Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 January, 2021 (ECA) – It’s all systems go as the sixth session of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week kicks off Monday to review progress, share experiences and build consensus on key infrastructure projects that will take Africa to the next level of development.
The 6th PIDA Week will provide a platform to advocate and market PIDA priority projects and facilitate sharing of lessons and experiences on the implementation of key projects. Africa's infrastructure priorities for 2021-2030 will be set during the week.
As a continental initiative, PIDA provides a common framework for African stakeholders to build the infrastructure necessary to integrate the continent physically, economically and socially, offering opportunities to boost intra-African trade, create new jobs for Africa’s growing population and improve overall socio-economic development on the continent, and provide requisite infrastructure and environment to facilitate the implementation of the game-changing African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking ahead of the meeting which will be held virtually under the theme; “New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery” – Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen Karingi, said with the AfCFTA set to address Africa’s investment challenges, there was an urgent need to address the continent’s infrastructure deficit.
“PIDA Week allows us to take stock with all the other stakeholders; review and reflect on progress made in the implementation of the programme; discuss ways to overcome challenges and think outside the box to find possible solutions; share lessons learnt, identify and agree on ways to improve implementation, especially now that the AfCFTA is here,” he said.
PIDA is the African Union’s strategic framework for regional and continental infrastructure development. The ECA partners with the AUC, GIZ, AUDA-NEPAD and others every year in hosting PIDA Week which brings together continental infrastructure initiatives and regional master plans into one coherent infrastructure investment programme with an implementation strategy and portfolio of projects for prioritised implementation.
While progress is being recorded in PIDA implementation, challenges such as lack of finance; lack of capacity for project preparation; limited involvement of the private sector in infrastructure projects; and the need to address governance issues and create an enabling legal, policy and regulatory environment, amongst others, continue to affect the pace of implementation.
PIDA Week was inaugurated in 2015 as a forum to bring together key stakeholders in the implementation of the PIDA programme.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org