In general, ESA countries are experiencing low and declining levels of enrollment in areas associated with the growing industrial sectors
Low levels of agricultural productivity, which has exacerbated food insecurity and slowed poverty reduction, is partly driven by skill constraints
Infectious diseases account for 40-50 percent of illness in the region; these include malaria and tuberculosis, diseases that have been eliminated
The quality of tertiary education is impeded by poor learning outcomes in primary and secondary education, particularly in mathematics and science.