Over 700 million people live in sub-Saharan
Africa. They are among the worlds poorest, with a gross domestic
product (GDP) of just over one U.S. dollar per day (Masci,
2003, 1). One-third of the children who die in the world each
day are Africans, even though they make up only 10 percent
of the world’s child population. One in three African
children will not attend school and 250 million are enlisted
in some type of labor. Women and children make up 92 percent
of the deaths in civil war related conflicts in such war torn
countries, as Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Liberia (Akarue, 2003).
These statistics show just some of the results of a land wrought
with decades of warfare, resulting in massive death, starvation,
extreme poverty, and incurable disease. HIV and AIDS, as well
as several other catastrophic health crises in conjunction
with starvation, have ravished the country, leaving few families
without personal loss. Thirty three percent of the female
population in Zimbabwe alone is infected with HIV; in 2001,
the life expectancy was a mere 39.4 years old. Unfortunately
the sample of the population that suffers most from the deaths
of family members are the thirteen million orphans of parents
who have succumbed to HIV/AIDS and countless others who have
lost parents to other disease and warfare.
In the last several years, there has been a lot of attention
directed at the continent of Africa. The United Nations, as
well as Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Britain, Italy, Canada,
and the United States, is providing some type of aid to Africa.
At the G-8 Summit in 2002, the world’s top nations agreed
to do away with subsidies to their own farmers in order to
help Africa compete agriculturally. In addition, they pledged
US$6 billion in aid to the continent. During his 2003 State
of the Union Address, U.S. President George W. Bush promised
US$15 billion in aid specifically to fight HIV and AIDS over
the next five years during his 2003 State of the Union Address.
There is an argument that aid has not helped the continent
because it does not provide Africans with the means to help
themselves. William Esterly, a spokesman for the Center for
Global Development, said, “Africa is the most intensive
recipient of foreign aid of any continent on the globe…Yet
Africa’s growth in output per person has declined from
1.5 percent per year in the 1960s and 1970s to zero in the
1980s and 1990s. Meanwhile, foreign aid to Africa increased
from seven percent of its income in the 1960s and 1970s to
sixteen percent in the 1980s and 1990s.”
Earlier statistics show that Africans, while receiving foreign
aid, have not used that aid to improve their society economically.
The aid money is simply a short-term fix to a much larger
problem. Money is thrown at the symptoms of a much deeper
disease. Funds are given to provide minimal healthcare, for
food, and for other necessary entities. While these funds
do fulfill some of the Africans’ basic needs, these
subsidies do not teach them how to avoid healthcare problems
or how to pull themselves out of the poverty that leaves families
without basic life necessities. With the influx of aid money,
the African free market is not encouraged to grow; free trade
barely exists because of the lack in infrastructure and democratic
government. Also, corruption within Africa and other third
world places hinders growth as well. It is a way of self-preservation
for many. Unfortunately, natives can make more money through
illegal trafficking of supplies including drugs and weapons,
than they can through a fair and legal system.
Despite these concerns, some areas of African society have
improved due to aid. Literacy and education, especially health
education has increased significantly. The infant mortality
rate has dropped dramatically from 110 deaths per 1000 births
in 1970, to 79 deaths per 1000 births in 2001. In Zimbabwe
alone, though, the infant mortality rate is much higher, at
123 deaths per 1000 births in 2001 (see Appendix A). Much
of the aid has been directed toward building more organized
and stable medical facilities. Thus, more Africans have access
to prenatal care and pregnancy education, as well as general
physical care, and as a result, the infant mortality rate
continues to drop. In addition to the improvement of the infant
mortality crises, the large surge of aid-based organizations
into Africa to fight HIV/AIDS has been a much-needed start
to helping those affected by the disease. Although clinics
and hospitals do exist, and the influx of aid provides a source
for advancement of these facilities, most of them are not
up to par. They continue to need massive funding for provisions,
staff, and everyday supplies. Besides actual medical facilities,
aid has provided other groups some means to educate Africans
about HIV/AIDS and to reach out to those who no infected but
who are not directly touched by the disease. Schools, orphanages,
shelters, and outreach programs continue to pop up throughout
the continent.
Although there is some progress, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is
still pervasive throughout the continent. The seemingly unstoppable
spread of the fatal disease lies mainly as a result of the
social values within the African culture. For example, sexual
issues are simply not discussed, thus education on those issues
tends to be muted as well. At times, African adults even shun
children born with the disease, children who have been given
an automatic death sentence. Organizations trying to educate
the population on prevention of the disease encounter cultural
bias as well. For instance, although aid organizations distribute
condoms, it is difficult to educate males on the need for
and proper use of this protection. Additionally, birth control
or sexual protection is completely alien to most Africans,
and moreover, religious practices and tradition usually do
not allow for such provisions. To make matters more frustrating
and seemingly impossible at times, because so much of Africa
is rural, there is a physical barrier to reaching many of
the inhabitants. And, even if aid organizations are able to
reach those indigenous people, language barriers present yet
another hurdle. Perhaps the most exasperating of all obstacles
that so many off the aid organizations encounter is that although
many Africans are infected with HIV or AIDS, the population
is not educated in understanding the function of the disease
nor how to identify or treat it.
While many non-governmental organizations and non-profit aid
organizations focus on treating those infected with HIV/AIDS
and educating the rest of the population on how to prevent
its spread, others focus on the survivors of those who have
died because of disease or some other tragedy. An example
of an organization responding to this effort is Orphans In
Africa.
Reverend Randall Bush, a former missionary in Zimbabwe, went
to the country to start a church. Shortly thereafter, he founded
the Lomagundi Presbyterian Church. As a side project, Reverend
Bush also envisioned creating an orphanage for the many street
children of the township. He paved the way for the acquisition
of the land, which was eventually purchased from the town
once they acknowledged the validity of the orphanage, and
the initial construction of a six-foot security wall commenced
in 1995. It is rather noteworthy to point how that before
any buildings were even completed, those involved with the
orphanage believed it was necessary to build a physical source
of protection around this project. Clearly, the wall demonstrates
the constant fear felt by Africans and shows that the culture
in which they find themselves is full of danger and violence.
When Reverend Bush left Africa in 1995, Colin and Ann Harper
of the United Kingdom supervised the building project and
the first dormitory and the administrative building were begun
in the summer of 1996 (Tim Mansfield, personal communication,
October, 2003).
Even though the foundation of the orphanage was in place,
it was not until April of 1999 when the orphanage opened its
doors. Now a registered charity in Zimbabwe, Orphans In Africa,
provides a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for the
children, and located north of Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe.
Source: USAID - http://www.usaid.gov/zw/html/Map.html
Word spread fast amongst the orphan population
that there was a safe haven to children who had been abandoned,
abused, and dismissed by so many others. As many as twenty
street children began sleeping near the back door knowing
they were safe from harm and also that they would most likely
be treated to breakfast the next morning. Realizing that adoption
was a rarity, the caring volunteers created a group home for
these children to provide security and protection. In 1997,
with their own resources, these wonderful people built a home
called Cold Stream House where many street kids could come
for food and shelter. Since its inception, the Cold Stream
House has become home to twenty-five young teenage orphan
boys. And, several other safe houses have been created in
other townships for street children.
In addition to running the Cold Stream House, the same caring
folk also began financing Orphans In Africa. With their involvement
as donors and because of their hands-on participation, , they
played a large role in opening the orphanage in 1999. Almost
immediately, three children became residents and since then
the compound has grown dramatically. By September 1998, workers
completed two buildings providing the facility with the ability
to house many more children. By summer 2003, there were thirty-six
orphans, ranging from 2 to 17 years old.
The project has attempted to modernize the living conditions
of the orphans to somewhat resemble western living standards.
For example, the youngest children at the orphanage attend
a playschool on site while the older children attend primary
and secondary schools in the township. Extracurricular after
school activities have been established for the good of the
order as well. The orphanage even has a soccer team that competes
with other local teams. Not only do the competitive sports
provide physical activity for the children and teach the orphans
valued principles, such as sportsmanship and camaraderie,
it also provides a source of entertainment as well as a sense
of community to these children, most of which are without
a single family member.
Currently, the Orphanage is in the process of finishing the
second of three dormitories. Once they can afford to complete
the third dorm, the organization can comfortably house up
to one hundred orphans. Yet, to complete this building and
to fund the daily operations of the project, the orphanage
must continue to acquire financial support.
Once Cold Stream House was up and running, several church
groups began to partner with not only the group home, but
the township project as well. While Cold Stream and the orphans
are not directly affiliated with a specific church, the staff
are Christian. Thus, Pastor Eshwin Makozho was asked to head
the shelter at its inception and additional parochial support
came with his association. Lomagundi Presbyterian, the church
established by Reverend Randall Bush, became involved both
financially as well as with the volunteer support of its congregation.
Today, the orphanage receives the majority of funding from
other churches locally and overseas.
In order to organize the institution as its supporters, several
individuals who worked to create the orphanage established
a supervisory working group. The group ensures that the children
do not go without necessities of any kind. They decide what
to do with donations, how to handle the functionality of the
compound, and all other executive decisions. They reach out
to members of the community as well as to other international
supporters to ensure that the orphanage continues to function
both physically and financially.
Each of these individuals contribute in their own way. The
pastor, has a link to local churches and can solicit prayer,
funds, and volunteers. The schoolteacher, brings a different
point of view to the table as she works with many of the orphaned
children on a daily basis. As a very active community member,
another lady has direct contact with the children and is an
internal link to the community, enabling her to solicit support
and various assistance from the indigenous population. It
is important to note that when questioned about local members,
the Harpers mentioned several times that these individuals
“can be trusted” There is a consistent concern
of Zimbabweans that corruption will enter into the arenas
in which they work and live. In the past they have encountered
dishonest and corrupt business practices, and fraudulent community
members.
With the increased publicity the orphanage began to receive
in the mid-1990s in Africa as well as amongst missionaries
and English visitors, the orphanage was able to expand its
financial support base. Tim Mansfield has taken the lead on
helping the orphanage to raise funds as well as to maintain
its website, contact their donors, and to write their newsletter.
Mr. Mansfield has used the Internet to gain both funding and
publicity which have been vital to financial expansion. Besides
from religious organizations, Orphans In Africa functions
through the support of individual donors. Cleverly, Mr. Mansfield
and other key personnel have created several options for individuals
or groups to give to and/or support the orphanage. The options
include: monthly payment plans, one-time donations, in-kind
contributions, an ambassadors program, and grants from foundations
(Tim Mansfield, personal communication, January 2003).
Donors can sign up for three month, six month, or yearlong
increments of gifts via the Internet. If a donor wants to
give a sum of money that he or she simply cannot contribute
all at one time, the payment plan option provides a means
of doing so. Monthly payments also benefit the organization
as they insure a steady source of income to the orphanage.
Orphans In Africa also welcomes one-time gifts as sources
of financial support as well. One-time donations often come
from individuals who may stumble upon the orphanage’s
website or they may have been told about the organization
and want to help out immediately. The run up to Christmas
also sees quite a response financially from caring subscribers
through Pay Pal.
Both the monthly payment plan and the one-time donations go
directly toward sponsoring an orphan. By sponsoring an orphan,
the sponsor will receive a minimum of two letters per year
from the orphan with whom they are paired. In addition, sponsors,
as well as general donors, receive the newsletter twice a
year and are updated on the progress of their orphan. They
also receive regular email newsletters. Sponsors usually donate
money, send cards and letters, especially on holidays, and
can even visit their assigned orphan.
In-kind contributions come from within Africa, especially
from the township surrounding the compound, as well as from
overseas. Toys for the children, professional services, and
even some supplies have been given freely to the project.
Nearby residents also contribute to the orphanage by delivering
gifts of sweets and fruit to the children.
In addition to direct contributions or in-kind gifts, the
organization also reaches out to foreign donor sources with
their ambassador and consul program. Individuals sign up to
raise awareness and funds for the orphanage within their own
countries. The program works very well, in many cases amongst
teenagers who have made the orphanage one of their school
projects. For example, Kim Fox and her friend Julia, who are
students in England, arranged a special charity lacrosse match
at their school where proceeds were given to the orphanage.
Vicky Pascoe, 13, also of Cornwall, England, set up a two-day
fundraising event at her school to benefit the orphanage.
Recently, Kesav Mohan compiled a book of magic tricks for
the children since toys are hard to come by. These magic tricks
provide hours of free entertainment to the children. Each
of these individuals has been named Heart of Gold Award recipients,
a recognition award given by the orphanage to acknowledge
individuals who have provided support.
Regardless of the form in which a donor may choose to support
the Orphans In Africa Orphanage, all of these options are
made available on their website. The Internet has provided
visibility for the organization and also serves as a key tool
in soliciting donations. Pay Pal, a credit card processing
service gives donors an instant means of contributing. The
website also provides a bank transfer option that enables
currency exchange before the donation even reaches the orphanage.
Because Zimbabwe, like most of Africa, is unable to rely on
domestic support, the Internet is vital to the survival of
the organization. The orphanage relies on the Internet as
a tool to reach westerners who have the means to contribute
to their cause. In addition to providing visibility and enabling
donors to contribute, the Internet also allowed for the orphanage
to hold an online auction of a painting donated to the orphanage
just before Christmas of 2002. The auction raised US$300.
While this seems a minimal contribution to those of the western
world, US$300 is enough money in Zimbabwe to cover one third
of the monthly overhead for the orphan children. Three hundred
US dollars would also be enough money to purchase school uniforms
for ten of the children. Overall, the Internet has been an
invaluable tool in the success of this non-profit. In fact
the orphanage’s website even received The Harambee Award
in December of 2002, an award given to websites that actively
promote compassion for people in need.
In addition to individual contributions, the organization
also attempts to obtain funding through nongovernmental and
foundational grants. The orphanage has been the recipient
of one grant thus far. A U.S.-based organization provided
the funds to furnish the main dorm. Other grant requests are
currently in the works as well. For example, Mr. Mansfield
has asked the U.S. based organization, Habitat for Humanity,
a U.S.-based service organization, to build kit homes at the
compound. When applying for grants, though, Mr. Mansfield
has run into the issue dubbed results-based management and
has experienced difficulty getting funding from larger organizations.
The established donor foundations or corporations tend to
fund projects where results can be measured, and where they
can see how their money is being spent. The orphanage primarily
needs the money for repairs and for the everyday needs of
the children. It is an ongoing project with results yielded
from time to time.
Currently the children have several pressing financial needs.
The rising costs in Zimbabwe have sent the price of bread
rocketing. The ingredient mealie, which is used to make Sudza,
the staple to the children’s diet, is so scarce they
are trying to locate more of it. Even if they are able to
locate it, the price will most likely be outrageous. Recently,
the orphanage collected enough funds to purchase supplies
to build a new roof on the site manager’s house. The
working group supervision though, has made an internal decision
to use that money to purchase food and other everyday goods
for the children before using it toward the construction of
the roof. The orphanage is also trying to finance the purchase
of a vehicle, such as a van to transport up to ten of the
orphans at one time. The Harpers hope to be able to fund raise
enough money to provide this need to the orphanage. They have
initiated a fundraiser where a team of climbers supervised
by Karl Dauth, will ascend Mount Snowdon in Wales. Through
sponsorship of the climbers, the Harpers hope to raise the
rest of the funds needed for the mini bus. They have already
solicited funds from one London resident who gave a cash gift
equal to half the cost of the vehicle. Nevertheless, even
if the climbing trip raises enough money for the rest of the
vehicle, the current price of petrol is an astronomical amount
and just one more hurdle for the organization.
The completion of dorms two and three are additional financial
needs. Construction on the second dorm has started but they
still need another US$8,000 to complete the building. Sixteen
of the children currently are sleeping on floor mats. Once
the second dorm is functional, its total cost will come to
US$23,400. Just like the main dorm, the new facility will
have five bedrooms each with bunk beds and desks for the children.
Each child will also have their own chest of drawers for their
personal belongings. There are community bathrooms as well.
While the main dorm also has a separate room for the housemother,
a utility room, a guest room and bathroom, the second dorm
will be used mainly for sleeping purposes. The first dormitory
also has a large dining room and kitchen supplied with a gas
stove. While there is no gas supply in the township, the stove
is connected to a gas bottle that is replaced once emptied.
Having enough money to fuel the stove is a just another financial
concern for the supervisors.
Although the township itself is extremely poor, the community
has at times rallied around this orphanage, especially since
the center tries to give back to the community in its own
way. For example, the orphanage supplies the community with
opportunities for work; local male inhabitants provided most
of the construction work within the compound. While they were
paid, these men were willing to work for little compensation,
showing their support for the cause, but also the dire situation
of the nation itself. In other instances, professionals have
gone above and beyond the call of duty. For example, the centre
needed to repair a leaking water tank that had been sitting
on the floor for four years. The local plumber was able to
come up with hard to find materials and they successfully
raised the tank onto a ten foot steel stand in order to get
good pressure for the camp.
Like many war torn countries, residents of Zimbabwe pull together
to care for neighbors. The above example is also an extension
of an age-old cultural attribute of Africa. The roots of the
continent are, for the most part, tribal in nature. The people
of Africa grew up in various tribes and even today, there
are multiple aboriginal tribes of Africans. Zimbabwe is now,
for the most part, semi-developed. However, tribal community
ideas of extended family, ancestry, leaving a legacy, and
truly looking out for one another, remain a vital part of
their culture today (Ichlman, 1998, p. 4). The orphanage sees
this trend over and over.
Unfortunately with colonization and westernization, the African
continent has come to realize disease, poverty, suffering
and general dire straights. Corruption and deceit have set
deeper into society. While aboriginal culture no doubt had
conflict, the world in which Africans find themselves today
has a different degree of complex difficulties that they must
endure. In doing so, the African community must come together
and take hold of the innate sense of extended family. These
orphan kids are a great example of how this ingrained kinship
can work for the good of a community.
With all of the tribulations plaguing the African continent
and in particular, Zimbabwe, the orphanage is trying “to
be part of the solution – no matter how small. [It]
believe[s] the only solution is to give the next generation
a chance to save their country”. It has already taken
many of the “victims of war and disease – the
child orphans – and [have given] them a safe and secure
home” as well as an education. Many hope this will result
in the “children [developing] a value system that stops
war and prevents disease. These children will grow up to be
the future generation of leaders of their nation. They will
have the attitude and capacity to make their nation self-sufficient
and hence make a positive contribution to our world”
Chapter 11: Discussions and Conclusions
As the nonprofit sector in America and abroad
continues to grow, fundraisers everywhere need to recognize
obstacles, especially cultural obstacles that they will encounter
when trying to raise money for a particular cause or organization.
As shown, nonprofit organizations in a variety of cultures
encounter difficulties in fundraising. Government influence,
religion, the historical background of a nation, as well as
situations that the people of those nations face everyday,
play an enormous role in an individual’s attitude toward
contributing to philanthropic organizations. Even in the United
States where the nonprofit sector has incredible success,
various subcultures within the country provide new challenges
for nonprofit fundraisers.
In order for nonprofits in developing countries as well as
nonprofits in multicultural societies to have greater success
in fundraising, they must pay close attention to the cultural
milieus of the area in which they function. Fundraising tools
though effective in one area may not be so in another. For
example in countries like Japan and Finland in addition to
Bangladesh, simply asking for a contribution is seen as too
direct and impolite. While the solicitation letter is the
most used tool in the U.S., it is virtually nonexistent in
other countries. Internet fundraising only works for nonprofits
that are soliciting those individuals that are familiar with
that technology (Connor, 2002, 174). But Orphans In Africa
for example does not do well raising money within Zimbabwe,
especially via the Internet because the society is unfamiliar
with the technology. The same goes for Mexico and Finland
as organizations have not yet used the Internet for this purpose,
making it unfamiliar to both the nonprofit and potential donors,
most likely resulting in limited initial success (Conner,
2002, 174).
Also, when attempting to solicit funds in societies from individuals
of different backgrounds and cultures, it is necessary to
communicate effectively with each ethnic group. Effective
communications requires, “a sensitive understanding
of cultural mores, patterns of media consumption, and opinion
leader influences” (Moss, 2002, 2). In addition, using
both the correct language and dialect is helpful as it shows
a true investment in that ethnic community. Fundraisers need
to work with already established community leaders to create
programs that demonstrate the diversity found within the community
as well (Selier, 2002, 40). And, in doing so, fundraisers
will begin to see greater returns on their investments.
The organizations used for case studies in this thesis have
each began the use of fundraising tools that work in the American
philanthropic arena. They have taken advantage of the more
readily available information and technology available to
nonprofits worldwide, seeking out international support and
guidance. The nonprofits also have taken initial steps to
build institutional credibility, understanding the importance
of building coalitions and have done so. Each comprehends
the need to gain trust within the immediate surrounding community.
However, gaining enough trust to get financial support from
community members is one of the principal hurdles that all
four of the organizations face. In Africa, Nepal, and Bangladesh,
the nonprofits must compete with extreme poverty and historical
actions, which up until this point, only seem to encompass
donation to religious entities. And in New Zealand, university
fundraisers must deal with past precedents that leave the
community feeling as if it has no real investment in the school
and that its government should fund higher education.
While the challenges are great, not-for-profit organizations
currently have great opportunities available to them. In the
United States and to some degree abroad, there has been an
international transfer of wealth in the last several years.
As the depression-era generation passes its wealth onto the
baby boomer generation over the next forty years, there will
be a vast amount of money that has the potential of being
donated to nonprofits (Hopkins, 1992, 23). Also wealth that
has arrived through the technological and dot com phenomena
throughout the world has not yet been tapped to its full potential.
International organizations also have new tools to solicit
and educate potential donors as well. The Internet has been
a revolutionary device for nonprofit fundraising worldwide.
Three of the four organizations discussed above, with the
exception of MBSWO, are using the Internet as a vehicle for
contributions and to educate the public. The case studies
also have used the Internet to help in their quest for funding
and organizational education. Through the World Wide Web,
leaders of these philanthropic organizations are able to promote
their mission, to explain their needs, and to even ask for
contributions to meet those needs. Pay Pal, as well as other
credit card processing services, and wire transfer options
that are available online, allow for the organizations to
gain virtually immediate funding from sources all over the
world. Orphans In Africa has had major success in recruiting
donors and volunteers via the Internet.
The University of Otago has learned a great
deal from the American higher educational system through the
Internet and also now has a way to contact past alumni who
are living in other parts of the world. Youth Initiative,
too, has been able to apply for and receive grant funding
from large international nongovernmental agencies that it
may never have known existed without today’s technology.
If nonprofits can continue to promote their organizations
on a worldwide scale and drive individuals who have the means
and desire to contribute to their websites, each of them has
the ability to gain substantial funding from the international
community.
As international organizations implement Americanized methods
of fundraising into their financial plans, they will continue
to meet success, but under the stipulation that they apply
those methods in the cultural context of their own countries.
The United States too has that same challenge. As the U.S.
becomes a nation consisting of many different peoples, American
fundraisers will have to learn more about and caterer to these
new populations of ethnic groups.
Although each of the above-mentioned case studies focuses
on completely different cultures and charities, as a whole,
nonprofits everywhere have the same desire. Charitable organizations
represent an innate human desire to build community and to
help others within that community. The nonprofit sector “represents
our collective best inclinations: generosity, inclusivity,
and determined optimism. [It] attempts to bridge the many
gaps in our society by bringing people together, proposing
alternatives, advocating for change, and implementing remedies”
(Letts, 1999, 1).
And, just as each of the case studies ultimately has the same
goal to help others, each of these organizations run into
many of the same difficulties in raising money for their organizations.
Unstable and barely functioning economies leading to poverty
hinder nonprofit fundraising growth in three of the four nations.
Government instability only aids to the underdevelopment in
those nations. Other social and historical trends of only
giving charitable donations to religious causes, hinders fundraising
success in the case studies as well. In addition, the cultures
of Zimbabwe, Nepal, and Bangladesh involve a grave mistrust
of entities requesting money due to the social and governmental
climates in those countries. New Zealanders do not necessarily
mistrust the university, but they do not understand their
connection to the university nor do they feel any need to
improve their community through betterment of the college.
While the culture of every nation affects fundraising in different
ways, and fundraising tools cannot be carbon copied from country
to country, there is a constant theme found in the case studies
here; more trust and a greater familiarity of nonprofits as
well as their missions will help them gain trust in the community.
Building relationships is vital to the survival of any organization.
Thus, as the nonprofits and their managers build relationships
amongst members of the community, they will be able to gain
trust and familiarity in that community. And, as individuals
are more aware of, and more invested in the organization,
the more likely those individuals are to contribute to the
charity. Unfortunately there will always be a need for charitable
organizations. However, as fundraisers become more in tune
to the culture in which they are soliciting, they will have
greater success in building up the selfless and caring organizations
for which they work.
World Bank Data Profile for Zimbabwe:
1998 2001 2002
People
Population 12.2 million 12.8 million 13.0 million
Life expectancy (years) 39.4 39
Fertility rate (births per woman) 3.7 3.7
Infant mortality rate (per 1000 births) 123
Prevalence of HIV (female, % ages 15-24) 33
Illiteracy total (% age 15 and above) 12.9 10.7 10
Economy and Technology
GNI (current US$) 6.9 billion
GNI per capita (US$) 570
GDP (US$) 5.7 billion 9.1 billion 8.3 billion
GDP growth (annual %) 2.9 -8.4 -5.6
Fixed lines and mobile telephones (per 1000 people) 22.5 42.7
Personal computers (per 1000 people) 11.4 12.1
Internet users 10,000 100,000
Infrastructure and Finance
Paved roads (% of total) 47.4
Present value of debt (US$) 1.6 billion
Aid per capita (US$) 18.3 16.5
Source: World Development Indicators database, August 2003.
http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata/html.
