DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
FOREWORD
Despite the fact that South Africa is a medium-income country, with a yearly income per person of about US$ 2,800 (one of the highest in Africa), the distribution of its resources is very unequal thus resulting in vast areas of poverty and under-development juxtaposed with extremely advanced organisational structures. Though the more advantaged sections of society may be found throughout all the racial groups, the lowest levels of poverty are confined to the black population. All in all, the 10% of the population that is wealthy makes 50% of the income. Such poverty is accompanied by high levels of unemployment. While, geographically, poverty and unemployment are particularly concentrated around the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape Provinces, the other provinces are not spared as are not the big metropolitan areas.
In order to overcome such inequalities, the country needs substantial contributions from the international community, particularly in terms of technical assistance and the transfer of know-how. This is why international cooperation, both bilateral and multilateral, is so active in South Africa.
Italian Diplomatic Network
©2004