By Jimoh Babatunde

The African Union, AU, Higher Representative on Infrastructure Development in Africa, Raila Odinga, has stated that Appropriate infrastructure is a prerequisite for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He asserted at the two-day high-level conference aimed at showcasing and mobilising support for strategic continental infrastructure and energy projects in Africa was held at Expo 2020, in Dubai, yesterday.

The conference was convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD).

“We believe that Africa’s better days lie ahead of us. Appropriate infrastructure is a prerequisite for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). However, the lack of well-prepared and bankable infrastructure projects has been a major constraint. This is why we are working with AUDA-NEPAD, AfDB and other partners in the NEPAD Project Preparation Facility, encouraging strategic partnerships with the private sector.”

Also speaking at the conference, the CEO of African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, said that Infrastructure is not about economic transformation alone, but the transformation of people’s livelihoods.

“Infrastructure is not about economic transformation alone, but the transformation of people’s livelihoods.”

The conference highlighted, among others, the recently adopted Second Phase of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA-PAP2).

Dr Mayaki said “Before the onset of PIDA, regional infrastructure projects were not prioritised. When we moved from PIDA Priority Action Plan 1 to PIDA Priority Action Plan 2, we took on a corridor approach, for us to think beyond country boundaries.

“The corridor approach is the main change in paradigm in our continent’s infrastructure development. Africa is therefore ready for investment – it has gone through a process of consultation, prioritisation and development of tools with strong political will.

The second PIDA Priority Action Plan, known as PIDA-PAP 2 (2021-2030) has adopted the Integrated Corridor Approach, a multi-infrastructure corridor approach to infrastructure development that works toward a more prosperous Africa by emphasising projects that maximise job creation and climate friendliness.

The approach also contributes to continental integration by prioritising projects that improve connectivity between urban and rural areas and link different infrastructure sectors.

Mr Symerre Grey-Johnson, AUDA-NEPAD’s Director of Technical Cooperation and Programme Funding, AUDA-NEPAD pointed out that projects in PIDA-PAP 2 were curated this way to also guarantee a people-driven Africa as they strengthen the role of women through gender-sensitive infrastructure development.

Mr Amine Adoum, AUDA-NEPAD’s Director of Programme Delivery and Coordination Directorate explained that “The objective of regional integration is to facilitate movement of people, goods and services, a bottleneck in the realisation of Agenda 2063. Hence the corridor development is an integral part for regional integration and realising of the AfCFTA goals together with PIDA-PAP 2.”

Mr Adoum also expounded on the importance of other infrastructure sectors and the tools that have been developed to accelerate the implementation of continental and regional projects.

“Energy corridors are also important hence we are working towards implementing the Continental Power System Master Plan. Three tools that have been developed to accelerate infrastructure projects rollout are: the Service Delivery Mechanism, the Continental Business Network (validated by the African Union), and the publishing of de-risking infrastructure projects in Africa report,” Mr Adoum declared.

Participants at the event also learnt that financial viability was also taken into consideration for all PIDA-PAP2 projects, with new partners sought.

Mr Robert Lisinge Chief, Operational Quality Section at United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, clustered the partnerships for Africa’s infrastructure development into the following: Green Funds – PIDA projects are eligible for financing through green funds, including road, water and energy projects.

Impact Investors – Impact investors are important as inclusiveness is a major component of PIDA-PAP 2 projects, aimed at improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of African citizens.