The 6th PIDA Week scheduled for 18-21 January 2021, ended today on a high note with the various infrastructure stakeholders re-affirming the crucial role of PIDA in the achievement of the main goals of the AU Agenda 2063 for continental integration, prosperity and peace. They further reiterated their commitment to regional integration and the development of integrated and efficient infrastructure.
The closing of the week-long virtual event began with messages of condolence from AUDA-NEPAD Agency CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Ambassador Ghulam Hussein Asmal from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, on the passing of Minister Jackson Mthembu, Minister in the South African Presidency. They all spoke of his high level of motivation, humility, and dedication to pan-Africanism.
PIDA Week this year saw deliberations ranging from the Continental Business Network session which focused on the accelerated involvement of the private sector in infrastructure projects, to sessions on resource mobilization, to the Africa Single Electricity Market, Cyber Security, African High Speed Rail, the AfCFTA, PIDA Priority Action Plan, Gender Responsive financing in infrastructure and a session on the PIDA Jobs Outlook.
Speaking during the opening session of the event, the CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki indicated that while the AfCFTA has become a reality, developing robust infrastructure is crucial to its operationalisation and success. He said that Member States must be connected physically and digitally through hard infrastructure and connected in the harmonisation and coordination of processes through soft infrastructure.
Echoing his sentiments at opening session was the Minister of International Relations, South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor who spoke on the need for a unified approach to infrastructure development through regional integration and cooperation.
It is worthy to note that majority of the speakers during this PIDA Week spoke at length about the AfCFTA which in their perspective, would foster economic transformation in the continent. They however warned that without the necessary infrastructure being put into place, the goals of AfCFTA might not be realized.
“Infrastructure and industrialistion are the main pillars in the success of the AfCFTA” said Prudence Sebahizi during the AfCFTA, Infrastructure and Economic Transformation in Africa session.
PIDA Week was inaugurated in 2015 as a forum to bring together key stakeholders in the implementation of the PIDA programme. The event has since progressed into a critical forum for accelerating infrastructure implementation in Africa, but also to link infrastructure to the key themes of development of regional integration, transformative economic growth, and job creation. The format of the event provides an opportunity to engage and exchange information on PIDA and infrastructure development in general. This year’s event was held under the theme. New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery.
On the last day of this year’s PIDA Week, recommendations made by different stakeholders were read out in the form of a communique. The communique encapsulates key recommendations from the different sessions, and it outlines the commitments of the various stakeholders to advancing PIDA implementation. .
Reading from the Communique Ambassador Ghulam Hussein Asmal, (extracted from the communique), said: “We, Ministers and delegates to the Sixth PIDA Week … encourage PIDA stakeholders to adopt the principles espoused in the PIDA partnership strategy that will ensure a common African approach to infrastructure development partnerships; and urge AUC/AUDA-NEPAD to set mechanisms to assess the performance of Africa’s infrastructure partnerships using the accountability framework presented in the partnership strategy…”
In his remarks, Dr, Mayaki reminded participants of the need for adequate funding for project preparation, saying “The aspect of sustainable financing of early-stage project preparation cannot be over-emphasised. Without well-prepared projects, we will be shooting in the dark and unable to move projects to bankability and hence full implementation.”
The issue of youth empowerment in infrastructure through PIDA projects was highlighted by Minister Patricia de Lille who underscored that as infrastructure stakeholders both in the public and private space connect to various industries, it is important to bring the youth along on the journey.
“It would be a detriment to Africa, if the youth were to be neglected”, she said
The hope is that these commitments will not only be on paper but actualized because the realisation of the vision of Agenda 2063 is highly dependent on the implementation of these commitments.
The 6th PIDA Week opened virtually on Tuesday, 19 January 2021, with key speakers stressing the need for Africa to continue to invest in quality and sustainable infrastructure if the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to deliver for the continent.
The AfCFTA’s main objective to boost intra-African trade can only be achieved with adequate quality infrastructure, speakers in the opening session, among them Chief Executive Officer of African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Mr. Kgabo Mahoai, Director-General of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, of the African Union Commission (AUC), and South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor, agreed.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, they said, had disrupted efforts to deliver key infrastructure projects, but heightened the need for urgent investment in quality and sustainable infrastructure.
“Infrastructure development in Africa will support the adoption of hygienic practices, delivery of health services, remote working, remote learning, and the continuation of economic activity under disruptive conditions,” said Dr. Mayaki.
For her part, Dr. Pandor said; “The greatest lesson of COVID-19 is that Africans must work hard at implementing African responses to any crisis. I accept we need to have global partners, but they must be strategic additions and not enforced collaborations.”
She added that good governance was crucial if Africa is to attract private investment in key infrastructure projects.
“Africa’s infrastructure development requires investment in the region of USD130bn-USD170bn annually. However, in order to attract this investment, we need to address issues of good governance which affect quality and delivery of infrastructure. PIDA project owners need to have capacity and enabling environment for driving good governance,” said Minister Pandor.
Said Mr. Mahoai in his opening statement; “Since the 1st January 2021, we have been trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This is a historic start to the journey of increasing intra-Africa Trade, which can revitalise the continent. However, goods and services do not move on their own. The realisation of the AfCFTA will depend on investment in quality infrastructure.”
The 6th PIDA week marks ten years of the implementation of the first PIDA Prority Action Plan (also known as PIDA PAP I) and the transition to the second Phase of the Programme (PIDA PAP II), which will run from 2021 until 2030.
The PIDA-PAP I comprised over 400 projects; and at its close in 2020, approximately 50 percent of those were in some stage of operation, construction, tendering, or financial close.
“The lessons which we can take forward into the implementation of PIDA –PAP II is that we need to have efficient use of scarce project preparation funds for early stage project preparation to take projects to bankability,” said Dr. Mayaki.
Inclusivity, sustainability, digitalisation key for PIDA-PAP II projects
The priority list of projects for PIDA-PAP II is on track to be approved by the Heads of States during the AU Summit in February, following recent validation by the Ministerial Specialized Technical Committee that met on 12 January 2021.
Dr. Mayaki said the development of PIDA PAP II was premised on an Integrated Corridor Approach, which ensures that all related corridor infrastructure, link to and complement each other, and the integration of inclusivity and sustainability features into the planning process mirroring the AU’s Agenda 2063 vision. This in order to realise the full socio-economic development impact of regional projects.
For her part, Commissioner Abou-Zeid said; “Smart technology is very important in the design of new infrastructure projects. This was one of the selection criteria for PIDA-PAP II projects.”
“Climate resilience considerations were equally important in the selection of projects because the adverse effects of climate change on Africa are frequent and serious. We need our infrastructure to withstand climate change.”
She added that PIDA-PAP II projects need to be geographically inclusive of marginalised rural areas and should consider women – not just as beneficiaries, but across the whole value of chain in infrastructure.
Mr. Amine Idriss Adoum, Director, Programme Delivery and Coordination, AUDA-NEPAD, presented the PIDA Progress Report after the opening session.
The development of infrastructure at the continental level is supported through PIDA which focuses on the promotion of transboundary and transnational infrastructure. PIDA will aid the attainment of AfCFTA goals through facilitating the movement of goods, services, people and capital across the continent, as well as support the development of regional value chains.
In addition to the typical issues impacting on infrastructure delivery on the continent, PIDA Week will consider thematic issues such as infrastructure priorities in the PIDA PAP II; Post-COVID-19 infrastructure financing, delivery and resilience; the critical role of infrastructure for the economy for the implementation of AfCFTA; COVID-19 impact of reduced economic growth and changes in investment and exports patterns on the continent; and the likely transformation in demand for and consumption of transport, energy, ICT and social infrastructure.
The meeting is being held under the theme; “New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery”.
The Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and continental institutions get together virtually for PIDA Continental Technical Validation Workshop. The workshop presented the process, outcome, and the draft priority list of projects for the second phase of the PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP2) which has entered an active consultation phase in November 2019.
Over 70 regional infrastructure projects in the 4 PIDA sectors: Energy, Transport, Trans-Boundary Water, and ICT have been prioritized from a long list of over 240 projects proposed by the Member States, RECs, and Specialized Institutions. The balance projects will constitute a reserve list that will serve to replenish the priority list at planned reviews during the 10-year implementation time frame from 2021 to 2030.
Opening the workshop, African Union Commission (AUC) Director for Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Cheikh Bedda, highlighted that “PIDA PAP 2 has benefitted from the learning experience of PAP1. “The second phase of PIDA has been guided by strategic directives for a shorter, more operational list of projects which promote an integrated, multi-sectorial corridor approach that is employment-oriented, gender-sensitive, and climate-friendly and that connects urban/industrial hubs with rural areas”, says the director.
The PIDA task force of infrastructure experts from AUC, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA was mandated to guide the Member states and RECs to submit projects. Continuous engagement and a consultative and participative approach have led to the ownership of the PIDA process and priority list by the focal points. According to Mr. Bedda, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge on the PIDA PAP2 process which led to a fully-digitalized process of project submission, selection, screening, and ranking process with active participation and engagement with RECs and MS focal points.
AfDB Infrastructure & Urban Development Amadou Oumarou commended the concerted efforts put in place by key stakeholders to develop PIDA PAP2 despite the unexpected challenges the pandemic has caused. He reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting the implementation of PIDA PAP2, recalling that it has provided an estimated 7billion USD for PIDA projects in the past ten years making it the lead financier of the Continent’s infrastructure programs.
Private Sector Development & Finance Director with UNECA William Lugemwa emphasized the importance of involving the private sector from planning to execution of infrastructure for a higher rate of success in PIDA PAP2 implementation. Mr. William further noted that PIDA PAP2 projects align with agenda 2063 and agenda 2030.
There was a consensus among participants on the transparency and rigor of the PIDA PAP2 process which was aligned to the approved selection criteria and but also led to the selection of projects which are in the priority list of RECs and the Member States. It was also noted that the inclusiveness and sustainability criteria inbuilt into the PIDA selection process have prioritized infrastructure projects which will lead to economic and social impacts critical for Post-COVID recovery.
The workshop highlighted the importance of seamless and timely implementation of infrastructure projects was This will be facilitated by a package of tools developed by PIDA Institutions: Implementation Strategy by AUDA-NEPAD, Financing Strategy by AfDB, and Partnership Engagement Strategy by UNECA.
Speaking of the Implementation Strategy, Economic Integration Division Supervisor with AUDA-NEPAD Dr. Towela Jere, said guided by the framework of the Integrated Corridor Approach, the strategy is designed to provide a high-level overview of how PIDA PAP2 projects would be developed and progressed throughout the project lifecycle from planning to financial close which enhances project bankability and socio-economic development impact.
Based on the consensus achieved at this PIDA continental workshop, the priority list and process will be presented to the Specialized Technical Committee on Transport Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy, and Tourism (STC TTIIET) for further validation at the ministerial level. The list along with the strategic documents will be submitted to the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government in February 2021 for adoption.
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H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy says the integration of gender-responsive approaches in infrastructure planning and implementation is not an agenda to postpone if Africa is to reach its full potential.
Opening the Gender-Responsive Infrastructure Development Webinar hosted by the African Network for Women in Infrastructure (ANWIN), Commissioner Abou-Zeid stressed the need to consider gender dimensions in all aspects of infrastructure development cycles, moving beyond gender-neutrality in the field.
The Commissioner noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the deficiencies across the various sectors of infrastructure in Africa; pinpointing that only 28 percent of health facilities in Africa have access to reliable energy, more than 600 million Africans lack electricity, and over 900 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are denied of access to clean cooking. “The impact of the global pandemic worsens the constraints women face, due to the already challenging infrastructure landscape in the Continent,” says the Commissioner referring to the disproportionate burden African women shoulder due to infrastructure deficits.
The Second Phase of the Program for Infrastructure Development Program in Africa (PIDA) which will be implemented from 2021-2030 is believed to serve as an enhancer of women empowerment in Africa’s infrastructure endeavours. “As we embark upon the Second Phase of PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP2), we want to make sure that the sector generates jobs for skilled women professionals, ensure gender-responsive procurement, enhance the participation of women-led enterprises in the supply and value chains, and help women to make the best out of digitalization,” underscored Commissioner Abou-Zeid.
Aiming at supporting participants in ensuring gender-responsive planning, designing, implementing, monitoring & evaluation of infrastructure projects, the Webinar has brought together PIDA focal points from African Union Member States (MS), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), ANWIN’s Founding Members, private sector, and civil society among others.
Two ANWIN tools namely, the Gender-Responsive Infrastructure Development (GRID) Guidelines and PIDA Gender-Responsive Infrastructure Policy Brief (GRIPB) were showcased during the two-hour virtual presentation. The GRID Guidelines complement the PIDA implementation by including demand-side gender impacts of infrastructure and provide practical guidance to MS and RECs, while the GRIPB aims to outline the gender-smart infrastructure policy areas that should be considered for dialogue and relevant reforms throughout the Infrastructure development process.
The webinar concluded with a round of questions and comments from the MS & REC participants concerning their respective roles and responsibilities in advancing gender-responsive practices in infrastructure, which highlighted the importance of proactive stakeholders’ engagement to attain the set targets.
About ANWIN: the African Network for Women in Infrastructure (ANWIN), which was endorsed by the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) in its Second Ordinary Session in Cairo from 17 to 18th April 2019 and officially launched at the 5th Edition of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week in Cairo in November 2019, functions as a key instrument for promoting gender-responsive planning and implementation of African infrastructure projects ranging from transport, science, and technology, to water and energy.
For more information on the African Network for Women in Infrastructure (ANWIN), contact the ANWIN Secretariat, Department of Infrastructure and Energy African Union Commission. P.O. Box 3243 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Email: ANWIN@africa-union.org web: http://www.au.int, https://www.au-pida.org & https://pp2.au-pida.org
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Development Bank have released recommendations of a baseline study that looked into the development of a continental energy grid and market.
The study, supported by the European Union, is the first step in an ambitious project to create an efficient, competitive energy sector that helps to serve Africa’s vast non-connected population, which is key to the continent’s economic prospects. The recommendations were discussed at a roundtable meeting between the partners organized by the African Development Bank on Wednesday 28 October.
African Energy Ministers directed AUDA-NEPAD to promote a continental transmission masterplan during the AU Specialized Technical Committee meeting on Infrastructure (Transport, Energy and Tourism) held in Nouakchott and Cairo in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
“This will be a game changer, since, in the long term, a continental transmission network will allow energy trade within Africa, as well as off the continent, with Europe and Asia through existing links,” said Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.
The baseline study constitutes the first of two phases of the masterplan. The next phase entails the development of the plan itself.
The European Union (EU) agreed to support Phase 1 under its EU Technical Assistance Facility (EU TAF) for sustainable energy, under the scope of the African Union-European Union partnership to harmonize the African Single Electricity Market Regulatory Framework.
The baseline study goals included: a review of the existing masterplans developed by each of the five regional power pools in Africa and to identify power generation capacity and power demand up to 2063 and to develop the terms of reference for phase 2.
“Our continent has a vision to develop a single electricity grid that will guarantee secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supplies to enhance the economic prospects of the continent, especially for our children. This can only be realized with a well-coordinated, widely accepted and highly articulated masterplan,” said Cheikh Bedda, Director Energy, at the African Union Commission.
The recommendations of the baseline study include: establishing a permanent unit to develop the masterplan in order to produce a skills transfer within AUDA-NEPAD and the five regional power pools, and aligning the plan with existing infrastructure projects, such as those identified under the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD and the African Development Bank.
The next steps are to develop the terms of reference for phase two and to discuss how the masterplan will be funded.
“The continental masterplan will provide a holistic roadmap to connect countries to each other within a single regional power pool and to connect the power pools into a single electricity market, promoting energy access and regional integration,” said Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate & Green Growth at the African Development Bank Group.
Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries at just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world. Per capita consumption of energy in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) is 180 kWh, compared to 13,000 kWh per capita in the United States and 6,500 kWh in Europe.
- African Development Bank: Gershwin Wanneburg, Communication and External Relations Department, email g.wanneburg@afdb.org
- African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD): Bénita Nsbaua, Communications Assistant, email: benitan@nepad.org
