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About AUDA-NEPAD
The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD is the technical body of the African Union. The mandate of AUDA-NEPAD is to facilitate and
coordinate the implementation of regional and continental priority programmes and projects and to push for partnerships, resource
mobilisation, research and knowledge management. Through AUDA-NEPAD, African countries are provided unique opportunities to take full
control of their development agenda, to work more closely together and to cooperate more effectively with international partners.
For Immediate Release:
PRESS RELEASE
8th PIDA Week Concludes with Strong Commitment to Transform Africa’s
Infrastructure and Drive Agenda 2063 Forward
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 November 2024 – After a week-long intensive
deliberations and engagements to transform Africa’s infrastructure landscape, the 8th
Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week concluded with a
resounding reaffirmation of the continent’s commitment to building quality, resilient
infrastructure that will accelerate sustainable development and regional integration.
Hosted by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the
collaborative event between the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-
NEPAD) and the African Union Commission (AUC) brought together ministers,
delegates, development partners, regional economic communities (RECs), private
sector representatives, and key stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
During the week key PIDA regional projects were showcased with a view to
benchmarking and accelerating implementation. These included the Lamu Port-South
Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, a flagship project aimed at enhancing
connectivity and trade in Eastern Africa by linking Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan
through highways, railways, a deep-sea port at Lamu, and other vital infrastructure,
with an estimated cost of $25.5 billion.
Other notable projects included the Cameroon-Chad Railway, the Maritime
Connectivity of the Comoros Islands, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, Transborder
Submarine Fiber PoPs, and the Regional Smart Hub Facility and Data Center. The
Regional Express Train and Rapid Transit Bus projects, which aim to address urban
mobility challenges in Grand Dakar, were also discussed, along with updates on the
Cairo-Cape Town Corridor.
PIDA has already made notable strides, providing electricity to over 30 million people
and creating 160,000 jobs. Furthermore, significant progress was made in
implementing the second Priority Action Plan of the PIDA program, including the
modernization and establishment of One-Stop Border Posts, essential for enhancing
regional connectivity and trade. However, a substantial gap remains, with only $82
billion mobilized against the $360 billion required to achieve PIDA’s goals by 2040.
AGENCE DE DEVELOPPEMENT DE L’UNION AFRICAINE
230, 15th Road, Midrand, Gauteng, Johannesburg, 1685, South Africa | Tel +27 (0) 11 256 3600 | www.nepad.org
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PIDA has already made remarkable progress, including providing electricity to over
30 million people and creating 160,000 jobs. However, there remains a significant
gap, with only $82 billion mobilized against the $360 billion required to achieve
PIDA’s goals by 2040.
“Despite our achievements, persistent challenges in financing, risk perception, and
project bankability hinder Africa’s infrastructure ambitions,” said H.E. Mrs. Nardos
Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. She called for a focus on innovative
financing mechanisms, such as blended finance and public-private partnerships, to
close the gap.
Further accentuating this concern H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid infrastructure and
energy highlighted 3% of PIDA project funding has been sourced from the private
sector, compared to 16-19% in other regions, adding “It is crucial that we examine
the underlying reasons for this gap and explore potential solutions to boost private
sector participation moving forward. It is important to deploy all the efforts required
to mobilise further public resources.”
The event underscored the critical importance of infrastructure as a foundational
pillar for achieving Agenda 2063’s aspirations, particularly Goal 10, which envisions
« World-Class Infrastructure criss-crossing Africa. » While officially opening PIDA
Week, the Ethiopian President, H.E. Taye Atske Selassie called for renewed
commitment to PIDA and emphasised the importance of harmonised policy,
partnership and finance. The President singled the power of digital technology and
when harnessed could magnify Africa’s potential to revolutionise trade.
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
emphasized, “Infrastructure is the cornerstone of Africa’s integration and
development. We must leverage partnerships and embrace infrastructure as a high-
value asset class to unlock funding from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and
multilateral development banks.”
Key Highlights from the 8th PIDA Week:
1. Reaffirmation of PIDA’s Significance: The event underscored PIDA as Africa’s
strategic framework for achieving the goals of Agenda 2063, particularly Goal 10 –
ensuring world-class infrastructure across the continent.
2. Continued Commitment from Partners: The PIDA Week saw active participation
from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank Group, and international
partners including the European Union, the United States, Japan, and Germany.
Their support remains vital in realizing the infrastructure vision for Africa.
3. The Role of Innovation and Financing: Leaders emphasized the importance of
innovative financing solutions, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), impact
AGENCE DE DEVELOPPEMENT DE L’UNION AFRICAINE
230, 15th Road, Midrand, Gauteng, Johannesburg, 1685, South Africa | Tel +27 (0) 11 256 3600 | www.nepad.org
investments, and blended finance models, to overcome barriers and ensure the
bankability of infrastructure projects.
4. Focus on Capacity Building and Climate Resilience: In line with global trends,
there was a strong focus on addressing the impacts of climate change on
infrastructure, with pledges to enhance capacity building and financing mechanisms
for climate-resilient infrastructure across the continent.
5. Commitment to Gender Equality and Youth Engagement: The role of youth and
MSMEs in driving innovation in infrastructure was highlighted, with an emphasis on
creating entry points for young entrepreneurs and women in the sector.
6. Digitalization and Data Governance: There was a strong push to integrate digital
infrastructure, with AUDA-NEPAD launching a report on the state of One-Stop Border
Posts (OSBP) across Africa and digital transformation projects to strengthen the
continent’s infrastructure landscape.
The event closed with a collective call to action for all stakeholders to commit to
Africa’s infrastructure transformation. As H.E. Dr. Alemu Sime, Ethiopia’s Minister of
Transport and Logistics, remarked, “Our shared vision for a connected and
prosperous Africa requires unwavering political will and innovative solutions. PIDA
Week reminds us of what we can achieve together.”
Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid further remarked, “The success of this week’s gathering is a
testament to the collective determination of our leaders, partners, and communities
to build the infrastructure that will support Africa’s future. We now look ahead to
2025 with renewed energy, focusing on creating more opportunities for
collaboration and investment, and ensuring that infrastructure development is a key
driver of sustainable and inclusive growth.”
In her concluding remarks, H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas expressed gratitude to the
people and government of Ethiopia for the hospitality extended to her and the
delegates throughout their stay in Addis Ababa. She commended the impressive
presence of over 20 partners during PIDA Week, including both existing and new
partnerships. She expressed optimism that this growing engagement signifies
increasing investor interest in PIDA’s projects and the potential for further investment
in the future.
In his official closing remarks at PIDA Week, the State Minister of Transport and
Logistics H.E. Bareo Hassen thanked AUDA-NEPAD and the AUC for hosting an
excellent event that unites Africa’s vision for infrastructure. He reiterated Ethiopia’s
unwavering commitment to developing regional impact projects that strengthen
connections between Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries.
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) seized the opportunity to
call on investors, the private sector, and multilateral partners to tap into the growing
AGENCE DE DEVELOPPEMENT DE L’UNION AFRICAINE
230, 15th Road, Midrand, Gauteng, Johannesburg, 1685, South Africa | Tel +27 (0) 11 256 3600 | www.nepad.org
infrastructure opportunities in Africa. As the 2025 PIDA Mid-Term Review
approaches, it’s critical to fast-track efforts to attract investments for projects in the
PIDA PAP2 pipeline, ensuring that infrastructure helps unlock Africa’s sustainable
development.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Zipporah Maubane: African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, Head of
Communications and Advocacy
Email: ZipporahM@nepad.org
Ms. Bezayit Eyoel | Department of Infrastructure and Energy, African Union
Commission| E-mail: bezayite@africa-union.org
Website: www.nepad.org
Social Media:
Twitter: @NEPAD_Agency
LinkedIn: @AUDA NEPAD
Instagram: @auda_nepad
