THE 2024 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week has kicked off in Addis Ababa with a strong call for Africa to harness transformative financing and regional integration to bolster the continent’s infrastructure sector. The event highlighted the critical need for improved infrastructure to enhance economic activity, efficiency, and competitiveness across Africa.
Participants emphasized that inadequate infrastructure in transport, communication, water, and power continues to hinder Africa’s economic progress. According to Claver Gatete, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), inadequate infrastructure increases production and transaction costs, reducing Africa’s competitiveness in the global market. Additionally, Africa’s infrastructure deficit is estimated to lower per capita economic growth by 2% annually and reduce firm productivity by up to 40%.
The African Union Chairperson, Moussa Faki, underscored PIDA Week as a vital platform for evaluating achievements and challenges in infrastructure development, while planning for future initiatives. Taye Selassie, President of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s support for PIDA.
Amani Zeid, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, noted PIDA’s significant contributions to Africa’s digital transformation, including digital connectivity via optical fibre cables in several countries. Through PIDA, nearly 30 million people have gained access to electricity, with over 16,000 km of roads and 4,000 km of railway lines developed across the continent.
Gatete stressed the importance of mobilizing the approximately $160.8 billion needed to implement PIDA projects from both internal and external sources. He emphasized that national ownership is crucial for empowering regional and continental organizations to contribute effectively to resource mobilization efforts.
PIDA Week 2024, themed “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration,” brought together over 1,000 stakeholders to discuss innovative financing solutions, policy frameworks, and digital infrastructure for Africa’s future. The event serves as a pivotal moment for advancing Africa’s infrastructure agenda, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
