Africa’s Infrastructure Drive: AUDA-NEPAD, AfDB Accelerate Implementation of PIDA Projects

By Mohammed Dahiru-Lawal

Africa’s long-term vision for robust infrastructure development took center stage at a high-level workshop held in Addis Ababa last month.

The meeting, which brought together key stakeholders from across the continent, focused on accelerating the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a flagship initiative of the African Union (AU) aimed at enhancing regional integration and economic growth.

Recently, key stakeholders convened in Addis Ababa to discuss strategies for expediting PIDA’s implementation.

At the heart of these discussions was the PIDA Implementation Support Project (PISP), a $7 million initiative funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This project aims to bolster the technical capacities of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Union Commission (AUC), ensuring effective execution of PIDA’s second phase (PIDA PAP II, 2021-2030).

This phase prioritizes 69 infrastructure projects across sectors such as transport, energy, ICT, and water, reflecting a comprehensive approach to development.

Infrastructure is often regarded as the backbone of economic transformation. However, Africa has faced significant challenges in developing large-scale projects.

Dr. Kamugisha Kazaura, AU Director of Infrastructure and Energy, emphasized that collaboration and expertise are key to fast-tracking implementation.

“Now is the time to engage fully, leverage available expertise, and accelerate the preparation and execution of PIDA PAP II projects,” Dr. Kazaura stated.

The Addis Ababa workshop underscored several commitments, including strengthening technical capacity at AUDA-NEPAD and the AUC, scaling up expert service pools for improved project selection and execution, and expanding PIDA’s Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM) to support early-stage project preparation.

These measures aim to address existing challenges and ensure timely delivery of infrastructure projects.

With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, investment in infrastructure such as roads, railways, power, and digital networks is critical. The successful implementation of PIDA PAP II is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting the continent’s growing needs and fostering sustainable development.