West African Studies Regional Atlas on West Africa

✍ Scribed by OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

• Publisher: OECD Publishing
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 288
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Recent global changes have placed regional integration at the centre of Africas political and economic agenda. This Atlas is both a driver and the result of strategic thinking on regional integration in West Africa. Containing maps, statistics and analyses, it describes the West African region, its population, settlement, territories, its economy and its vulnerabilities. It analyses the developments and the ways in which West Africa is conforming to a constantly changing global environment. The Atlas also identifies the medium- and long-term trends and provides elements for strategic thinking on the future. Table of Content : -Summary -Introduction PART I. POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT Chapter 1. Demographic Trends -Major Global Trends -West African Demographic Behaviour Patterns -Conclusion Chapter 2. Communicable Diseases -Some Points of Reference -Geography of Diseases in West Africa -Progress and Hope Chapter 3. Languages -West Africa in the African Linguistic Landscape -West African Diversity -Lingua Francas or Common Languages -Conclusions with Respect to the Regional Integration Process Chapter 4. Migration -International Migration Overview: A Global View to the African Level -West African Migration Dynamics -Some Issues for the Future -What are the Prospects? PART II. TERRITORIES Chapter 5. Rural Areas and Agricultural Changes -Changes in the Rural Environment -Rural Economy and Agricultural Economy -Some Challenges for the Future Chapter 6. Transboundary River Basins -Regional Water Resource Interdependence -Genarally Under-Exploited Resources -Diminishing Surface Water Resources -Water, Source of Tension -Experiences in Joint Management Chapter 7. Transport -General Survey of West African Transport Systems -The Creation of a Regional Road Network -On West African Roads -Ports: The Emergence of Regional Competition -The Transit of Goods -Rail Transport: Private Investments and Mining Prospects -The Sharp Increase in Air Transport -Aerial Regional Integration Remains to be Achieved Chapter 8. Telecommunications -Telephone: The Mobile Telephone Explosion -Internet: Cable's New Deal -Towards a West African Economy of New Technologies PART III. ECONOMY Chapter 9. Africa and China -Partners -Current Issues -Future Issues Chapter 10. Oil and Gas -The World of Oil -The World of Natural Gas: LNG Opening New Possibilities -Africa -West Africa -Conclusion: Need for Regional Co-operation? Chapter 11. Cotton -West Africa in the International Market -West African Cotton -Regional Stakes of Development -A Doubly Regional Future Chapter 12. Coffee -Global Overview -International Trade -Coffee in West Africa -Prospects Chapter 13. Cocoa -West Africa in the International Market -West African Cocoa -Prospects PART IV. VULNERABILITIES Chapter 14. Climate and Climate Change -Climate Fluctuations in History -International Awareness -The African Continent and Climate -Vulnerabilities and Impacts in West Africa -Conclusion Chapter 15. Vulnerability in the Sahelian Zone -The Sahel and its Countries -Food Dependency in Sahelian Countries is not Increasing -Cereal Production Remains very Erratic -The Agropastoral Area: Vulnerability and Unpredictability -Vegetation and Soil Problems are not Just in the Sahel -Most Agricultural and Pastoral Methods are Still Traditional -Facing the Regional Market -Conclusion