ATF 2024 day 2: Focus on African infrastructure initiatives

Day two of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Transport Forum (ATF) 2024 in Abidjan centred on exploring sustainable transport solutions aimed at enhancing resilience and independence across the continent.

Discussions focused on optimising asset management, infrastructure maintenance, cost recovery, and access to finance at both national and subnational levels. A ministerial roundtable provided a platform for high-level dialogue on the way forward for Africa’s transport sector.

Day 1 report: ATF 2024 kicks off in Abidjan: “Africa has one big advantage”

Infrastructure initiatives

WorldCargo News attended the “Continental and Regional Infrastructure Initiative” session, where participants received a comprehensive overview of key infrastructure projects like the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). The discussion highlighted these initiatives’ critical role in improving connectivity across Africa.

By assessing the progress of such initiatives, panellists discussed the challenges that must be addressed to enhance infrastructure’s contribution to continental connectivity.

The session focused on the alignment of regional infrastructure projects, such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), with contributions from Amine Idriss Adoum, Director for Infrastructure, Industrialisation, and Regional Integration, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD; Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Annalisa Primi, Head of Economic and Transformation Division, OECD Development Centre, France; Baher El Hifnawi, Lead Transport Specialist, East Africa, World Bank, United States; Epifanio Carvalho de Melo, Manager, Infrastructure Partnerships Division, AfDB; Motoharu Wakabayashi, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Côte d’Ivoire; and Francesca Di Mauro, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Trans-African Highway Network

At the start of his presentation, Amine Idriss Adoum provided an overview of the PIDA, highlighting the Trans-African Highway Network as a key focus. He identified inadequate project preparation as the primary challenge, stressing the need for clarity on who holds responsibility for projects at the national level. Additionally, Adoum pointed out that there is a lack of information about PIDA among member states, and better coordination is required to ensure clarity on roles and responsibilities.

Trans-African Highway Network / By Abdelrhman 1990 – Wikimedia Commons

Sédiko Douka mentioned that 30 to 40 master plans have already been accepted. He noted, however, that the transport sector lags behind the energy sector. Douka expressed concern that once the procurement process is completed, governments often impose additional taxes, leading to appeals and significant delays.

Baher El Hifnawi underscored the crucial role of the private sector and the necessity of political will to expedite the movement of goods across interstate borders. According to him, without this, the construction of transport corridors loses its purpose. “There must be a main project holder, with other stakeholders joining in later. This approach has proven to be successful,” El Hifnawi remarked.

Billions for Africa

Francesca Di Mauro, the European Union’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the EU’s significant financial contributions to Africa, with various financial institutions investing approximately €63b. Di Mauro advocated for bringing private investors to Africa, suggesting that banks should provide strong guarantees and lower interest rates for investors.

Motoharu Wakabayashi from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) stated that Japan has invested US$12.7b in infrastructure projects across Africa, demonstrating Japan’s commitment to supporting the continent’s development.

The session also addressed the fact that 60 to 70% of African trade occurs within the continent. Risk-sharing was highlighted as critical for large-scale projects, and the African Development Bank (AfDB) encouraged countries to jointly approach the Bank for project financing. It was noted that some regional projects are deprioritised in favour of domestic initiatives, which poses challenges to continental cooperation.

A positive example of interstate collaboration was provided through the experience of the former Yugoslav states and Albania, which have successfully received EU support for transport infrastructure projects. This serves as a model for regional cooperation and coordination.