2D comparing NAFLD to no NAFLD were 4.41 (3.99–4.87), 2.73 (2.13–3.49), and 2.17 (2.05–2.30) in premenopausal women, postmenopausal women and men, respectively. The addition of NAFLD to conventional risk factors improved risk prediction for incident T2D in both sexes, with a greater improvement in women than men. Interpretation: NAFLD is a stronger risk factor for incident T2D in premenopausal women than in post-menopausal women or men. The presence of NAFLD identifies individuals at high risk of T2D who may benefit from participation in diabetes prevention programs. Funding Information: This study was supported by the SKKU Excellence in Research Award Research Fund, Sungkyunkwan University, 2020. CDB is supported in part by the Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (IS-BRC-20004), UK. Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the institutional review board of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (IRB No. KBSMC 2021-10-043), which waived the need for informed consent owing to the use of de-identified retrospective data from routine health screening.

Agriculture is an integral part of Africa's economy, but Africa still faces various challenges to increasing production and adding value. The focus of this study is to analyze Africa's agricultural value chain development, review Korea's agricultural value chain development policies on a parallel, and to draw policy suggestions from the Korean experience that can be applied to the African situation. A special focus is put on the rice sector not only because it is the staple food of Korea, on which much of its agricultural policies were centered, but also because consumption of rice is increasing rapidly in Africa and calls for a detailed look into how the momentum can be utilized to increase the value of African rice. Policy suggestions include the creation of a multi-purpose agricultural cooperative, domestic production of agricultural inputs, and the establishment of one-stop post-harvest management systems, in addition to fostering social change for the active participation of producers.

Unlike previous discussions on Africa that have focused on its commodities, recent focus has shifted to the potential of Africa's consumer market. Africa's remarkable economic growth and a population of 12 billion, which continues to expand in line with urbanization, has encouraged the development of the middle-income class. The increasing number of modern retail stores and supermarkets in the major cities illustrate the growth of Africa's consumer market. Yet, Africa's consumer market remains fragmented because of the poor logistical infrastructure, complex trade regulations, and political hostilities that limit trade between countries. As a result, inter-Africa trade remains at 12% of Africa's total trade while that of Western Europe and the Asia Pacific is at 61% and 39% respectively. Moreover, the majority of manufactured goods are imported because there is a lack of skills, equipment and knowledge as well and land ownership issues among other factors. The influx of cheap imported goods across a wide range of industries covering textiles, plastics, machinery, electronics, construction materials and others have also hindered the growth of the manufacturing sector in Africa because of its low cost competitiveness. Despite the merits of engaging with Africa, the trade volume between Korea and Africa has remained minuscule because of geographical and logistical barriers. Against this background, utilizing industrial zones in Africa would be an effective way for Korea to engage directly with the African consumer market. Eastern Africa, Ethiopia in particular, should be prioritized as an entry point because of its relative political stability, improving business environment and intensity of intra-regional trade. In terms of focus industries, although agriculture, textiles and minerals are the most consumed and exported items yet in Africa, Korea should prioritize production of machinery, petro-chemical products and non-mineral goods because better competitiveness in these areas. China has taken an aggressive stance by creating large-scale independently funded industrial zones exclusively for Chinese firms. However, Korea should take care in its approach to utilizing industrial zones. Operational and effective industrial zones are still limited to Morocco, Ethiopia and Mauritius because land regulations are unclear and the number of experts to plan and operate industrial zones are few. Corruption is another issue that needs to be addressed. Therefore, collaborating with local governments in planning and utilizing industrial zones would be necessary to minimize the dangers.

Korean Abstract: 아프리카 농업의 지속가능한 발전을 위해서는 비료투입이나 관개시설 확충 등과 같이 특정 분야에서의 개별사업에 역점을 두기보다는 농산물의 전체적인 흐름 즉, 가치사슬적인 측면에서 종합적인 접근이 필요하다. 단순히 농업생산 확대만으로는 지속가능한 농업발전을 기대하기 어려우며 시장을 통한 해법 즉, 생산자인 농민과 소비자 간의 거리를 좁힘으로써 선순화 구조를 형성하는 것이 중요하다. 과거 한국은 오늘날 아프리카 농업이 직면해 있는 장애요인들을 선험적으로 경험했을 뿐만 아니라, 비교적 성공적으로 극복했다는 점에서 정책적으로 공유할 부분이 적지 않다. 본 연구는 아프리카 농업 가치사슬 문제를 심층적으로 다루는 것으로 아프리카와 한국의 농업을 평행적으로 비교분석하고, 한국의 농업정책 경험을 활용하여 아프리카에 제시할 수 있는 정책제안을 모색하였다. English Abstract: With the acknowledgement of the need to approach Africa’s agricultural sector through the lens of a comprehensive value chain approach, this research analyzes the challenges for each stage of the agricultural value chain in Africa and outlines policy recommendations based on Korea’s policy advancements and agricultural sector development since the 1950s when its initial conditions were similar to that of Africa. There are arguments to sharing the Korean experience due to its singularity but Korea has encountered and has overcome the same challenges facing Africa today relatively successfully, which makes its experience of value to be shared with Africa. In fact, there is much demand for analyses on Korea’s agricultural development experience as various African countries and leaders, as well as institutions like the AfDB and policy makers have expressed interests in learning from Korea’s agricultural policies. However, their interests go beyond general history as they seek more detailed information; the manner in which policies were implemented, the institutions that supported the policies, measures of financial support, the manner in which (horizontal and vertical) relationships were formed between the various stakeholders in the value chain including the government, agricultural cooperatives, farmers, agricultural processing companies, retailers and others. This research identifies and ranks policy areas that can be shared with Africa through interviews with various experts, discussions through an international workshop for agriculturalists and economists, and the use of the AHP model. Policy experiences that are most relevant to the African context are the establishment of a multipurpose agricultural cooperative with financial functions, the supply of agricultural inputs, and policies enhancing processing and quality management. On the other hand, policies on establishing wholesale markets and macro-agricultural policies were found to be insignificant. Though developing wholesale markets were quite significant in the Korean case, it is not so for Africa because of the limited volume of goods traded. Notwithstanding the fast growth of agro-markets in cities as a result of increasing purchasing power and rapid urbanization, most are still subsistent farmers with low levels of trade. The infrastructure is also yet inadequate to support wholesale trade.

Korean Abstract: 미국의 아프리카성장기회법(AGOA: African Growth and Opportunity Act)은 아프리카의 경제발전과 빈곤퇴치를 목적으로 사하라이남 아프리카 국가의 수출품에 대해 미국 시장 접근을 대폭 확대하는 특혜무역조치이다. 본 연구는 미국의 대(對)아프리카 특혜관세제도인 아프리카성장기회법의 현황을 소개하고 미국과 아프리카 국가 간 교역 효과 분석을 바탕으로 향후 우리나라의 대아프리카 통상정책에 대한 시사점을 도출하였다. English Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine the development and present condition of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), to review cases of beneficiary countries that are utilizing AGOA and to analyze the effects of AGOA on African exports to the US. It also seeks to draw implications for Korea’s trade policies on Africa by prospecting US’s trade policies towards Africa in the Post-AGOA era.

Cities and urban areas function as engines for economic growth as they mobilize labor and capital to create economies of scale through the agglomeration of production factors and increase productivity. They also create a consumer base through whose consumption of manufactured products encourages economic growth. Consequently, cities generate economic value that amount up to 80 percent of the global GDP. They also expand as rural labor is pushed out as a result of green innovation and technological development. Interestingly, Africa's cities have expanded neither through industrialization nor technological innovation. Africa's urban population is relatively small compared to other regions of the world but its growth is expected to accelerate in the near future. However, this rate of expansion and attention is unaccompanied by an improvement in physical and institutional infrastructure. As a result, Africa's urban areas are sprawled by the expansion of slums while social infrastructure such as road, power, water and sanitation, and industrial production facilities is far from sufficient. As Africa's urbanization comes with many side effects triggered by the infrastructure deficit, the development of economic and social infrastructure could aid its economic transformation. Using the various methods of pooled OLS, fixed effects model and system GMM, estimations on the future demand for infrastructure in the road, water and sanitation, and power sectors were conducted. Results indicate that demand is highest in the power sector followed by road and then by water and sanitation. Based on Korea's experience and expertise and in consideration of the calculated estimations, Korea can cooperate with Africa by developing policies for urban planning (soft infrastructure), building physical infrastructure (hard infrastructure), and providing assistance in the establishment of industrial complexes. Detailed examples include reforming land regulation systems, establishing the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and utilizing co-financing capital for infrastructure development.

Korean Abstract: 아프리카는 그동안 주로 자원개발시장이라는 측면에서 비중 있게 다루어져 왔으나, 최근 들어서는 소비시장으로서의 성장 가능성이 주목을 받고 있다. 10 억 명이 넘는 인구 규모, 괄목할 만한 경제성장, 중산층 인구 형성, 도시화, 구매력 증대 등이 결부되면서 새로운 소비시장으로 변모하고 있기 때문이다. 최근 나오고 있는 세계적인 컨설팅 회사들의 많은 보고서들은 아프리카에서 가장 전략적인 투자 기회는 자원개발이 아니라 장기적 관점에서 중산층을 겨냥하는 것이라고 강조하고 있다. 아프리카 인구의 절대다수는 여전히 빈곤한 삶을 영위하고 있지만, 대도시를 중심으로 구매력을 갖춘 인구가 빠르게 늘어나면서 소비시장 규모가 커지고 있다. 아프리카 대부분의 주요 도시에는 현대식 대형 쇼핑몰과 슈퍼마켓이 속속 들어서고 있으며, 여기에서는 농가공품, 생활용품, 컴퓨터, 가전제품 등 각종 공산품이 인기리에 판매되고 있다. 그러나 한국의 입장에서 보면 아프리카 소비시장은 무엇보다도 지리적으로 멀리 떨어져 있어 접근이 용이하지 않을 뿐만 아니라, 제반 물적ㆍ제도적 교역기반이 열악하여 전통적인 방식의 수출로는 한계가 있을 수밖에 없다. 이러한 문제 인식을 가지고 본 연구에서는 산업단지를 통한 소비시장 진출 방안을 모색하게 되었다. English Abstract: Previously discussions about Africa focused on its resources. However, recent interests are shifting towards Africa's growth potential as a consumer market. The combination of a billion people, impressive economic growth, a growing middle class, urbanization and increase of purchasing power has transformed Africa into a rising consumer market. Many recent reports by various business consulting firms emphasize that the most strategic investment opportunity in the long run lies in pursuing Africa’s middle income class and not in resource development. Although the overall majority of Africans yet live in absolute poverty, the consumer market is growing as the urban population who have sufficient purchasing power continues to expand. A growing number of large-scale shopping malls and supermarkets are moving into Africa's major cities and they are being stockpiled with processed agricultural products, household goods, computers, household electronics and many kinds of manufactured products. However, for Korea, the market remains difficult to access because Africa is not only geographically distant but also because poor physical and institutional trade infrastructure in Africa limits traditional export means. Keeping mind of such problems, this research explores potential means of accessing Africa's consumer market through industrial zones.

Korean Abstract: 아프리카 국가들은 지속가능한 도시개발을 국가발전 전략의 핵심으로 다루고 있는데, 도시개발정책, 물적·제도적 인프라 정비, 신도시 개발, 도시생산기반 구축 등을 주요 골자로 하고 있다. 주요 거점도시를 연결하는 범(汎) 아프리카 차원의 인프라 개발 프로젝트 추진 역시 탄력을 받고 있는데, 개발회랑 (development corridor) 구축과 이를 통한 역내 경제통합을 목표로 하고 있다. 이러한 아프리카의 도시화 현상은 우리에게 개발협력과 경제협력의 기회를 동시에 제공해주고 있다. 본 연구는 아프리카의 경제·사회적 발전패러다임 변화 중 하나인 도시화 문제를 다루는 것으로, 아프리카의 도시화 현상을 심층적으로 분석하고, 인프라 분야에서 한국의 협력방안을 모색하고자 하였다. English Abstract: Urbanization refers to a demographic change where the population residing in urban areas increases. Africa's urbanization is happening at an unprecedented speed as its urban population is expected to increase from its current level of 40% to over 50% by 2030. Generally speaking, urbanization leads to economic development through the agglomeration of factors of production, economies of scale, reduction of transaction costs and productivity advancement, attraction of domestic and foreign investment, and technology absorption. In fact, urbanization can be seen as the cradle of industrialization and economic development. The compressed and rapid growth of Asian countries such as Korea and China is in great part due to the development of urban areas. However, the cities of Africa seem to create "a new form of poverty" rather than acting as a driving force for development. Gleaser (2011) and others determine the favorable functions of urbanization based on the development theory of Arthur Lewis and Simon Kuznets, but also mention the vicious cycle of development due to "urbanization of poverty" or "geographical concentration of poverty." Africa is a case of the latter, where the lack of physical and institutional infrastructures is exacerbated by the population increase, thus leading to the deterioration of cities. Nevertheless, Africa's urbanization is gaining the spotlight as cities provide a geographical space that produces the most economic value and function as a powerhouse for economic growth. In fact, because cities create 80% of the global GDP it is difficult to find a country that has achieved attractive economic development without urbanization. Obviously urbanization itself does not necessarily mean industrialization or economic development but it certainly functions as an engine for economic growth and transformation. African states underline sustainable urban development in their national development strategies, which include urban development policies, physical and institutional infrastructure servicing, new town development, urban production base as the essentials. A Pan-African infrastructure project that connects important point cities to create a development corridor and encourage intra-economic integration is under progress.

Although Africa has witnessed outstanding economic performance, poverty remains prevalent because economic growth has not been translated into more jobs and higher income. Still trapped within the confines of a mono-cultural economy, Africa's dependency on a limited inventory of primary goods and its retreat into de-industrialization hinders it from escaping the poverty trap. With the shifting paradigm of development cooperation from a public sector led development to private sector development, the development of Africa's private sector is considered crucial in translating economic growth into inclusive growth. However, Africa's private sector faces many challenges including the accessibility of SMEs to government services, large size of the informal sector and excessive regulations. Analysis of a wide spectrum of variables through a cross-sectional model to identify areas that increase the effects of private sector development and their degree of efficacy shows that small business ownership is the most important factor that affects both income and employment. Other variables such as technological readiness, market size and concentration of rent had an impact on income while improvements in higher education and training, labor market efficiency and primary education had an impact on employment. With reference to the PSD policies of the UK, US and Germany and in consideration of Korea's development experiences and handicaps four areas are considered as a priority for PSD cooperation with Africa: entrepreneurial support, construction of industrial complexes, human resource development and agricultural development.

Korean Abstract: 2000년대 들어 현재까지 아프리카가 보여준 경제성적표는 분명 괄목할만한 성과이지만, 일자리와 소득 창출로 이어지지 못해 빈곤 해소에 기여하지 못하고 있다. 아프리카 경제는 여전히 저효율 구조와 소수의 일차산품에 의존하는 단작경제(mono-culture economy) 틀 속에 갇힌 채, 부가가치 산업의 창출은 고사하고 오히려 탈공업화(deindustrialization)를 겪고 있으며, 경제전환의 정상경로(normal process)에 진입하지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 국제사회의 빈곤퇴치 이니셔티브인 밀레니엄개발목표(MDG)가 지난 2000년에 시작되어 2015년 종료시점을 앞두고 있는데, 아프리카에서는 당초 기대와는 달리 가시적인 성과를 보여주지 못해, 원조방식의 패러다임 변화가 불가피하다는 목소리가 높아지고 있다. 현재 아프리카(사하라이남)에서는 매년 1,500만 명의 젊은이들이 일자리를 찾아 노동시장에 뛰어들고 있지만, 이들을 흡수할 수 있는 산업이 절대적으로 부족하여 이 지역의 청년 실업률은 이미 사회적 위험수위를 넘어선 상태이다. 민간부문은 빈곤해소를 위한 가장 효과적인 분야라고 할 수 있는데, 최근 들어 민간부문 활성화를 통한 일자리 창출이 국제개발협력의 새로운 패러다임으로 인식되고 있다. 종전까지는 주로 교육, 보건 등 사회개발에 개발협력의 초점이 맞추어져 왔으나, 최근 들어서는 민간부문 활성화를 통한 경제성장과 이를 통한 빈곤해소에 무게감이 실리고 있다. 제2장에서는 아프리카 민간부문의 현황 및 특성을 다각적으로 살펴보고, 아프리카 민간부문의 발전을 가로막는 구조적인 제약요인들을 규명하였다. 아울러 민간부문개발이 일자리 창출 등 포용적 성장과 경제구조 전환에서 차지하는 역할 또는 중요성을 조명하고, 개발협력에서 아프리카 민간부문개발이 지니는 의의를 살펴보았다. 아프리카에 있어서도 민간부문은 경제의 ‘성장엔진’이라고 할 수 있는데, 민간부문은 총생산의 80%, 총투자의 2/3, 총신용의 3/4, 고용의 90% 이상을 차지할 정도로 중요한 위치를 차지하고 있다. 그러나 아프리카 민간부문은 열악한 생산성과 경쟁력 등으로 국가경제 발전을 이끌 수 있는 동력을 갖추지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 제3장에서는 포용적 성장에 초점을 맞추어 민간부문개발이 소득수준 향상과 고용창출에 미치는 영향을 정량적 평가를 통해 계량적으로 횡단분석을 시도하였다. 본 연구에서는 아프리카 지역의 민간부문개발의 특성을 반영하기 위해 포용적 성장의 요소로 볼 수 있는 소기업 운영과 개인자산 소유, 금융포용도, 금융중재, 비공식 부문 등을 주요 변수로 선정하여 아프리카의 민간부문개발에 있어 어떤 요소에 중점을 두고 지원을 해야 하는지 살펴보고자 하였다. 제4장에서는 영국, 독일, 미국 등 양자 공여국을 중심으로 아프리카에 대한 민간부문개발 지원 현황 및 특징 등을 살펴보았다. 지원분야 및 주제 측면에서는 세 국가 모두 초소형 기업과 중소기업 지원, 가치사슬 개발 지원, 금융접근성 개선, 기업환경 개선을 위한 정책자문 및 제도적 역량강화를 중점적으로 지원하고 있어 국가별로 큰 차이는 파악되지 않았다. 본 연구의 핵심을 이루는 제5장에서는 앞 장들의 논의나 연구결과를 바탕으로 우리나라의 아프리카 민간부문개발 지원에 있어 협력우선분야와 협력방안을 모색하였다. 우리나라의 민간부문개발 지원은 아직 초기단계에 있지만, 최근 들어 그 필요성이 커지고 있는 만큼, 창업지원, 산업단지 개발, 고등인력 및 산업기술인력 양성 지원, 농업개발 등 4대 분야별로 협력방안을 제시해 보았다. English Abstract: While Africa’s economic performance since the 2000s has indeed been a highly notable success, it has not managed to solve the problem of poverty as such economic success has not translated into job and income creation. The African economy is still trapped within the confines of a monocultural economy, relying on an inefficient system built on a limited inventory of primary goods; it is not only failing to produce added value but also suffering from de-industrialization with the aim of settling into the normal process of economic turnabout still far on the horizon. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an international initiative to eradicate poverty, are nearing their conclusion in 2015 after starting in 2000, and contrary to the initial expectations, the lack of tangible effects on Africa has given weight to the argument that big changes to the paradigm of aid giving are inevitable. Nearly 15 million young people join the job market in Africa every year but the industries’ absolute lack of capacity to assimilate these people has resulted in youth unemployment levels reaching near-crisis levels. The private sector is arguably the most effective sector in terms of contribution to the eradication of poverty, and job creation through private sector is increasingly seen as the new paradigm of international development cooperation. Development cooperation has hitherto been focused on social developments like education or public health; recently, however, the emphasis has increasingly shifted to economic development through the development of the private sector, and from it, the goal to eradicate poverty. Chapter 2 analyzes the status and characteristics of the private sector in Africa from multiple angles and defines the structural limitations that prevent further development of the private sector. Also, the role and importance of the private sector in bringing about inclusive growth, such as job creation, and change in economic structure, is highlighted as well as its role in development cooperation. The private sector in Africa can be said to be the “engine” that drives the growth of the economy as 80% of gross production, 67% of gross investment, 75% of gross credit, and 90% of employment all stem from the private sector. In Chapter 3, a cross-sectional analysis is conducted to assess private sector development (PSD) quantitatively and the effect of PSD on per capita GDP and unemployment rate focusing on inclusive growth in Africa. By considering inclusive growth with the distinctive features of Africa’s PSD such as the informal sector, PSD is defined more broadly than simply the enhancement of investment climate and business environment, and the purpose of Chapter 3 is to assess PSD and areas of focus for PSD in Africa; furthermore, inclusive growth is considered with small business ownership, financial system inclusion, and intermediation of business investments.Chapter 4 analyzes the approaches, policies and practices of private sector development for Africa in the cases of three bilateral donors — the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States — in order to draw policy implications for the Government of Korea. Chapter 5, the core part of this study, discusses the priorities and options for cooperation between Korea and the private sector in Africa, based on the discussions and results of the previous passages. While Korea’s PSD support to African countries remains limited, the recent growth of its importance has led to recommendations for cooperation in four areas: entrepreneurial support, industrial complex development, professional or industrial workforce development support, and agricultural development.

Africa has received the greatest amount of aid and yet its effects on poverty reduction are meager, especially in the areas of agriculture, energy, water and sanitation. Little improvement in agricultural productivity and post-harvest loss in addition to climate change risks threaten Africa's food security. Africa is also faced with an energy crisis that challenges the health and environmental conditions, especially in the rural areas. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities is one of the main causes in the expansion of preventable diseases. Recent developments in understanding the need for appropriate technology to be localized and user-friendly provide development opportunities for rural Africa where barriers to building large-scale infrastructures are many. In this context, Korea could increase development aid efficiency by utilizing appropriate technology through the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) model and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach.

Korean Abstract: 아프리카 국가들은 1960년대 초반 독립한 이후 지난 60여 년 동안 국제사회로부터 1조 4,000억 달러라는 막대한 규모의 원조자금을 지원받았다. 하지만 아프리카는 여전히 빈곤문제에 대한 해결의 실마리를 찾지 못하고 있어 개발원조의 유용성에 대해 많은 논쟁거리를 제공하고 있다. 아시아 등 다른 많은 원조 수혜국들은 농업 발전을 시작으로 산업화를 이루어냈지만, 아프리카는 식량문제 하나 제대로 해결하지 못하는 무능한 대륙으로 남아 있다. 그렇다면 왜 유독 아프리카는 ‘빈곤의 함정’에서 탈출하기가 그토록 어려운가에 대한 의문이 제기될 수 있는데, 이는 한마디로 개발 여건이 아시아 등 다른 개도국들과 크게 다르기 때문이라고 할 수 있다. 열대성 기후, 수자원 부족, 척박한 토양 등 운명적으로 주어진 자연조건에서부터 인종 및 종교 분쟁, 열악한 인프라, 인적자본 미형성, 국민적 개발의지 결여, 전근대적인 근로의식 및 노동 가치관 등에 이르기까지 아프리카의 빈곤을 설명하는 요인들은 이 지역의 현실만큼이나 복잡하고 다양하다. 이러한 ‘아프리카적인 상황’에서 제도나 정책의 개혁, 민주주의, 투명성 등과 같이 거버넌스에 초점을 맞춘 개발협력 접근방식은 상대방의 현실적인 역량을 고려하지 않은 것으로 한계에 부딪힐 수밖에 없다. 아프리카의 발전을 저해하는 요인들은 부정부패, 비민주성 등과 같은 제도적 측면 이외에도 자연환경 및 사회문화적 요인에 이르기까지 무수하다. 아프리카의 개발 여건과 개발역량 구조를 감안할 때, 워싱턴 컨센서스와 같은 서방국의 발전처방이 아프리카에 그대로 적용될 수 있을 것으로 기대하는 것은 무리이다. 원조피로(aid fatigue)나 원조 무용론을 거론하기에 앞서 아프리카가 직면하고 있는 개발환경의 특수성을 먼저 이해하고 이에 걸맞은 개발협력 수단을 모색하는 노력이 필요하다. 아프리카에서 개발원조의 효과성을 제고하기 위해서는 이 지역의 복잡한 개발 여건을 직시하고, 거대담론보다는 실용적 또는 미량적인 접근이 필요하다고 하겠다. 그동안 국제 원조사회는 아프리카의 빈곤을 해결한다는 명분으로 막대한 원조자금을 쏟아부었지만, 그 효과가 미미하거나 또는 오히려 경제성장을 저해한다는 주장도 제기되고 있다. 이러한 가운데, 최근 들어 국내외적으로 적정기술(appropriate technology)을 활용한 개발협력이 새로운 화두로 등장하고 있다. 이는 ‘적정’이라는 말 그대로 상대방의 ‘눈높이’에 맞는 실용적인 기술로, 비록 작고 단순하지만 지역주민의 빈곤해소에 직접 기여할 수 있는 ‘착한 기술’로 인식되고 있다. 사실 아프리카와 같은 저개발국의 빈곤해소를 위해 절실하게 필요한 것은 거창한 개발계획이나 현대적인 기술보다는 실천력이 높아 주민에게 쉽게 다가갈 수 있는 적정기술이라고 할 수 있다. 적정기술은 ‘서민 친화적 풀뿌리’ 개발협력이라는 측면에서, 기존의 개발협력방식을 보완 내지는 부분적으로 대체할 수 있는 새로운 대안 중 하나로 이해할 필요가 있다. 국제 원조사회에서도 ‘개발협력의 현지화’와 ‘지속가능성’을 목표로 현장 중심적인 개발협력을 강조하고 있다. 우리나라의 개발협력은 주로 인프라 구축, 기자재 제공 등에 초점을 맞추고 있으나, 앞으로는 지역주민의 빈곤해소에 보다 직접 기여할 수 있도록 사업 다양화를 모색할 필요가 있다. English Abstract: Africa has received 1.4 trillion USD in aid over the past 60 years since the wave of independence witnessed across the continent in the early 1960s. However, there is still much discussion and controversy over the effectiveness of development aid, as many African countries have not been able to escape poverty. While other aid recipients in Asia have achieved industrialization through agricultural development, Africa remains unable to replicate the success in Asia, as reflected in the continent’s unresolved food security problems. Why is it so difficult for Africa to escape the 'poverty trap?' This is because development conditions are different from that of other developing regions. Naturally, given conditions that include a tropical climate, lack of water resources, barren soil as well as ethnic and religious conflicts, poor infrastructure, absence of human capital, lack of national will to develop, and outdated concepts on labor and work values, make for a very complicated and diverse reality with respect to African poverty. An approach to development and cooperation that emphasizes democracy, transparency and other governance issues that do not accord with the 'African situation' can only be limited because it does not consider the real capacity of its development partner. There are many natural and socio-cultural factors that hinder Africa’s development in addition to corruption and other institutional barriers. It is far-fetched to apply the western 'Washington Consensus' prescription to Africa when considering its development conditions and capacities. Prior to the discussion on aid fatigue or the limited effects of aid, one needs to understand the uniqueness of Africa’s conditions and then find means of cooperation that are suitable. To enhance the effectiveness of development aid in Africa one needs to acknowledge the complicated conditions involving development and take a practical and detailed approach. The international donor community has poured large amounts of aid to eradicate poverty but arguments continue to be raised that its effectiveness has been minimal or that it actually impedes economic growth in Africa.