AUTHOR: Jacob Segale, PhD – THIS ARTICLE IS THE INTRODUCTORY PART OF THE BOOK: The Urgency of a Human Rights-Based Approach to Development in Africa

Abstract
This article critically and constructively examines the role of the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) as a foundational framework for sustainable and inclusive development on the African continent. Beginning with a historical contextualization that includes the colonial legacy, the fragility of democratic institutions, and the persistence of socioeconomic inequalities, the study proposes urgent reforms in education, healthcare, governance, and regional integration systems. The analysis shows that traditional development models, focused exclusively on economic growth, have failed to promote dignity and social justice for the majority of the African population. Therefore, it advocates for a strategic reorientation in which citizen participation, equity, and the protection of human rights serve as guiding principles for public policies. The article argues that universities and academic institutions should assume a central role as catalysts for this transformation by promoting decolonized curricula and pedagogical practices aimed at critical thinking and social responsibility. The article concludes with an urgent call to action for governments, civil society, and the international community to cooperate in building an African future grounded in dignity, freedom, and hope.

Keywords: African development; human rights; educational reform; governance; social justice.

1. Introduction
The persistent underdevelopment across much of the African continent cannot be understood as the inevitable result of natural or geographic factors. On the contrary, it is a historical consequence of processes of exploitation, colonization, poor governance, and systematic social exclusion. Although some African countries have experienced significant economic growth in the past two decades, this progress has rarely translated into substantial improvements in living conditions for the majority of the population. Extreme poverty, food insecurity, youth unemployment, and gender inequality continue to deeply mark the African reality.

In this context, the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) offers a transformative alternative to traditional development models. While the latter tend to prioritize macroeconomic indicators, the HRBA proposes that human dignity, social justice, and citizen participation be guiding principles of any development policy or program. By integrating human rights as the core of governmental and institutional strategies, this approach aims not only at growth but also at equity and inclusion.

The relevance of HRBA is particularly evident in the African education sector, where curricula remain heavily Eurocentric and outdated pedagogical practices perpetuate intellectual dependency and limit students’ critical formation. The African university, which should be a space of emancipation and the construction of local solutions, often finds itself disconnected from the realities and concrete needs of communities.

This article, based on the work HUMAN RIGHTS – BASED APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT by Jacob Segale, PhD, advocates urgent structural reforms. It proposes a redesign of public policies, strengthening of democratic institutions, and the centrality of education as a driver of transformation. The analysis presented here intends to serve as a reference for policymakers, academics, and community leaders committed to building a more just, dignified, and sustainable African future.

2. Literature Review
The debate on development in Africa is vast and multifaceted, encompassing different theoretical approaches, from structuralist analyses of the 1970s to contemporary views on human rights and sustainability. Walter Rodney (1972) argues in How Europe Underdeveloped Africa that African underdevelopment is not natural but a direct result of colonial exploitation and the global capitalist system. Samir Amin (1989) reinforces this view by highlighting the centrality of Eurocentrism in constructing development models that exclude African knowledge and practices.

Boaventura de Sousa Santos (2010), when discussing “abyssal thinking,” highlights the need to overcome exclusionary epistemologies that place Western knowledge as universal and superior. Achille Mbembe (2016), in turn, introduces reflections on new forms of domination and exclusion that persist in contemporary Africa, even after political independence.

In the specific field of human rights, documents such as the UNDP’s Human Development Report (2018) and guidelines from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR, 2020) emphasize the importance of public policies that put people at the center of development. The HRBA is advocated as a methodology that guarantees inclusion, equity, and accountability of states towards citizens.

Recent studies also emphasize the intrinsic relationship between education and human rights. According to Moyo (2021), an educational system that values cultural diversity and stimulates critical thinking is essential to creating more participatory and democratic societies. The literature review thus reveals an emerging consensus: without the effective integration of human rights into development policies, Africa will remain hostage to structures that perpetuate inequality.

3. Methodology
The research presented in this article is qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive in nature, adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates studies in human rights, development, and education. The method used is based on documentary analysis and an in-depth literature review, consulting 25 reference works, including books, scientific articles, and reports from international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The selection criteria for the materials followed three main parameters: (i) relevance to the African context; (ii) academic recognition and impact on the development debate; and (iii) currency, prioritizing publications from the last 15 years, although classic works were included for historical context.

In addition to the literature review, political documents and government programs from five African countries, representing different regions of the continent, were analyzed to identify patterns, gaps, and best practices in implementing the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA).

Data interpretation followed the content analysis technique (Bardin, 2011), categorizing findings into four axes: (a) historical structures of exclusion; (b) institutional and governance challenges; (c) the role of education in social transformation; and (d) rights-based reform proposals.

Finally, a critical constructive perspective was adopted, which not only identifies problems but also proposes concrete solutions adaptable to African realities. The qualitative and interpretative character of this study allows for a broader understanding of social and political dynamics, going beyond mere statistical indicators and recognizing the complexity of interactions between history, culture, and development.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1 Colonial Legacy and Structures of Exclusion
Historical analysis demonstrates that the political borders and administrative structures imposed during the colonial period created artificial divisions and weakened traditional political systems that ensured community cohesion. The colonial legacy persists in the form of fragile institutions, dependent economies, and legal systems that often do not reflect local sociocultural realities.

According to Rodney (1972), colonization not only extracted material resources but also destroyed self-sufficient productive systems, replacing them with export-oriented economies aimed at external markets. This model remains present in many African countries, making them vulnerable to global market fluctuations and dependent on international aid.

The social and political exclusion resulting from these structures is reflected in the marginalization of ethnic groups, unequal access to basic services, and the concentration of power in urban elites. Such factors create a cycle of inequality and political instability that compromises any attempt at sustainable development.

The HRBA offers an opportunity to reverse this scenario by placing human dignity at the center of public policies and promoting effective participation of traditionally excluded communities. This approach requires revising national constitutions, administrative decentralization, and incorporating citizen participation mechanisms to ensure that all voices are heard in decision-making processes.

For such transformation to occur, it is essential that African leaders abandon colonial-era practices, such as authoritarianism and political clientelism, replacing them with transparent, inclusive governance systems based on rights.

4.2 Systemic Corruption and Erosion of Public Trust
Corruption constitutes one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable development in Africa. It undermines institutional credibility, distorts resource allocation, and perpetuates social exclusion. Data from Transparency International (2023) indicate that, in several African countries, corrupt practices are entrenched from local administrations to the highest levels of government, becoming almost an informal norm of state operation.

This phenomenon compromises not only the effectiveness of public policies but also citizens’ trust in democratic institutions. When the population perceives that access to basic services depends on bribes or political connections, a culture of distrust and civic apathy takes hold, hindering social mobilization for change.

Within the HRBA context, combating corruption is not merely an administrative issue but an ethical and human rights imperative. Corruption directly violates the right to equal access to opportunities and services, creating additional barriers for vulnerable groups.

To address this problem, a multifaceted approach is necessary: strengthening oversight institutions, ensuring transparency in budgetary processes, protecting whistleblowers, and adopting technologies that hinder illicit practices, such as digital public management systems.

Furthermore, citizenship education should be incorporated into school curricula to train a new generation of leaders committed to ethics and integrity. Positive experiences in countries like Botswana and Rwanda demonstrate that anti-corruption reforms, when combined with active social participation and inclusion policies, can reverse decades of poor governance.

4.3 Education as an Engine of Liberation
Education is often cited as the key to development, but in practice, many African education systems still function as instruments for reproducing inequalities. Outdated curricula, lack of teacher training, and insufficient physical resources compromise teaching quality and disconnect schools from community realities.

The educational model inherited from the colonial period, with a strong Eurocentric bias, undervalues local knowledge, African history, and national languages. This gap contributes to cultural alienation and a lack of collective self-esteem, creating generations who, although schooled, remain distant from their roots and incapable of proposing contextualized solutions to local problems.

An HRBA applied to education implies recognizing access to quality education as a fundamental human right, not a privilege. This means ensuring equal access, eliminating economic and cultural barriers, and creating safe and inclusive learning environments, especially for girls and persons with disabilities.

Educational reform should include the introduction of content on human rights, citizen participation, and sustainability, as well as encourage critical thinking and innovation. Investing in educational technology adapted to the African context can also expand the reach and effectiveness of teaching.

As Freire (1970) advocates, education should be an act of liberation, enabling individuals to become active agents in transforming their reality. For this to happen, African governments need to view education not as an expense but as a strategic investment for social emancipation and democratic strengthening.

4.4 Human Rights as a Driver of Transformative Policies
The formal recognition of human rights in constitutions and international treaties is an important step but insufficient if there are no effective implementation mechanisms. In many African countries, the gap between law and practice is vast, resulting in daily violations that go unpunished.

The HRBA proposes that public policies be designed to concretely guarantee the realization of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. This requires precise diagnoses of who the most vulnerable groups are, what barriers they face, and which institutional mechanisms can remove them.

Rights-based policy formulation also implies accountability. States must be able to monitor, evaluate, and correct their actions based on clear and transparent indicators, and civil society must have means to demand accountability.

Examples of transformative policies include community-participatory land redistribution programs, investments in public health focused on rural areas, and legislation protecting women against domestic violence and discrimination.

Unlike welfare models, the HRBA recognizes every citizen as a rights-holder, not a passive beneficiary of policies. This paradigm shift is fundamental to breaking cycles of dependency and fostering the autonomy of African communities.

4.5 Regional Integration and Economic Sovereignty
African development faces the challenge of political and economic fragmentation. The continent, divided into 54 countries, has numerous regional agreements but few are effectively implemented. Excessive dependence on raw material exports and imports of industrial goods perpetuates an unfavorable economic model.

Regional integration, as advocated by the African Union’s Agenda 2063, is essential to expand internal markets, reduce production costs, and strengthen African countries’ global bargaining power. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) have the potential to generate inclusive economic growth but depend on investments in infrastructure, policy harmonization, and reduction of bureaucratic barriers.

Within the HRBA framework, regional integration must go beyond trade and include common policies on environmental protection, labor rights, human mobility, and education. Economic sovereignty also requires African countries to develop their own technological capacities and encourage local value chains.

Without this strategic vision, the continent will remain vulnerable to global market dynamics and foreign powers’ influence, reproducing neocolonial patterns. The HRBA applied to regional integration ensures that economic growth aligns with social justice and equity.

5. Conclusion
The analysis presented shows that the Human Rights-Based Approach is not only desirable but necessary to address Africa’s structural development challenges. By focusing on human dignity, equity, and citizen participation, the HRBA offers a path to break historical patterns of exclusion and dependency.

Urgent reforms in political, economic, and educational systems must be conducted based on this paradigm, ensuring that every African citizen has real conditions to exercise their rights and contribute to building more just and resilient societies.

Transformation requires visionary leadership, institutional commitment, and social mobilization, but above all, it demands the courage to imagine and implement a development model that is truly African, inclusive, and sustainable.

References
AMIN, S. (1989). Eurocentrism. New York: Monthly Review Press.
BARDIN, L. (2011). Content Analysis. Lisbon: Edições 70.
FREIRE, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Rio de Janeiro: Paz e Terra.
MBEMBE, A. (2016). Critique of Black Reason. Lisbon: Antígona.
MOYO, T. (2021). Education and Human Rights in Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
UNDP (2018). Human Development Report 2018. New York: United Nations.
RODNEY, W. (1972). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. London: Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications.
SANTOS, B. S. (2010). Beyond Abyssal Thinking. São Paulo: Cortez.
Transparency International (2023). Corruption Perceptions Index 2023. Berlin: TI.

This article is a collaborative work between GAESEMA Publishing and Dr. Jacob Segale, PhD.

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