Unlocking Africa’s Infrastructure Potential: All About PIDA
- What is PIDA?
- What is the Vision and Objectives of PIDA?
- PIDA Governance
- PIDA Priority Action Plans (PAP)
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa is a strategic initiative led by the African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Its main objective is to promote regional integration and socio-economic development in Africa through the development of sustainable and integrated infrastructure.
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Increasing energy access and reducing power generation costs.
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Reducing transport costs and boosting intra-African trade.
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Ensuring food security and access to water.
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Increasing global connectivity
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Supporting synergy with other infrastructure and economic investments.
PIDA’s governance processes are anchored in the Institutional Architecture for Infrastructure Development in Africa (IAIDA). The main objective of this architecture is to create an integrated and enabling management environment capable of enhancing the capacity of the African Union and its institutions to streamline all efforts into tangible achievements.
IAIDA comprises two mechanisms including decision-making and implementation that are defined with respect to the political mandates of the participating institutions.
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.
Activities and Announcements
PIDA PAP Projects
PIDA aims to prioritize and accelerate the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects that have a regional impact. These projects are carefully selected based on their potential to foster regional integration, address infrastructure gaps, and contribute to sustainable development.

Extension of National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) to DRC by construction of optical fibre cable across Lake Tanganyika and point of presences (PoPs) for providing connectivity with DRC

Trans-Saharan Optic Fibre Broadband Project, (Lagos – Kongolam, Katsina) Nigeria – (Zinder) Republic of Niger – (Algiers) Algeria

Extension of National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) to Mozambique by Construction of Optical Fibre Cable and Points of Presence (PoPs)

Using Solar and Wind Energy to Extract Groundwater in the Pastoral Wells in the Western Region of the Jafara Plain

Support Programme for the Facilitation of Transport by Inland Waterways, Securing River Navigation and the Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Congo Basin

Continental Africa Water Investment Support Programme (AIP) on Transboundary Water Investment Projects: Integrated Transboundary and Regional Investments in Water-Health- Energy-Food Security (WHEF)

Egypt and Libya Regional Electrical Interconnection as the First Stage of Completion of the Regional Electrical Interconnection of the North African Region

Development of the Booue and Tsengue-Leledi Hydroelectric Sites, and Construction of the Associated Transmission Lines

LAPSSET Crude Oil Pipeline Plans on Transport the Crude Oil Produced in South Sudan and Lokichar (Kenya) Oil Fields to Lamu Port in Kenya

Project for the Construction of the Bridge Over the Ntem River Located on the Kribi-Campo-Bata Transnational Road linking the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Doubling of the RN06 between Mascara and Bechar (over 500 km) and the RN50 between Béchar and the Algeria- Mauritania Border (over 1,700 km)

Construction of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR): Mombasa – Nairobi – Malaba – Kampala – Kigali line with Malaba – Nimule – Juba

Construction of Central Corridor Standard Gauge Rail (SGR) of the Dar es Salaam – Isaka – Mwanza and Isaka – Kigali/Keza – Gitega – Musongati/Tabora – Kigoma/Uvinza – Musongati – Gitega (with extension to the Eastern DRC)

Construction of a Bridge over the Oubangui River, Development of Missing Links in the Bangui-Kisangani-Kampala and Kisangani-Bujumbura Road Corridors, and Facilitation of Transport, Trade and Transit along the Two Corridors

Establishment of a Navigational Line Between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea – Feasibility Study Phase 2 (VICMED)
PIDA Toolkits and Instruments

Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM)
The SDM is a key component of PIDA. Its ultimate mission is to make regional projects economically feasible, technically sound, and politically acceptable.

Benefits of the SDM
It serves as a resource pool to provide advisory services and support for project preparation, origination, and enabling environment activities.

Continental Business Network (CBN)
Heads of State and Government response to facilitate private sector advice and leadership in essential continent-wide infrastructure projects.

Vision for CBN
“To bridge the infrastructure financing gap in Africa enhancing the livelihood of Africans”. It aims to promote regional and domestic infrastructure investment projects

The Job Creation Toolkit
A practical and scalable instrument designed to empower Project Owners and stakeholders in estimating the potential job creation impact of African infrastructure projects.

Empowering!!
The Online Toolkit aims to capitalize on the demographic dividend for job creation and wider regional economic development via PIDA infrastructure projects

Africa Infrastructure Database
The Powerhouse for Data-driven Development. AID provides a comprehensive platform for collecting, validating, and disseminating crucial project information.

Data and Statistics
AID empowers stakeholders to streamline workflows and maximize the impact of infrastructure investments. Join the AID community for infrastructure data needs.
PIDA History and Key Events
Data and Statistics
Programme Data and Statistics
Regional Data and Statistics
Our Success Stories
Infrastructure Partnerships

As Project Owner
Engaging with potential financing partners demonstrates a strong commitment and political ownership of the project, which can incentivize investor interest. Project owners should take the lead in initiating and maintaining these partnerships, actively participating in discussions and negotiations with financing partners.

Explore Financing Options
Various forums and partnership platforms have been established, as outlined in Section 10 of the document. These platforms serve as avenues for project owners to promote their projects, establish collaboration partnerships, and explore financing options.

As an Investor
There are several ways to engage in partnerships and contribute to infrastructure development in Africa. Investing in infrastructure projects can provide attractive returns while also contributing to the socio-economic development of the continent.

How investors can participate in partnerships
It is important for investors to approach partnerships by aligning their investment goals with sustainable development objectives. Collaboration, transparency, and effective communication with project stakeholders are essential for successful partnerships as project owners.
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PIDA Executing Agencies

The African Union Commission ensures the alignment of the PIDA priority projects and programmes with regional and continental strategies and policy frameworks; reviews strategic plans, studies and reports prepared by the NEPAD Agency; and makes appropriate recommendations to the Council for Infrastructure Development (CID) through an independent advisory group.

The AUDA-NEPAD Agency collaborates with Regional Economic Communities, countries, specialised institutions and the private sector, to accelerate the implementation of PIDA as well as co-ordinating stakeholder engagements for the funding and financing of PIDA priority projects, producing annual reports on the implementation status of these projects.

The African Development Bank’s role as one of the executing agencies covers the responsibility for contractual, financial, technical and administrative management of the programme including responsibility for procurement procedures, in conformity with its existing regulations, budget management and disbursements.
PIDA Stakeholders
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