The African economy - background to the examination of the issues of technology transfer, adaptation and development in Africa : A note by the ECA secretariat

Abstract

Technology transfer, adaptation and development cannot be discussed in a vacuum since the role of technology is to solve social and economic problems. Hence the need to provide an overview of the economic and social characteristics of the African economy as background to the examination of the issues involved in the transfer, adaptation and development of technology in the African region. Such an overview will not only provide an insight into the main problem areas, but will also assist in the specification of the priorities. This paper is addressed to the following points: a brief description of the land and population resources of Africa; a review of the natural resources of action; and an examination of the socio-economic characteristic of the African economy in the early years of the 1970s.