PIDA Week 2024 Kicks Off in Addis Ababa, Focuses on Transformative Infrastructure for Africa


By Baboloki Semele
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Africa’s flagship infrastructure event, the 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week, officially commenced today (25 November 2024) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Running from November 25 to 29, the event gathers stakeholders from African governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector to accelerate the continent’s infrastructure development.
This year’s theme, “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration,” sets the tone for discussions on pivotal topics, including the water-energy-food nexus, green transport, urban development, and the green economy.
Jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), PIDA Week is renowned for showcasing innovative projects, forging partnerships, and unlocking investment in key infrastructure sectors: energy, transport, water, and digital infrastructure.
Key Highlights and Milestones
The opening sessions spotlighted two critical pre-events:
- High-Level Panel on Transboundary Water Projects: This session addressed gaps in funding and capacity to advance water-related projects that ensure access and sustainability, essential to Africa’s economic and social stability.
- Launch of the Continental Power System Master Plan (CMP) Phase III : Tackling Africa’s persistent energy poverty, the CMP is a roadmap for developing interconnected and reliable energy networks. With over 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity and millions relying on biomass fuels like firewood and charcoal, the CMP aims to bridge the gap by integrating Africa’s power infrastructure and promoting clean energy resources.
The CMP, implemented by AUDA-NEPAD with support from partners like the European Union and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), envisions the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM). This ambitious project, covering 1.3 billion people, aims to establish one of the largest electricity markets globally and align with Africa’s Green Vision.
Building on Success
The 7th PIDA Week, held in Nairobi in 2022, achieved significant progress with the adoption of PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP 2), comprising 69 regional infrastructure projects guided by an Integrated Corridor Approach. The 8th edition aspires to enhance these efforts, emphasizing transformative financing, partnerships, and capacity-building for regional projects.
AUDA-NEPAD estimates that implementing PIDA requires an annual investment of $16.1 billion, underscoring the need for innovative funding strategies. The deal rooms at this year’s event provide platforms to pitch projects, secure investments, and finalize agreements with stakeholders.
Prominent African leaders, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, are among the notable speakers. Their participation highlights a unified commitment to addressing Africa’s infrastructure gaps through inclusive, sustainable, and resilient solutions.
Demand for electricity in Africa is projected to triple by 2040 due to rapid industrialization, urban migration, and rising household incomes. The CMP addresses these challenges by fostering regional electricity interconnections, enhancing access to affordable energy, and supporting socio-economic development across the continent.
PIDA, aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063, serves as a strategic framework to bridge Africa’s infrastructure deficits. By prioritizing cross-border projects and integration, PIDA catalyzes trade, reduces transaction costs, and bolsters Africa’s global competitiveness.
The partnership between the African Union and the European Union further strengthens the CMP’s implementation, reflecting a shared ambition for sustainable energy access. This collaboration promises to position Africa as a global leader in green energy innovation and market integration.
As PIDA Week 2024 unfolds, the event is poised to make significant strides in reshaping Africa’s infrastructure landscape, ensuring that resilience and inclusivity underpin the continent’s sustainable growth. According to PIDA week 2024 concept note, PIDA Week has emerged as a key platform for advancing Africa’s infrastructure agenda, bringing together stakeholders from across the continent to discuss progress, forge new partnerships, and explore innovative solutions to meet the continent’s growing infrastructure demands. This year’s commemoration focuses on five key sub-themes, which include advancing the green economy, enabling infrastructure through policy frameworks, promoting digital infrastructure, exploring innovative financial instruments, and empowering civil society for sustainable development.
Africa’s infrastructure gap has long been a barrier to its economic growth and integration. As highlighted in previous PIDA Weeks, key sectors like transport, energy, water, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) require major investments. PIDA, since its inception, has provided a framework to address these deficits. The event serves as a collaborative hub for stakeholders, including government leaders, industry experts, development partners, and financiers, to strategize, form partnerships, and drive progress.
Since 2015, PIDA Week has been crucial in facilitating collaboration among various stakeholders, with the goal of mobilizing resources, aligning efforts, and breaking down silos in Africa’s infrastructure development. Therefore the concept note availed by the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African union Commission notes that this year’s focus on transformative financing highlights the importance of securing innovative financial mechanisms to support large-scale projects across the continent. By fostering these partnerships, the note says PIDA week will help Africa advance its infrastructure agenda in line with regional integration and economic growth goals.
A significant feature of this year’s PIDA Week according to the concept note is its emphasis on sustainability. With the global focus shifting towards greener economies, Africa must align its infrastructure projects with these trends. The green economy sub-theme will explore how the continent can leverage its natural resources and renewable energy potential to build sustainable infrastructure. The event will showcase success stories, best practices, and case studies that can be replicated across the continent to scale up infrastructure development efforts while promoting environmental sustainability.
Despite progress, Africa’s infrastructure development faces several challenges, from financing gaps to regulatory barriers. PIDA Week will therefore offer a platform for stakeholders to engage in open dialogue, addressing these bottlenecks and seeking actionable solutions. One of the sub-themes on policy and regulatory frameworks will focus on creating enabling environments that can attract investment and facilitate project implementation.
PIDA Week 2024 aligns with both the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning infrastructure as a critical driver for economic growth, social development, and environmental resilience. By integrating these global and continental agendas, PIDA Week ensures that Africa’s infrastructure development is inclusive, forward-thinking, and sustainable.
With the rise of digital economies, Africa’s future infrastructure, according to experts at the department of infrastructure and energy of African Union Commission, must incorporate cutting-edge technologies. PIDA Week will therefore delve into the potential of digital infrastructure in shaping Africa’s economic future, highlighting the need for smart infrastructure and digital solutions in urban development, transport, and energy sectors. Innovation, particularly in digital technologies, will play a key role in driving Africa’s competitive edge in the global economy. The concept note says PIDA Week 2024 promises to be a pivotal event for shaping Africa’s infrastructure landscape, emphasizing the importance of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure. It further says as the continent continues to grow and evolve, the collaboration fostered at PIDA Week will be crucial for unlocking Africa’s vast potential, ensuring that infrastructure serves as a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration.