These growths (economic and population) poses new challenges in a region already under huge energy, water, and sanitation infrastructure stress. Currently, access to energy in the East African countries is only about 27%, with a large proportion of the population dependent on biomass for energy. There is limited development of the vast sources of renewable energy resources in the region. Access to safe water and sanitation in East Africa remain very low; Tanzania only gained 5% increase in access improved sanitation over the last 25years. Gender disparity remains prevalent in East and Southern Africa, with women to men ratio in higher levels of education as low as 0.48 in Tanzania and 0.62 in Rwanda. It is evident from the above that inclusive growth in the continent will be dependent on the capacities of the African countries to unlock the potential of, and reap from their growing population.
