Why is Africa poor?

Mark Doyle crosses the continent of Africa - and finds a place rich in natural resources and human potential. But this begs the question: why is Africa poor?

Conflicts - between Africans, with non-Africans and sometimes with the land itself - continue to make too many people on the continent among the poorest on earth.

Doyle explores questions of democracy, modern communications and the impact of multi-national corporations.

Though the question "why is Africa poor?" is a straightforward one, the answers are not.

Solutions

Even in poor areas in Africa there are signs of dynamic commerce - due to a large "informal" economy and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Is making these enterprises more formal – by paying taxes - the answer to lifting Africa out of poverty?

African academics are working on transforming ideas for improvement into practical, do-able projects that will change lives. Money is available.

And thanks to a billion dollars a year of debt relief, countries such as Nigeria are implementing a school-for-all plan - an attempt to educate people out of poverty.

Is tapping into a continent's optimism the key to Africa's future?