The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), an African Union Commission (AUC) initiative, in partnership with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, aims to accelerate infrastructure development across the continent.

PIDA as a strategic framework will run through 2040 in order to develop continental (cross-border) infrastructure (Energy, Transport, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Trans-boundary Water Resources). PIDA’s main purpose is to strengthen the consensus and ownership of large cross-border infrastructure projects that integrate energy, transportation, and water development on a continental scale.

The PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP), which extends to 2020, comprises 51 programmes and projects divided into 433 projects covering transport, energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and trans-boundary water sectors. PIDA will allow countries to meet forecast demand for infrastructure services and boost competitiveness by: (i) Increasing efficiencies; (ii) Accelerating growth; (iii) Facilitating integration in the world economy; (iv) Improving living standards and; (v) Unleashing intra-African trade.

While it is difficult to accurately project the capital cost of PIDA’s long-term implementation through 2040 (currently estimated at more than $360 billion), the overall capital cost of delivering the PAP from 2012 through 2020 is expected to be nearly US$68 billion, or about $7.5 billion annually for the next nine years. Energy and transport projects and programmes represent around 95% of the total cost, demonstrating the critical need for transformative investments in these sectors to support African trade, promote growth and create jobs. Investment needs for ICT and water represent lower percentages.