Measuring Social Progress in Africa

The social progress of African countries has been captured through the Social Progress Index (SPI). However, social progress, being a complex phenomenon, can be interpreted differently by different societies. As such, the study aims to recalibrate the existing framework of the Social Progress Index in terms of indicator selection and data to better meet the needs and priorities of African countries, thereby addressing the possible Western bias in the global Social Progress Index concepts, structure, and methodology. This is imperative for African countries, as there is a need to focus on the inherent social and environmental needs of their citizens, with an emphasis on outcome-based indicators that are peculiar and representative of African societies, in order to identify critical areas for policy intervention.