Africa and the United Nations

Grade 12 · History

Semester 2 | Period 5 | Week 29

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Subject: History

Semester: 2

Period: 5

Week: 29

School Name: _______________________________

Teacher’s Name: _____________________________
Subject: History
Grade Level: Grade 12
Date: Week 29
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 29, Period V
Topic: Africa and the United Nations
Sub-topic: Relationship between African Countries and the UN

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:

  1. Explain the benefits of the relationship between African countries and the UN.
  2. Discuss the challenges Africa faces in the UN system.
  3. Examine case studies of Liberia and South Africa in relation to the UN.
  4. Give a balanced summary of Africa–UN relations.

 

Previous Knowledge

  • Learners studied Africa’s contributions to the UN (Weeks 27 & 28), both political and socio-economic.

 

Instructional Materials

  • Chart showing UN–Africa partnership programs.
  • Map of Africa highlighting countries involved in UN peacekeeping.
  • Case study documents: Liberia & South Africa at the UN.
  • Short video or article on Africa’s call for UN reform.

 

Lesson Development – ABC Model

A – Anticipation (Starter / Warm-up)

Time: 5–7 minutes

Teacher’s Role

  • Ask students:
    • “What do you think Africa gains from being part of the UN?”
    • “Do you think Africa is treated equally with other regions in the UN?”
  • Write responses on the board under two headings: Benefits and Challenges.

Learners’ Role

  • Share their prior knowledge and opinions.
  • Predict areas where Africa may benefit or face problems.

 

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

Teacher’s Role

Present the lesson under four sections:

 

  1. Benefits of Africa–UN Relationship
  • Aid & Development:
    • Africa receives humanitarian, financial, and technical support (e.g., UNDP projects, UNICEF programs).
  • Peacekeeping:
    • UN peacekeepers have helped stabilize conflict zones (e.g., UNMIL in Liberia 2003–2018).
  • Diplomacy:
    • UN platform gives Africa a voice in global affairs.
  • Technical Support:
    • Assistance in governance, elections monitoring, health (WHO), and education (UNESCO).

 

  1. Challenges in the Relationship
  • Unequal Representation:
    • Africa has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
  • Dependency:
    • Over-reliance on UN aid weakens local initiatives.
  • Veto Power Issues:
    • Decisions dominated by the five permanent members (P5).
  • Limited Influence:
    • Africa’s collective voice sometimes ignored in major global decisions.

 

  1. Case Studies
  • Liberia–UN Relations:
    • UN played a crucial role in post-war peacekeeping and reconstruction (UNMIL, aid for elections, humanitarian relief).
    • Liberia benefited from UN sanctions lifting and reintegration programs.
  • South Africa–UN Relations:
    • UN strongly opposed apartheid, supporting sanctions and anti-apartheid movements.
    • Post-1994 democratic South Africa became active in peacekeeping, climate diplomacy, and human rights advocacy within the UN.

 

  1. Overall Summary of Africa–UN Relations
  • Africa gains much in terms of aid, peace, and diplomacy.
  • However, structural inequalities (e.g., lack of permanent representation) reduce Africa’s influence.
  • The relationship is mutually beneficial but unequal.

 

Learners’ Role (Activities)

  • In groups, students list two benefits and two challenges of Africa–UN relations.
  • Read and summarize the Liberia or South Africa case study in pairs.
  • Hold a mini-debate: “Africa benefits more than it suffers from its relationship with the UN – agree or disagree?”

 

Quick Assessment During Lesson

  1. Mention one way Liberia has benefited from the UN.
  2. Why does Africa demand reforms in the Security Council?
  3. State one challenge Africa faces in its relationship with the UN.

 

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)

Time: 8–10 minutes

Summary of Key Points

  • Africa–UN relationship brings aid, peacekeeping, diplomacy, and technical support.
  • Challenges include dependency, unequal representation, and veto dominance.
  • Liberia’s recovery and South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle highlight the relationship’s importance.
  • The relationship is helpful but still imbalanced.

 

Class Evaluation Activity

  • Oral quiz:
  1. State two benefits Africa gains from the UN.
  2. Explain one challenge in Africa–UN relations.
  3. Briefly describe how the UN helped South Africa during apartheid.

 

Assignment

  • Write an essay (2 pages):
    “Discuss the benefits and challenges of Africa’s relationship with the United Nations, using Liberia or South Africa as an example.”

 

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies

  • Struggling learners: Provide simplified notes with examples.
  • Advanced learners: Research current Africa–UN reform proposals.
  • Learners with disabilities: Use audio-visual summaries of Liberia and South Africa case studies.

 

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)

  • Did students understand both sides (benefits & challenges) of the relationship?
  • Were the case studies effective in making the lesson practical?
  • What areas should be reinforced in revision before the final review (Week 30)?