PIDA Week 2024 Concludes with Call for Actionable Infrastructure Dev’t in Africa.


Addis Ababa: The 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week, hosted in Addis Ababa, concluded today with a call to action for the development of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure across the African continent. The event, held at the African Union Headquarters, focused on enhancing the continent’s physical integration through a strategic framework.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Director of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, Kamugisha Kazaura, emphasized the necessity of mobilizing both domestic and foreign financing to advance infrastructure projects across Africa. He highlighted the importance of harmonizing standards for integration, developing climate-resilient infrastructures, and leveraging digitization. Kazaura also underlined the critical role of the private sector, the inclusion of women and other vulnerable groups, capacity building, and coordinated efforts to achieve the goals of PIDA and the AU’s Agenda 2063.

Kazaura noted
the valuable discussions that took place during sessions focused on the four PIDA sectors: transport, water, ICT, and energy. In addition, African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) CEO, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, highlighted the significant achievements of the PIDA Week. She remarked that the platform facilitated future cooperation through expanded partnerships, increased private sector engagement, sharing of knowledge and experience, and the concretization of investment projects.

Nardos pointed out that at least 20 partners participated effectively during the week, with significant representation from African and international private sectors. She expressed encouragement at the interest shown by the African private sector in mega projects, emphasizing the need for a strong, determined domestic private sector to engage in infrastructure development alongside member states.

During the sessions, participants shared knowledge, ideas, and best practices in infrastructur
e development in Africa. Nardos emphasized the importance of reinforcing partnerships, determination, and commitment to make the dream of Africa and Africans a reality. She expressed confidence in ongoing endeavors to build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure that benefits communities and supports economic growth in Africa.

Nardos further highlighted the need to move beyond transactional development engagements and focus on investment deals, encouraging domestic private sector participation in mega-infrastructure projects. The event concluded with the adoption of a declaration, which Nardos said would translate into actionable programs and activities as part of the review of PIDA next year. This review will involve a comprehensive assessment of Africa’s infrastructure needs and priorities, with the private sector playing a pivotal role in shaping the continent’s future development.

Ethiopia’s Transport and Logistics State Minister, Bareo Hassen, emphasized the importance of resilient infras
tructure in addressing global challenges and ensuring inclusive growth. He noted that recent global challenges have necessitated the development of systems that are robust, adaptable, and inclusive to serve all segments of society, particularly marginalized communities, ensuring holistic and equitable growth.

Bareo stressed the need for policies facilitating seamless movement of goods, services, and people across African nations, alongside diversifying funding sources to bridge the investment gap. The PIDA Week brought together government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, and experts to discuss and advance Africa’s infrastructure agenda.