Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, November 28, 2018: The 2018 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) concluded today amid calls by delegates to rethink the financing architecture and tap into new sources of funding such as the private sector and pension funds for the second phase of the PIDA Priority Action Plan (PAP), which is expected to be implemented from 2020-2030.

In his closing remarks, Zimbabwe’s State Minister for Matebeleland North Province, H.E. Mr. Richard Moyo emphasized the need for Africa to accelerate the implementation of PIDA projects.

“This will allow us to add impetus to the continent’s integration process. We need to have the right infrastructure mix and align our national infrastructural projects to the PIDA programme for collective gain,” he said, adding nothing was impossible if Africa united and stayed focused on what it would have agreed to.

NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, also reiterated the need for the continent to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects as one.

“We also need to continue enabling a constructive dialogue with all the partners, including the private sector so that we can deliver concretely,” he said, adding over the past three days participants had managed to enhance their partnerships as “we fight for a peaceful, united and prosperous humanity”.

For his part, the African Union Commission Director for Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Cheikh Bedda emphasized the importance of good governance to promote infrastructural development that will positively impact the continent’s economies.

“We, as the African Union, will continue to work with Member States and all our partners to remove barriers affecting infrastructural development in order to create a strong united and prosperous Africa. But we always have to have in our minds the importance of good governance; resilience to climate change and related issues,” he said.

For his part, Mr. Mamady Souare, the African Development Bank’s Division manager in the Regional Integration Operation said “PIDA is here to stay with the African Development Bank (AfDB) saying it “will stick with PIDA”.

“We will play the financial role and the broker role to fund PIDA,” Mr. Souare concluded.

His remarks come when the European Union is now moving towards financing facilitation from financing facility, according to its representative to the African Union, Francisco Carreras.

“We want to catalyse private sector investors into the continent. We want to help prepare technically sound projects,” Mr. Carreras stated.

The excitement on the financing model will come to naught if the projects fail the bankability test.

The representative of GIZ, a major partner in the implementation of the PIDA programme, also spoke in support of Africa’s quest for an integrated infrastructure network.

“Big change is on the way for Africa through PIDA and we have to stay the course. Huge investments are required for it to become a reality. We, as GIZ, are with you. There are also huge opportunities in terms of human capital as well for the continent at all levels,” said GIZ African Union Office Director, Ms. Inge Baumgarten.

The African Union Director for Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Cheikh Bedda, reading the final communiqué summarizing the main issues raised during the three-day meeting stated that the ministers and delegates attending the fourth Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week agreed firm political commitment was necessary for the development of key transboundary infrastructure projects that will integrate the continent economically and socially for the benefit of its people.

As delegates flew out of Victoria Falls after a successful three days, they have two major takeaways from NEPAD Agency’s CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki and the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid.

“Infrastructure gaps in the continent are investment opportunities,” Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid reiterated throughout her interventions.
“If we want to accelerate Infrastructure Development in Africa, we need to deliver as one”, said Dr Mayaki as he officially closed PIDA Week 2018.
The 4th PIDA Week was being held under the theme; Realizing Africa’s Integration through Smart Infrastructure and Good Governance.

The event, which brought together more than 400 delegates from the continent and beyond, was an action-packed event full of debates, networking and showcasing of selected PIDA projects and was held in Victoria Falls under the auspices of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Media inquiry Contacts:
Sophia Nesri | PIDA Information Analyst | Department of Infrastructure and Energy | African Union Commission I E-mail: sophian@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Esther Azaa Tankou / Head of Information Division / AUC / Tel: +251 911361185 /
E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org