The African Union and Partners to meet in Cote D’Ivoire in November to “Accelerate Infrastructure Implementation for Africa’s Integration”

The development of efficient infrastructure is a basic requirement for sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation in Africa. In order to unlock the continent’s huge growth potential and to put Africa on the path to accelerated economic and social development, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) was adopted by the AU Heads of State and Government in 2012.

PIDA’s overall strategic objective is to enable Africa to build a common market for goods and services. This continental initiative, based on regional projects and programmes, is designed to address the infrastructure deficit that severely hampers Africa’s competitiveness in the world market.

By providing a common framework for African stakeholders to build the necessary infrastructure, PIDA can boost trade, spark growth and create jobs. The strategic initiative mobilizes resources to transform Africa through modern infrastructure and seeks to achieve the facilitation of infrastructure projects worth $360 billion through 2040.

The Priority Action Plan, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2020, consists of 51 cross-border programmes in the four sectors of energy, transport, trans-boundary water and ICT that were selected based on rigorous economic analysis and selection criteria. These programmes are supposed to catalyze further infrastructure investments, open up important trade routes for landlocked countries, dramatically increase access to improved infrastructure and support other economic activities. The involvement of the private sector and the development of tools to meet the demand for project-related information, are crucial points within the implementation.

With the support of all stakeholders, namely the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), the African Development Bank, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and various specialized regional agencies, PIDA since its adoption, has made important steps towards achieving its objectives, and has provided substantial support to project owners in the implementation processes.

In order to join forces between all relevant players for a successful and speedy implementation, the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Agency in collaboration with the African Development Bank are organizing the first ever PIDA Week in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 13 to 17 November 2015. Major objectives are the enhancement of private sector investment in the realization of PIDA projects and to increase the visibility of PIDA, its projects and its impacts on the African economies and population.

The PIDA Week will certainly create synergies between the different implementation initiatives and Project Preparation Facilities while enhancing PIDA as a brand. It will further give better leverage to gather high-level personalities from public sector and business. This important event will gather different PIDA stakeholders, namely continental and regional bodies, donors and partners, potential investors and project developers, as well as media to harmonize efforts for a successful and speedy PIDA Priority Action Plan implementation until 2020.

The meeting is expected to gather the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the President of the African Development Bank Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPCA Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, chief executive officers of the African Regional Economic Communities, representatives of development partners as well as business partners, journalists and civil society.