Transforming Africa through Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure: Highlights from Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas’ Address at the 8th PIDA Week

On 26 November 2024, the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted the opening ceremony of the 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week. In her keynote address, Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, underscored the pivotal role of infrastructure in advancing Africa’s development and regional integration.

PIDA Week, established in 2015, has evolved into a premier platform for infrastructure development in Africa. This year’s theme, “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration,” reflects the urgent need for innovative solutions to Africa’s infrastructure challenges. Mrs. Bekele-Thomas highlighted the achievements of PIDA’s first decade, encapsulated in the Ten-Year Implementation Report.

Key milestones include:

• Electrification: Over 30 million people now have access to electricity, transforming lives and energising economies.
• Intra-African Trade: Improved road and rail networks have modestly boosted trade within the continent, now at 16% of total trade.
• Digital Transformation: Broadband penetration has surpassed 25%, accelerating the digitalisation of economies.
• Employment: PIDA initiatives have created over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs, underlining their socio-economic impact.

However, significant hurdles remain. With only $82 billion mobilised out of the $360 billion required by 2040, funding gaps threaten progress. Projects often struggle with bankability, hampered by insufficient early preparation and perceived risks.

Mrs. Bekele-Thomas celebrated transformative projects such as the Grand Inga Hydropower Project, set to become the world’s largest electricity generator, and the ambitious vision of a navigable Nile River linking Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean. These projects exemplify Africa’s legacy of innovation and its ongoing journey toward a sustainable future.

She also emphasised the transformative potential of Africa’s corridors. Examples include:

• Lobito Corridor: Connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.
• Trans-African Highway Network: Spanning over 56,000 kilometres and promoting regional trade.
• One-Stop Border Posts: Enhancing cross-border trade by reducing delays and fostering cooperation.

Strategic Focus Areas for PIDA’s Future

The CEO outlined three foundational pillars crucial for overcoming challenges and realising PIDA’s vision:

1. Policies: Effective regional coordination is critical for aligning national strategies with regional goals.
2. Partnerships: Strengthening public-private collaborations ensures sustainability, inclusivity, and local ownership.
3. Financing: Innovative mechanisms such as blended finance and risk guarantees are vital to mobilising resources and mitigating investment risks.

Additionally, she called for integrated planning across sectors like energy, transport, water, and digitalisation to maximise synergies and sustainability. She stressed the importance of local ownership, ensuring infrastructure projects serve the communities they aim to uplift.

Energy access remains a pressing challenge, with over half of Africa’s population lacking reliable electricity. The Continental Power Systems Masterplan (CMP) aims to electrify 80% of the population by 2040 and enable intra-African electricity trade worth $136 billion annually. Countries like Morocco and South Africa have showcased the potential of strategic policies and partnerships in advancing renewable energy.

Mrs. Bekele-Thomas concluded by emphasising that PIDA’s ultimate purpose extends beyond constructing physical structures. Infrastructure should transform lives, inspire industries, and create opportunities. By placing people at the heart of every project, PIDA can catalyse prosperity and progress across the continent.

The 8th PIDA Week serves as a rallying point for reaffirming collective commitment, exploring actionable solutions, and charting a path toward sustainable growth and regional integration. As Mrs. Bekele-Thomas stated, infrastructure must evolve from a framework of steel and concrete to a transformative force for Africa’s brighter future.