Dakar, Senegal, 7 December 2022 (ECA) - At the closing of a three-day Africa Climate Resilient Investment Facility (AFRI-RES) training in Dakar, Senegal, Karima Bounemra, the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) director, urged participants to apply the knowledge they had acquired to develop a climate-resilient African continent.
Bounemra further also observed that “Africa needs an organized approach towards building its resilience. Hence this training is not an end but meant to raise awareness and give participants the appetite to learn more”.
The training, in conjunction with IDEP, is part of the AFRI-RES efforts to strengthen the continent's decision-maker's capacity to plan, design, and implement climate resilient projects in transport, energy, agriculture, water, and ecosystem sectors. IDEP is the training arm of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Participants drawn from local, national, regional, and private sector stakeholders attend the training.
Created 15 years ago, IDEP specializes in development planning and training. Bounemra noted that this means keeping track of African member states and stakeholders’ development needs to ensure a clear understanding of the continent’s climate challenges and opportunities. “And together, we build the skills needed to translate the knowledge IDEP offers into tangible results,” Bounemra explained.
The African Development Bank estimates Africa’s infrastructure investment gap at more than $100 billion annually. Africa therefore requires investing in climate-sensitive sectors like energy, transport, water, agriculture, and ecosystems, which are vital to achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the continent’s development blueprint (agenda 2063). For future sustainability, there’s need to ensure that infrastructure developments are climate proofed.
The foregoing was further echoed by Kisa Nkhoma, the AUDA-NEPAD Trade Facilitation programme officer who said “there is a need for future training to focus on climate resilience in relation to trade facilitation as roads are among the key infrastructure rendered impassable during floods affecting the quality of border efficiency”.
Electricity access is vital to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation, promote socio-economic inclusion, and unlock human capital growth. The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), Priority Action Plan (PAP) envisions a continent with access to modern energy for all African households, businesses, and industries. Developing an efficient, reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy infrastructure results in poverty eradication and vigorous, sustainable development.
Peter Kinuthia, an energy expert at the African Union Commission (AUC) infrastructure and energy department, noted it’s essential to factor in climate resilience in project selection as the continent develops its power system master plan. "This will enable an efficient implementation of PIDA PAP II and future PIDA projects," Kinuthia said.
The Grand Inga Dam Project aims to transform Africa’s energy from traditional to modern sources and ensure access to clean and affordable electricity for all Africans. Ladislas Kapadji noted that incorporating climate resilience will help improve the project's bankability as Africa struggles with access to climate finance.
ECA’s Economic Affairs Officer in the Energy Infrastructure & Services sector, Anthony Mongameli, reminded participants that building climate resilience can increase the cost of projects. "But in the longer term, it’s an opportunity to reduce maintenance costs, helping nations to ultimately save money" he added.
PIDA provides a common framework for African stakeholders to build the infrastructure necessary for more integrated transport, energy, ICT, and transboundary water networks to boost trade, spark growth and create jobs.
AFRI-RES is a joint initiative of the UNECA, AUC, the World Bank, and African Development Bank, with initial funding from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF). The facility aims at strengthening the capacity of member states and stakeholders to build resilience, which includes better early warning systems. It also promotes climate-proofing of long-lived investments in climate-sensitive sectors to ensure the investments made today can perform and yield returns under future climate.