The sixth session of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week kicks off on Monday, January 18, 2021, 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 the 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.
This is aimed at offering opportunities to boost intra-African trade, create new jobs for Africa’s growing population, and improve overall socio-economic development on the continent.
It will also provide the 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’, the Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen Karingi, stated that 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 program; discuss ways to overcome challenges and think outside the box to find possible solutions; share lessons learned, 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 program with an implementation strategy and portfolio of projects for prioritized 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.
The 6th PIDA Week was postponed in 2020, but it is now set to take place between 18-21 January 2021. The event is hosted by the Government of South Africa under the auspices of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
On 18 January, Global Water Partnership (GWP) Africa and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) are co-convening a session titled “Mobilising resources for PIDA Water Projects”.
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is the African Union’s (AU) strategic framework for regional and continental infrastructure development, guiding the continental infrastructure development agenda, policies, and investment priorities. PIDA Week was inaugurated in 2015 as a forum to bring together key stakeholders in the implementation of the PIDA program.
The 6th PIDA Week will provide a platform to advocate and market PIDA as part of the recommended strong communications strategy to communicate progress on priority PIDA projects and facilitate the sharing of lessons and experiences on the implementation of PIDA projects.
It will provide a transactional Platform for member states developing PIDA Projects to mobilize resources for project preparation from Project Preparation Facilities, Market Sounding of projects under preparation, showcase projects going into procurement, and structuring to developers and financiers.
Furthermore, it will showcase spatial economic development opportunities along the PIDA Corridors in Industry, Trade & Commerce, Mining, Agriculture, Health, Education, etc.
